Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1876-07-06
sPELrERrNI Ar N1AGRA.
A Lady. to Cross shs River on a single
Rope.
New York Herald. asd nit.

New York Herald, 22d nit.
The great sensation of the present day
in the amusemenb world is the projected
trip across the Niagara river of young
lady, lately arrived from Europe, and
known as the Signorini Maria Spelterini.
The young artistic arrived in New York
about two months ago, and has since been
quietly making preparations to accom-
plish the feat that gave Blondin world
wide reputation. During her stay in this
city the Spelterini gave two representa-
tons at Jones's Wood, and performed
Ieats on the tight rope one hundred feet
ABOVE the ground, that at once convinced
the spectators of her perfect right to the
encomlums she has received from the Eu-
ropean press. Some Well-xnown mana
gers VINO were present at her initial per-
fOrmanee freely expressed the opinion
that she excelled in grace and daring any
artistic that has ever visited this country
A Herald reporter paid Nile. Spelterini
visit yesterday afternoon, and in course
of conversation learned the following
facts: She was born in Livorno, Italy,
and made her first appearance in public
with her fathers company, when she was
three years of age. She performed until
she reached the age of ten upon the
the tight rope and then commenced the
slack wire and the rolling globe. In the
two last acts she achieved a brilliant sue
cess, performing for two years in Berlin
and Vienna. In 1871 she went to Russia
and made such a grand success upon the
high rope that she adopted that branch of
her profession entirely and gave it her
sole attention. She is gifted with won
| derfuI nerve, combined with cool daring,
| and during her entire career has never
made single mistake, although on sew
eral occasions she was only saved from
| accident by great presence of mind. In
| 1873, when performing in Surrey Gar
| i IL,
Palace was destroyed by fire, she was
| standing on the platform waiting to COM.
mence her act, when the rope broke, and
| the shock threw down. the pole on the
| other end. The one supporting the plat
| form on which she stood rocked violently
as her assistant was jumping about to
| throw himself off, but she caught him by
| the hair of the head and made him stand
still until assistance was brought and
| they both landed on terra fTeG safe and
| sound. On one occasion, when perform
| ing at night, in Jersey, at height of 125
| feet over the bay, violent thunderstorm
arose, frightening everybody in the vi
cinity, but she went through her per-
formance with the lightning flashing all
around her, and never for moment lost
her presence of mind. Last year, at
Oporto she was advertised to carry boy
across on her back, distance of 200 feet,
about eighty feet from the ground
Inc BOY disappointed ner anu sne caTTlso
her brother across, a gentleman weighing
TO younds.
Speaking of Niagara, the Spelterini
does not regard the feat as anything at
all extr aordinary, as walking across the
river does not display the artiste's nerve
half as much as the different perform
ances that she proposes to give on the
rope If sufficient strain can be got on
the rope so as to stretch it t0lerbly
straight, she will be able to give her en-
tire repertoire; and, in any case, if the
rope can be properly guyed, she will per-
form some ten or twelve different acts.
The rope is now being manufactured
in this city, and when completed will
measure 1000 feet and weigh 100 pounds.
1t will require 1000 pound weight of guys
to keep it fairly steady. The rope viii be
stretched across the Niagara Rapids about
200 feet below the Railroad Suspension
bridge, and 300 feet on each bank of the
river will be enclosed and arranged with
seats for the accommodation of the spec
tators. The first performance will be
given on July 1, Dominion Day, at p.
M; and the second at the same hour on
july 4, in honor of the Centennial cele-
bration. The Spelterini and her brother
left last night for the international Hotel,
where she will remain during her stay at
Niagara Falls.