Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-09-21

done Intentionally, and the rope was
stopped in its swing. Blondin stopped.
and his pole went from side to side in a
vain effort to enable him to secure his
balance. At one time it was up and down
on the right side, an another up and down
on the left. and | recall now with wonder
that was only curious to know whether
he would succeed in getting control of
himself, or not | didn't teel any fear.
Failing of getting his balance. he started
to run across the horrible span, and we
safely reached the point where the guy
rope came out from the American shore.
Then. to steady himself. Blonden put
his foot on the guy-rope and tried to stop !;
but the guy-line broke. and with dash
of speed he ran swiftly 25 feet further to
the next point, where the guys met the
main rope There he recovered his bal
ance, and whispered rather than said:
"'Descendez, vous.'
1.-The preparation stood on his neck
and shoulders in great beads, and we bal
anced ourselves on the swaying rope.
Presently he said:
Gallons
Then raised myself to his shoulders,
and we went on in safety and without in
cident, to the shore.
at was not until we landed thai APP
preciated what had been done. Then it
occurred to me that the man who pulled
the guy-line was one of those who bet that
the feat could never be accomplished, and
my indignation mastered any reactionary
feeling of fear. You see many thousand
dollars were bet. upon the ability of Blon-
din to carry a man over, and you know
human cupidity stops at no sacrifice.
Then there were the congratulations,
and praise of pluck. and the rest of it. so
that in my foolish. boyish citation. forgot
everything else. do remember. as we
approached the shore, the wonderful tab
leau of 100000 people who stood gazing
at us. Thousands of them turned their
faces away. or, half turning. cast glances
over their shoulders at US. | remember
their white faces, their strained position
of anxietv-women who stared, white and
motionless, and men who wept. and as we
drew near the bank the crowd surged
toward US, and Blondin stopped, fearing
they would push each other over the
precipice. Then the crowd was still
again, and with quick run we came to
the ground remember one man selling
me in his arms. and lifting me high in the
air. saying:
THANK God this thing is overt
From the other side there was cheer,
and then we were thrown into carriage
and drawn to the International Hotel by
the people.
81 crossed again. twice. the last time
under the patronage of the Prince of
Wales. He congratulated US personally.
and gave us each purse of f100 N. P.
Willis was present. and he wrote Won
derful sketch of the whole affair"
What was your weight then, Mr.. Col
cord ?''
lone hundred and thirty pounds
"And Blondin's?'
'One hundred and thirty five"
Would you do it AGAIN."
Not for all the wealth in the world.
try to stop thinking about it. To night.
as on every other night after talking about
this thing. will. as have always, suffer
the most horrible nightmares. fall
thousands of feet. see million of people
reaching out to save me, and the roar Of
the water in that horrible chasm laughing
hideously and throwing great arms of
spray out to reach and embrace me.
awake bathed in perspiration and terror"
I-Chjc100 NeUs. ,--c