The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-08
Tne Effect of B.cndtn's Expi0ffs ON q
Hack. Driver.

Il "
From the Buffalo Commercial Advertiser july 49,
Our readers have heretofore read some
thing in these coiumnsin regard TO Stephen
Peer, OF. DrnmmondsYille, Ont, the remarka.
bic young man who succeeded in walking
away" with Signor Bafieniat the Falls last
season, 10 the matter OF funnmbulistic honors.
Peer has not been idle since he first came
into notice and public favor ~ arope.walk-
i.t, and By dint Of practice and application
has become an adept in this peculiar line.
His first performance yesterday afternoon
was very successful, and pleased all who wit
messed 1t.
The rope on which the intrepid funanbti-
list crossed the Niagara gorge was purchased
at cost Of S400, part OF the amount being
subscribed by residents at the Falls, as We
understand. It is one and three-fourtbs OF
an inch thick-half an inch smaller than the
one used by BalIeni-and Its entire length IS
1860 feet. 1t is 100 feet above the river at
the ends, 100 feet in the centre, and is sup
ported by strong guy-ropes fastened to the
American and Canadian banks. The rope Is
located On the American side at point
about midway between the Bridal Veil and
the Niagara Falls Gas-Works, and stretches
away to the Victoria Point on The Canadian
side, shor; distance below the new Suspen.
sion bridge, from which, by the way, splen-
did view of the exhibition could be obtained,
as also from either terminus Of the rope.
A large crowd had assembled at the We.
rious advantageous points about 3 O'Clock, ar
which hour the performance commenced.
On the American side was stationed Young's
band, of this city. which had accompanied
picnic party from here in the morning. 1t
is estimated that about two thousand people
in all witnessed the hazardous feat. Peer
started from the Canadian side, walking
very slowly at first. He was dressed in a
suit resembling that OF circus rider, wore
a red skull cap, and carried balance.poe
twenty-one feet in length and weighing
forty-nine pounds. The wind was blowing
quite brskly, but was not strong enough to
interfere with the .ualkist's project.
Peer crossed on the rope TO the American
side in safety, having stopped six times on
toe way over. He was greeted with loud
cheers. The exhibition was free one, but
Oh his arrival at the bank he and others 10
his interest went around among the crowd
aud collected subscriptions FROM those Will
Ing to contribute. In this way handsome
sum was obtained, not few OF the spectators
being quite liberal in their gifts. This lm-
portlnt feature of The programme having been
Qulv carried OUT, feeT SLarLeu On MS IctuiH
trip. The band struck up slow march,
to which the waIkist kept accurate time for
about half the distance across. Arriving at
the centre, he secured his balance-pole with
his handkerchief, and then went through
several acro5atic feats with defines and
agility. After this, he again gra>ped the
pole and started for the Canadian bank on a
brisk trot, which he maintained for quite
long distance. He finished the walk with
out further incident, and did not seem at all
wearied by his exertiuns.
Stephen Peer has lived on the Canadian
side of the Falls all bis life, and is we'll
known on both sides and throughout the vi.
cinity. He was formerly painter, and SUBJ
sequently hack-drver. In a conversation
with our reporter yesterday afternoon he
stated that he gained his first ideas Of rope.
walking from the performances of Blondin
several years ago, and made up his mind he
could go into the same business afr due
practice and learning the ropes" This he
has done, and the Niagara Falls people are
rather proud of him; for though pe-walk-
ing is no neE thing to him, Peer is native
there, and his !eats are certainly fully as good
AS those of his predecessors.