The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-08-07

( pttAh NAAls IAbFll l)Iblifliil Ht2db " lduD
me, and got into that corner of pride and
vain eloriousness which ! could not escap,
from. Meantime Blondn had coached me
as to what | should do. was to put my
weight on his shoulders by my arms ant
clasp his body about with my legs. But
/ could not put my weight on his legs
that would incumber 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 on 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 aud
foot and waited till my arms were relieved
when | 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. !
do not remember what thought.
From my place on Blondin's back / could
look out to tile other shore and see below
me the stunted pines thrGsting their sharp
points up from the edge Of the foaning
water ready to split us if we fell re
member. too, that ! was anxious to get
over, and ! recall, too. that the great rope
before MS made swings from side to side
We afterward knew that the rope
swung forty feet at the center, and | felt
the necessity of preserving my self pos
session, and did it. There was forty
feet length between the guy on one side
and those of the other that it was impos-
sible to make steady. 1t was the middle
span. Below us 250 feet roared tile river.
and over it we swung from side to side
still moving on steadily, however Blon-
din never trelnbled. When we had gone
about ten feet on this middle span some
body on the American side pulled the outer
guy-line. We aftefward 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 a
vain effort to enable him to secure his
balance. At one time it was up and down
on the right side, at another upon and
down on the left. and | recall now with
wonder that ! was only curious to know
whether he would succeed in getting con-
troll of himself or not. | didn't feel 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 ont 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. There he recov-
cred his balance, and whispered rather
than said: 'Decendez. vous The perspi-
ration stood out on his neck and shoulders
in great beads, and we balanced ourselves
on the swaying rope. Presently he said
'Allons, and | raised myself to his
shoulders and we went on in safety and
without Incident toward shore.
1T was not until we landed that 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,
aud my indignation mastered any react
ionary feeling of fear. You see many
thousand dollars were bet upon the ability
of Blondin to carry a man over, and human
cupidity stops at no sacrifice. Then there
Were the congratulations and the praise Of
pluck and the rest Of it, so that in my
foolish. boyish elation forgot everything
else. do remember that as we approached
the shore the wonderful tableau Of the
100, 600 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 positions of
anxiety-wonen who stared, white and
motionless. and men Who wept, and as we
drew near the bank the crowd surged to-
ward us, and BIondin stopped, fearing
they would push each other over the preci-
pice. Then the crowd was still again. and
with quick run we came TO the shore and
>prang TO the ground. | remember one
man Selling me in his arms and lifting me
high in air, saying; Thank God, this
thing is Overt From the other side there
was a cheer. and then we were thrown in
to a carriage and drawn to the lntcrna-
tional hotel by the people.
Il crossed again, twice, the last time
under the patronage Of the Prince Of
Wales He congratulated us personally,
ana gave us each purse of 600. n. P.
Willis was present and wrote wonderful
sketch of the affair Tom IIyeI, the prize
fighter. was there, also, and he grabbed
me up and shook me, and looked at mt
through the tears that fell SO rapidly as
to almost blind him, and said oh, You
id little eussr 'Cuss' wasnot the wore
he used, however"
What was your weight then, Mr.. Col
cord2''
Zone hundred and thirty pounds.
And Blondin's p
Zone hundred and thirty-fve."
Would you do it again?''
Not for all the wealth of the world.
IT. 4