Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-03-27
BLONDIN'S RIDER.
The Story of One of the Most Re-
markable Feats Of Daring
on Record.
ISt Louis Post-Disnatch. !


"I first met Blondin," said Signor Natalie,
the man who rode on Blondin's back
across Niagara falls, din the Ravell troupe,
of which we were both members, way BACK i'll
the fifties. He was, l think, about my age,
anl was not quite SO tall as |,
although very powerful. l think
he was about five feet seven inches
high. We Travelled all over the county with
tho troupe, and remember we played here,
at what think was called the old Bates
theatre. Blondin's specia ty was tight-rope
dancing, and he was wonderful performer
guess there are people here who remember
his performance. His most dangerous feat
was to walk up tight rope from the stage
to the gallery of the theatre the incline be-
ing very steep. Well, while we were in Now
York state he thought what big thing it
would be to cross over Niagara on tight
rope, so he left the troupe and made an ar
rangement with the railroad companies lead
ing to the falls by which he was to give
performance there, and was to receive a GER
tain amount on every ticket sold by the rail
roads. That was in the summer OF 1861
tire nendous crowd OF people gathered that
day for our purpose. l was no performer,
manager In this particular event, however,
Blondin had to carry something over on his
back, and as nobody else had enough interest
in the affair to be willing to risk his life, or
enough faith in Blondin's strength and Skill
to take such desperate chances, | had to do
the riding"
$50 that if there had been an accident the
whole troupe, manager and all, would have
disappeared"
yes, of course. Blondin wore tights, the
sarne as rope-waikcrs usually do, except that
he had on sort of harness. so that could
reach around his neck and get z, good grip
without choking him, and 3 ut could
stick my legs through pair % Dnnss like
rings, and cross them in front of him, With
out interfering with his arms or legs.
",The rope was stretched across the river
about where the new Suspension bridge now
stands--much closer to the falls than the old
hr gc Blondin was very confident and
firm, but of course we both knew 1t was
desperate chance to take. He walked at first
slowly and regularly, but soon, feeling more
settled, he made an occasional stop, STOOD on
one leg kissed his hand TO the crowd. and
did q few other such things as you have seen
other rope walkers do. | could see the water
way down under U.s. AMI the crowd on either
side, every body watching us with faces that
locked rs if they welc .fering. There was
no cheering or app 'e while We were
out over the water, ana The roar Of the falls,
Which seemed only II few yards away, would
have prevented us from bearing worry plainly,
even if there had been. ltwaS Il terrible few
moments to me; more so to me than to
Blondin, becauscd he was usel to that kind
of danger and was not. did not move Il
muscle for fear of tripping him, AMI, | can
assure you, felt mighty COOL when We
reached solid ground again and the people
began to yell and Shrek and wave their
handkcrchcfs. You can form some idea
how big tho crowd was when | tell you
Blcndin received $4,000 for the performance
"rhat gave us IL big start, AMI no: long
afterwari we went to London Just before
we started a young man We had hired as our
treasurer ran of with X, 900 Of on. money,
aud left us little except our tickets to travel
on We had hardly reached London before
we were offered EljO each for twelve per-
tormanccs at the Crystal palace. Our fist
performance there drew 5000 people, and
one of the members of the present Abbey
troupe was in the crowd, and remembers it
well We did n good deal of the same
kind Of work. Bloniin carried NE on
the rope several times, wtee!e Il barrow
across while blindfolied, took cooh-stove
acioss, stopping On the way, and things like
that. We visited eli the countries Of Europe,
and in Spain was more lionizoI than
Blondn himself, wh.ch was natural. In n
couple of Years he had made nearly sl0l,GJJ,
when left hlul after SIX years Of business he
was very wealthy man He suffered once
in a bankruptcy affair caused by corner i'll
wines, but he still has fine future AMI lives
in splendid style. dined with him when III
Enrlund last