The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1873-09-11
A Jump from q Height Of ITO Feet
into the Niagara River.

The Buffalo Express of August 26 con
tains an account of the feat of Signol
Balleni in walking over Niagara River
below the Falls, and then jumping from
the rope into the river. We give the fol
lowing:
1t was found that the rope had not beer
drawn tight enough, and men we're imme
diately dispatched to fix it, which was
done, and at fifteen minutes to five O'Clock
the start was made. All action and con
vcrsation was now suspended, and every
ones attention was given to the man on
the rope, who marched along, apparently
with the greatest of ease, to the music Of
the Drummondsville Band, which was
stationed in front of the Clifton House
At six minutes to five O'Clock Balleni
reached the middle Of the rope, where he
halted to return his salutatiOn to the ire
mendous applause which greeted his ex
plot. After resting himself fer briel
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
complained of feeling very tired, in con.
sequence, he said, of the extra excrtion in
walking caused by the slackness of the
rope. After another rest of thirteen min.
utes, Signor Balleni again 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 arrive
at the center Of the rope, and when there
he at once began making preparations to
jump. While thus engaged he lost his
balancing pole, which fell into the water
and sank. A cord six feet long, made of
rubber bands, was attached to the rope,
just lis feet above the surface of the water.
Balleni caught hold Of one end of the
elastic cord before the spectators thought
he was ready to 60. He descended like
an arrow, and the recovering snap of the
rubber was almost simultaneous with the
loud splash of his fall in the water.
us he alive?" were the words breath
lessly spoken by the crowd of excited
people as they looked nervously over the
banks into the water below. To be sure
he was; and no sooner was the splash
heard than the head of the Signor came
peeping out of the water, and he struck
out vigorously and heartily toward the
boat which was there to pick him up. He
was quickly hauled into the little craft,
carefully wrapped up with heavy blan-
kets, and rowed to the shore.
A carriage, to which was attached four
horses, met him at the foot of the road
way, 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 inter-
viewed by our reporter. His name, he
said, was Signor Henry Bal!eni, and his
age thirty-two years. He was born in Lam
ington, England, but his parents are both
Italian. His weight is one hundred and
thirty-two pounds; he is five feet seven
inches in height; of dark complexion, and
slim build. He has been fifteen years en-.
gagged 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 pre-
sented to him by Louis Napoleon, 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
twenty-five and a half feet long, and
weighed forty-eight pounds.