The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-08-07
ON BEOxDIN.S BACK.
The Opening of Niagara Falls TO the
World Reviyes Some "Reminiscences.

Harry Colcord, artist, now of Chicago,
fore he got through with his adventures lie
rode across Niagara falls three times on the
back Of Blondin ON tight-rope. He says
he would not do it again, but that he did
not suffer from fear One can readily be-
lieve him. In his deep, gray eye there IS a
suggestion of self-control, and in his slight,
1.-THE figure of strength and reserve physi-
cal force which his gentle voice, his easy.
courteous manner fails to entirely conceal.
He is an artist as artists go, paints toler-
able pictures. which, instead of being color
ed out of the pigment of his experiences,
are studies of neatness-choice heads, oc-
with color and sentiment, and fanciful
bits in which one sees much that is not
conventional. He starts on the idea that art
cannot refine nature and it is better to sug-
gest her than attempt to improve her by bury
ing acres OF loneliness iuto 22X21 frame
However, he started three times on q more
perilous errand than art ethics, and, leav-
ing out the question of his success in the
here speaks for himself:
I'm the year 1858 | joined Blondin in
Boston. He was of the Francona troupe,
including Martinetti and the famous
painted scenes with a whitewash brush.
We disbanded in Cincinnati. and there it
occurred to Blondin To cross Niagara on a
tieht-rope. and | went to the falls with
him. We had no end of trouble getting
the necessary permits to extend the ropes.
Bionlin only spoke a little English. that
was one difficulty, but finally we succeed
ed in getting them from Porter, who OWL
ed 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 Horse
shoe falls, through the mist and the spray
of the great cataract They objected be
cause 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 honsc. 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 III diameter, made
in New York rope walk, in two pieces.
Blondn joined them with long splice
which, when the rope was extended, was
/ in the center of the span. II took us near
! ly five months to stretch the rope and te
get guy lines in place. To begin with, a
| small line was carried across in boat, and
| although the current used to sweep it away
| from us, We at last got it over, and by
means Of windlass and carefully playing
out the big coil we got the big rope in posi-
! ton. 1t was $50 feet above water at its
| lowest point, which was fifty feet below
1 the highest-in other words there Was a
grade of fifty feet in each 1000 feet
BIondin then rugged car to cross the
rope and proceeded to rig the guy lines
There We're Is, 0o0 feet OF guy line alto
oether. Each of them was weighted witt
ten pound sand bag to drop them out d
the way of his balance pole, and in putting
them up Blondin crossed a 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 advertised through the
papers that was to ride on his back. and
| was the subject of all sorts of attacks
and criticisms People said TO me; 'le1