Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-10-03
A LEAP FOR NOTERIETY.
A Daring Performance by Balleni-
A ITO Feet Jump Into tho Nj
agara River.

The Buffalo Express contains an
account of the feat of Signor Bale
nj, in walking over Niagara River
below the falls, and then jumping
from the rope into the river. We
give the following:
1t was found that the rope had
not been drawn tight enough, and
men were Immediately dispatched to
fix it, which was done, and at fifteen
minutes to five o'clock the start was
made. All action and conversation
was now suspended, and every ones
attention was given to the man on
the rope, who marched along, ap-
parently with the greatest Of ease,
to the music of the Drummondsville
Band, which was situated in front
of the Clifton House. At six min
utes to five O'Clock Balleni reached
the middle Of the rope, where he
halted to return his salutation to the
tremendous applause which greeted
his exploit. After resting himself
for brief period, the Signor again
started on his tramp.
This was the only stop made, and
ten minutes after five o'clock the
perambulist, looking pale as death,
had reached the American end Of
his rope, he having made the trip
in twenty-five minutes. He COM
planned of feeling very tired, in con-
sequence, he said of the extra exer-
ton in walking caused by the
slackness Of the rope. After an.
other rest of thirteen minutes, Sig
nor Ballcni took his pole in hand,
and was off to the middle Of the
rope to make the great leap.
1t took him just six minutes to ar
rive at the center of the rope, and
when there he at once began
making preparations to- jump.
While thus engaged he lost his bal
ancing pole, which fell into the wa
ter and sank. A cord tx feet long,
made of rubber bands, was attached
to the rope just lis feet above the
surface of the water. Ballcni
caught hold of one end of the elas-
tic cord before the spectators
thought he was ready to go. He
descended like an arrow, and the re.
covering snap of the rubber was al.
most simultaneous with the loud
splash of his fall in the water.
"Is he alive:" were the words
breathlessly spoken by the crowd of
excited people as they looked ner-
vously over the banks into the wa
ter below. 10 be sure he was, and
no sooner was the splash heard than
the head OF the Signor came peep
ing out Of the water, and he struck
out vigorously and heartily towards
the boat which was there to pick
him up. He was quickly hauled in
to the little craft, carefully wrapped
up with heavy blankets, and rowed
to shore.
A carriage, to which was attach
ed four horses, met him at the foot
of the roadway, down the bank, and
drove him up the hill, where he was
met by his wife, who was the first
to congratulate him. The band
then took its position in front, and
the hero of to-day was taken to his
stopping place in Drummondsville,
where, after changing his clothes,
he was interviewed by our repor.
ter. His name, he said, was Signor
Henry Balleni, and his age 80 years.
He was born in bennington, Eng
land, but his parents are both Ital-
ian. His weight is 1872 pounds; he
is five feet seven inches in height;
of dark complexion and slim build.
He has been fifteen years engaged
in his present profession, and has
given exhibitions in Australia,
France, India and America. He
has in his possession beautiful
gold medal, which he AYERS was
presented to him by Louis Ma
poleon, for jumping from building
eighty feet high. His walk across
the river yesterday was the longest
ever accomplished by him. His
balancing-pole, which he lost, was
224 feet long, and weighed 4s
pounds.