The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-07-14

own II tue battle Of life.
Y sterday afternoon Is lady accom-
phshed a ieat which no female had
ever before e,sayed, one which, proDa'
bly,, none of our readers would be amDl-
tious for their wives, sisters, or sweet
heal ts TO emulate. THIS was no less an
undertaking than the crossing OF the
gorge of Niagara on tight rope,
stretched Immediately over the point
where the rapids boil most furiously, a
couple OF hundred leet beyond the rail
road
SUSPENSION BRIDGE.
AT the point selected Tor the eXhl0l- |
tion, the same at which the famous b on
din. pioneer of lunambul .sm a Nilta a,
stretched his second rope, the 90 ge Is
something more than eight hundred feet
across, and the banks about two hundred
leet a0ove the seelhlng water. IL is one
of the widest, most troubled parts of
the river.
l3. THE ROPE,
we may mention, is Two and quarter
inches in diameter, Of the best M manilla,
and weighs nearly a ton. 1t is held taut
by one Thousand lOur hundred pounds of
\ guy rope. There has never been a rope
better stretched across the Niagara.
The sag does not exceed twenty feet
altoge ther, and its own weight, together
Win perfect network OF guys AZ either
side, holds il steady almost as a bent
rod OF iron. Nevertheless had we occa-
sion to cross the river we should choose
the bridge. The SignorIna started upon
her perilous journey promptly at the ad-
lVertlsed time, O'clock, a little too soon
| Tor the afternoon tram FROM this city.
| When those who went down by that
train arrived inside the inclosure, they
saw glistening figure far out upon "the
straight and narrow way" and, with
steady measured steps, progressing.
| The tauy was attlred VIII green bus
kins, tights of the color nature gives the
cuticle OF The Caucasian race, a tunic oi
scarlet, and shining green bodice. Her
mead was covered onIy by it's luXurianl
growth oi flowing brown hair. Bands at
either side Of the river prayed inspirit-
| ing MUSIC, but eYeiy eye was fast fixed
upon The 1orm of the daring woman, VINO
was now passing up the ascent TO the
lurlher shore. A few more seconds OI
intense interest. at least to those who
were lookers-on, and sue stood upon the
shining shore OF her Aajssty's DomIn-
ION. Tne accomplishment of her pas
sage was the signal Tor applause from
bvLn banks and The bridge. Then they
waited, probably len minutes. Az the
Expiration of that time the SignOrina
again appeared. balance-pole in hand,
| and
1 STEPPING FIRMLY
| upon the rope Degan tne return journey.
Ii any aspiring reporters anticipated
al ol p ,rtun tys for distinguish.
.ng themselves III tragedy, tney were
duomtd d ~ serious disappointment, for
Jne SIgnorina SpelLerlnl uad no idea
whatever OF taking a tumble for thelr
Denett. Steadily sne came back acruss
tne long line, sLupplng at The center "
stepping forward with measul eo
} and steady tread. When with
IN few rods OF tue final uestinauou
} she stood lmmoyaDle TOR moment il
slaLuesque pose while an enter, rs
ing pnotOgrapuer secured her present
ment. Tuen sue trayersed The rema.
ing distance, until safe again on terra
ii 1 ma, and tnus the exhibition Of the uaI
was closed. The SIgnorlna SpelterinI is
, twenty-tnree years OF age, dark, with al
essentially Italian cast OF counIenance
square bullt, and probably turning ont
hundred ana fifty pounds. Her features
aie quite regular, her expression Intel,i
Y gent, her manner engaging. From th,
8 lime she Was three Years old she ha
continually practlced upon the
TIGHT ROPE AND SLACK WIRE,
the latLer exercise giving uer complet
\. mastery OF her equilibrium. In Europ
i sue has beeu prUnounceu Lhe greatest Y
IunamDultsts, Blondln not excepted
, rne lady came TO this country a shor
3 time ago IRON Havana, where, as he,
E agent informs us, she received 30 900 10
1, eIx entertainments. Long accusJome,
w walk the rope or WIRE at great aiti
T tudes, the depbh oi the gorge AT Magyar
|, was d matter Of no moment; but tn
4 rush of waters below was Another al
8 serious consideration. Tue SignorIn
speaks no less than seven lal
guages, but English with less fuenc
q Lnan ally, With the words al he
q command, and any amount of en-,
u getlc gestures to complete her meant
she eXpialned to our reporter that u
u ii st crossing in no way affected he
j. But on the return trip, after sue ha
passed from oyer the trees aud was owe
]. the rapids Two hundred feet beneaLl
e her balance-pole suddenly became u
- light, the rope seemed slipping awd
u from her, sideways, and IL Was vii
/" some difficulty she retained her footin
l' InIs experience Was momentary, bl
D. again, when nearIy across, tue 81
70 shone with such fierce heat upon ner u
y covered head that it seemed as ii
u would burst. 1t was terribly hot da
even Tor walking on a broad roadWa
70 and it was no matter for wonder tn
u the woman was somewhat exuauste
10 Sue is reported as capable Of pertVrmil
r1l Az ha.,,,