The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-09-04
4 EiSMY PEMFssP LANCE.



| The Buffalo EypreSs contains an account
| of the feA; of Signor Balleni in walking
over Niagara river below the falls, and then
jumping from the rope into the river. We
| give the following
1t was found tina; the rope had not been
| drawn tight enough, and men were imme.
| disteiy dispatched To fix it, which was done,
and at fifteen minutes to five o'clock the
| start was made. All action and CONVERSE
ton was now suspended, and every ones at
tention was given to the man on the rope,
who marched along, apparently with the
greatest OF ease, to the music OF the Drum
mordsville band, which was stationed in
front Of the Clifton House. At six minutes
10 five O'Clock Balleni reached the middle of
the rope, where he halted to return his salu-
tation to the tremendous applause which
greeted his exploit. After resting himself
for brief period, the Sisnor 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 enbo OF his rope, he having made
the trip in twenty-five minutes. He COM
planned of feeling very tired. in consequence.
he said, of the extra exertion in walking
caused by The slsckness Of the rope. After
smother rest Of thirteen minutes, SigEor
BslIeni again took his pole in hand, and
Was OF to the middle of the rope, to make
the great leap.
1t took him Just six minutes to arrive a,
the centre Of the rope, and when there he at
orc. began making preparations to jump
While thus engaged he lost his balancing
pole, which fell into the wafer and sunk. A
feet .F b. hap
was attached to the rope Just 10 feet above
the surface Of the water. Bsileni caught
hold of one end Of the elastic cord before the
spectators thought he was ready to go. He
descended like an arrow, and the recovering
snap OF the rubber was almost simultaneous
with the loud splash Of his fall into the
wafer.
els he alive?'' was the words breath |
lessiy spoken by the crowd Of excited people |
"a they looked nervousIy 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 ont of the water. |
and he struck cut vigorously and heartily |
toward the boat which was there TO pick him \
up. He was quickly haulei into !
the little craft, carefully wrapped mp with |
heavy blankets, and rowed 10 the shore.
n ttT1ifgf, iD WHifn WAS
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 vas 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 orr reporter.
His name. he said, was Signor Henry Bal
leni, and his age - years. He was born in
I.amingtsn, England, but his parents are
o,h1,slian. His weight il l32 pounds
he is } feet inches in heigh, OF dark COM
plexion, and slim build. He has been fifteen
years engaged in his present profession, and
has gwen exhibitions in Australia, France,
India and America.
He has in his possession Il beautiful gold
medal, which he AYERS va. presented to him
by Louis Napoleon, for jumping from q
,nildins 80 feet high. His walk across the
liver yesterday IL the longest ever accom-
,ii-hed by him. His balancing pole, which
he lost, was 22i feet long and weighed As
,nurfa |