Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-10-01


Back Far Above the
Boiling Waters.
Harry Colcord, artist, now of Chicago,
ran away from home and went to sea.
Before he got through with his adven-
lures he rode across Niagara falls three
times on the back of Blondin on tight
rope. He said he would not do it again,
but that he did not suffer from fear. One
can readily believe him. In his deep
gray eyes there is a suggestion of self
control, and in his slight, 1.-the figure, of
strength and reserve physical force which
his gentle voice and his easy, courteous
manner fails entirely to conceal. He is
an artist as artists go, and paints tolerable
pictures. To a representative of the
Chicago News he said:
In the year 1858 joined Blondin in
Boston. He was of the Francona troupe,
including Martinetti and the famous
Bavels. [ was their scenic artist and
painted scenes with white-wash brush.
We disbanded in Cincinnati, and there it
occurred to Blondin to cross Niagara on
tight rope, and went to the falls with
him. We. had no end of trouble getting
the necessary permits to extend the ropes.
Blondin only spoke little English that
was one difficulty, but finally we sue
ceeded in getting them from Porter, who
owned the American side, and the rest
was easy. Blondin wanted to carry the
rope from Terraphin tower and across to
Davis hotel, which would have led
over to Horseshoe Falls, through
the mist and spray of the great
cataract. They objected, because Blon-
din was sure to fall, they said. The
spray would keep the rope damp, and 1,
who had engaged to 60 on his back, was
very glad of it. Finally we stretched the
rope from Whites pleasure ground across
to the Clifton house. Not far away from
the place there is now a suspension
bridge. There was 1000 feet of the rope.
1t was of manila, three inches in dame
ter, made in New York rope walk, in
two pieces Blondin joined them with a
long splice which, when the rope was
extended, was in the centre of the span.
the rope and get the guy lines in place.
SIT was $50 feet above water at its low
est point, which was fifty feet below the
highest-in other words there was grade
of fifty feet in each 1000 feet There were
$4,000 feet of guy line altogether. Each
of them was weighted with ten-pound
sand-bag to drop them out of the way of
his balance pole, and in putting them up
Blondin crossed score of times. At last
we were ready to make the first ascen-
sion; that was what we called it. Before
I went over he made several public as
tensions 1t was advertised through the
papers that 1 was to ride on his back, and
1 was the subject of all kinds of attacks
and criticisms. l was ready to back out,
but Blondin tainted me, and / got into
that corner of pride and vaingloriousness
which nothing escapes from. Meantime
Blondin had coached me as to what l
should do. l was to put my weight on
his shoulders by my arms and clasp his
body about with my legs. But could
not put my weight on his legs; that would
cucumber his movement. | had to
keep all the weight on his shoulders. In
July, 1860, we went across. / took my
place on Blondin's back; and he began
the descent from the Canadian side on
the rope. By reason of the fact had to
bear my weight on his shoulders and had
to use my arms, and with main strength,
to support myself, frequent rests were
necessary. 1 told Blondin when 1 wanted
to rest, and then dropped down on the
rope on one foot and waited till my arms
were relieved, when l would spring up
again, using only my arms to lift and
hold myself in place. There was
great crowd there. | did not
see them at first. I do not
remember what / thought. From my
place on Bl6ndin's back could look out
to the other shore and see below me the
stunted pines thrusting their sharp points
up from the edge of the foaming water,
ready to split us if we fell. remember
too, that was anxious to get over, and
recall, too, that the great rope before us
made swings from side to side. We after.
wards knew that the rope swung forty
| feet at the centre, and | felt the necessity
of preserving my self possession, and 1
did it.
'sThere was forty-foot length between
the guy on one side and those of the
other that it was impossible to make
steady. 1t was the middle span. Below
us $50 feet roared the river, and over il
we swung from side to side. Still moving
on steadily, however, Blondin never
trembled. When he had gone about ter
feet on the middle span somebody on The
American side pulled the outer guy line
We afterwards found out that it was done
intentionally and the rope stopped in it,
swing. Blondin stopped and his pole
went from side to side in the vain etfor
to enable him to secure his balance. A
one time it was up and down on the RICH
side, and / recall now with wonder that
was only curious to know whether III
would succeed in getting control of him
self or not. didn't feel any fear. Fail
ing in getting his balance, he started t.
run across the horrible span, and WI
safely reached the point where the gu.
rope came from the American shore
Then to steady himself Blondin put hi
foot on the guy rope and tried to stop, bu
the guy line broke and with a dash
speed he ran swiftly twenty-five feet fur
Their to the rope. There he recovered M
balance and whispered: 'Descende2
.vous.' The perspiration stood out on nj
neck and shoulders in great beads and W
balanced ourselves on the swaying rope
Presently he said 'Allons,' and L raise
myself to his shoulders and we went o.
in safety and without accident toward tn
shore.
cit was not until we landed that az
preciated what had been done. Then