St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-09-10

taste is SO far formed that they will
have no fascination for him, and the
remedy lies almost entirely in the
hands of the mothers. Mrs. II. An
nette Poole in Good Housekeeping.
Over Niagara on a Mans Back.
Harry COlcOrd, artist, now of Chica-
go, ran away from home and went to
sea. Before he got through with his
adventures he rode across Niagara
Falls three times on the back of Blon-
din on IL tight-rOpe. He says he would
not do il again, but that he did not
suffer from fear. One can readily be-
lieve 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, his easy, courteous manner fail
to entirely conceal. Said he:
Gin the year 1853 | joined BlOndin
in Boston. He was one of the Franco
ma troupe, including Martinetti and the
famous Ravels. | was their scenic ar
tist, and painted scenes with white
wash brush. We disbanded in Gin
cinnati, and there it occurred to BlOn
din to cross Niagara on a 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 II little English,
that was one difficulty, but finally we
succeeded in getting them from Porter,
who owned the American side, and the
rest was easy. BlOndin wanted to
carry the rope from Terrapin tower and
across to Davis Hotel, which would
have led over Horseshoe Falls, through
the mist and spray of the great cata-
ract. They objected because BlOndin
was sure to fall, they said. The spray
would keep his rope damp, and |, who
had engaged to go 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 diameter, made in Il
New York rOpe-walk in two pieces.
Blondin Joined them with long splice
which, when the rope was extended,
was in the centre of the span. 1t took
us nearly five months to stretch the
rope and to get guy lines in place. A
and although the current used to sweep
it away from us, we ut last got it over,
and by means of IA windlass and care
fully paying out the big coil we got the
big rope in position. 1t was $50 feet
above water at it's lowest point, which
was fifty feet below the highest-in
other words, there was grade of fifty
feet in each 1000 feet. BlOndin then
rugged Il car to cross the rope and pro-
ceeded to rig the guy lines. There was
$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 IL score of
times. At last we were ready to make
the first ascension that was what we
called it. Before | went over he made
several public ascensions. 1t was adj
Vertised through the papers that was
to- ride on his back, and | was the
subject of all sorts of attacks and criti-
cisms. People said to me: 'YOu are Il
fool and | was ready to back out, eX-
cept BlOndin began to taunt me, and |
got into that corner of pride aud vain
glOriOusness which could not escape
from. Meantime BlOndin had coached
me as to what | should do. | 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 bis legs /; that would encum-
Der 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 that |
had to bear my weight OH his shoulders
and had to use my arms and with main
strength to support myself frequent
rests were necessary. ! told BlOndin
when | wanted to rest, and then |
dropped down on the rope on one foot
and waited till my arms were relieved
when | would spring up again using
only my arms to hold myself in place.
There was Il great crowd there. | did
not see them ut first. do not remem-
Der what | thought. From my place
on BlOndiu'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 afterward knew that
the rope swung forty feet in the centre,
and felt the necessity Of preserving
my self possession, and did it. There
was a forty feet 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 it we
swung from side to side, still moving
on steadily, however. BIOndin never
trembled. When we had gone about
ten feet on this middle span, somebody
on the American side pulled the outer
guy-line. We afterward found out it
was done Intentionally, and the rope
was stopped in its swing. BlOndin
stopped, and his pole went from side
to side in vain effort to secure his
balance. At one time it was up and
down OH the right side, at another I'D
and down on the left, and | recall now
with wonder that | was only curious
to know whether he would succeed i'm
getting control of himself or pot. |
didn't feel any fear. Failing of getting
his balance he started to run across !
the horrible span, and we safely reach
ed the point where the guy-rOpe came |
out from the American shore Then |
to steady himself BIOndin put his foot
on the guy-rope and tried to stop, but
the guy-line broke and with a dash of
speed he ran swiftly twenty five feet
further to the next point, where the
guys met the main rope. Then he re-
covered his balance and whispered
rather than said 'Desendes, rOus.' The
stood out OH his neck and |
shoulders in great beads and we bal
lnced ourselves on the swaying rome.
Presently he said 'AlLORs' and raised |
myself TO his shoulders and we went