Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-09-21
HL1sselIaneDns.
On BlOndln's Back.
THE MAN Who WAS CARRIED ACROSS
NIAGARA ON ROPE.

Harry Colcord, artist, now of Chicago,
ran wav from home and went to sea. Be-
fore he got through with his adventures he
rode across Niagara Falls three times on
the back on Blondin on tight rope. He
says that 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 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,
fails to entirely conceal He said:
"In the year 1858 | joined Bondn in
Boston. He was one of Franconi's troupe,
including Martinetti and the famous Raw
els. was their scenic artist, and painted
scenes with a whtewase brush. We dis.
banded in Cincinnati, and there it occurred
to Blondin to cross Niagara on a tight
rope. and went to the tails 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 succeeded
in getting them from Porter. who owned
the American side. and the rest was easy
Blondin wanted to carry the rope from
rerrapin tower and across to Davls's hotel
which would have led over Horseshoe
tails, through the mist and the spray of
the great cataract. They objected because
Blondin was sure to fall. they said. The
spray. would keep his rope damp, and l.,
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 were 5000 feet of the rope. 1t was
of manila three inches in diameter, made
in Il New York ropewalk in two pieces
Blondin joined them with a long splice
which, when the rope was extended, was
in the centre of the span. 1t took us near
ly five months 10 stretch the rope and to
get guy lines in place.
ITO begin with, small line was car
ried across in a boat. and although the
current used to sweep it away from us,
we at last got it over. and bv means of a
windlass and carefully paying out the big
coil we got the big rope in position. 1t
was $50 feet above water at its 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 a car to cross the rope and
proceeded to rig the guy lines. There
were 10000 feet of guy lines 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 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 pub
| lie ascensions.
ut was advertised through the papers
| that was to ride on his back, and | was
the subject OF all sorts of attacks and crit
cisms People said to me: you are a
fool. and was ready TO back out, except
Blondin began to taunt me. and got into
that corner OF pride and vaingioriousness
which | could not escape from. Mean
time 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 I could
not put my weight on his legs, that would
incumber his movement. had to. keep
all the weight on his shoulders.
lin 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 on his shoulders and had
to use my arms and with main strength to
support myself. frequent rests were neces-
sary. | told Blondin when I wanted to
rest. and then dropped down on the rope
on one foot and waited till nv arms were
relieved. when would spring up again
using only my arms to lift and hold my
self in place. There was a great crowd
there. | did not see them at first. do
not remember what | thought. From my
place on Blondin's back could look out
to the other shore and see below me the
s,unted 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.
I'VE afterward knew that the rope
swung 40 feet at the centre. and felt the
necessity of preserving my self possession
and did it. There was 40 feet length
between the guys on one side and those of
the other. so that it was impossible to
make it 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. Blondin
never trembled. When we had gone
about 10 feet on this middle span. some
body on the American side pulled the
outer guy-line.