Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-08-01
WALKING In THE AIR.

Wonderful Feats of n Californian.
Everybody remembers when the great
Blondin amazed the world by crossing
Niagara on wire. 1t was the time
when poor Artemus Ward, full of ad-
miralion at so grand a feat in his own
show shop line, apostrophized the per-
formance in the lines beginning et go =
& IIlustrious strnngcrl Enterprisin' French-
mani "a,
Was il a gal fust got you on to a strlng?"
Whether Blondin did it for love or
money, his feat brought him fame, and
the similar achievement of congenial
spirit in California has been equally sue
cessiul. Mr.. L. P. Ward, as we learn
from the San Francisco papers, rejoices
in the distinction of being known as
"the gymnastic, typographical Olympian
acrobat" Much, no doubt, is to be ex-
pected of an artist answering this de-
scription, and Mr.. Wards performance
must be called fairly up to the mark.
1t appears that gentleman of San
Francisco. much interested in mining
property, lately visited Chinese Camp,
Tuolumne county, to inspect a new
quartz ledge. He was struck by its
promise, and when one of the owners of
q neighboring claim told him that in
day or two they were to try an extern
sion on the Atlas, the original
mine, and that his name should be put
down, if he wished, as one of the spec
ulators, he eagerly assented. Next day
he returnedto San Francisco, and quickly
had assays made ofsamples Of ore from
the Atlas" mine. These proved extreme
" rich, and increased his satisfaction
about the extension. But time wore on,
and he heard nothing from Chinese
Camp. and began to fear that his new
acquaintance there meant to shake
him. On consulting with friends, he
was advised to send capable man TO
the spot to represent his interests, and
to settle independently in the promising
region, if expedient. The person Sc
lected was Mr.. Ward, who was not un-
willing to refresh himself by vacation
from his professional labors, and to ac-
cept the offer of being one Of the loea-
tors and having his expenses paid, with
other qualifications, in consideration Of
visiting Chinese Camp. On arriving,
he soon found that it would be neediul
to act with great promptness in the mat
ter, if at all, and that he must immedi-
ately locate" the claim. In fact, he
and certain other adverse parties found
themselves together the very next morn
ing, pushing for the banks Of stream
which must be crossed to get TO the
ground of the proposed location. The
others knew Ward object, and were re-
solved to head him off. " On getting
close to the river, however, it was found
that all the adventurers were headed
off together In short there had been
heavy rains, and, in consequence, a
freshet had swept away the only bridge
by which, for miles, it was possible TO
cross the stream.
Here was a dilemma indeed The
river was a roaring torrent, and simply
impossible. But across, running from
side to side, was a wire rope, which had
formerly been used TO support the iron
pipe that conveyed water to one Of the
mines. Some men are born lucky, and
here was the pr0ef Of the fortunate star
Of the speculator represented by the
"0lympian acrobat" 1t appears that
none of the men about him had ever
seen Ward do the Zampil," as he styles
the feat known as Zampillaerostation,
and hence what he now did came upon
them as an absolute surprise. The ironi-