Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-29
THE DIZZY HEIGH HTS.
Walking Il Tight Rope Across Il
Grand ChaStlS at TalluIah Falls.


Walking a Tight Rope Across the
Grand ChasiH at TaIlulah Falls.
The following fuller account OF Prof.
Icons feat than that already published
by the News is from the Athens ga
Banner atchman:
The crowd at Tallulah last Saturday
was estimated at 5000 persons. Besides
the packed excursion train from Atlanta
! the people for many miles around had
congregated there to witness the peril
Gus feat of walking tight rope across
the grand chasm from d point near the
DEVILS Pulpit to where Hughes photo
graph gallery stood. These are the most
| fearful and imposing heights at
Iallulah, and the rope was stretched 800
| feet above the water that dashed the
rocks below. 1t had cost $500 TO pur-
chase and stretch the rope that was to
| be the bridge for the daring adventurer,
who was to receive 81 900 for his feat. Col
lections had been taken up on the trains,
! the grounds, and at frequent intervals
during the day to help raise this sum. AT
| the appointed time the banks of the grand
| chasm were lined with a dense mass OF
humanity, and as the site was an ele-
waited and conspicuous one, no trouble
was had in finding plenty OF good points
of observation. 1t is almost miraculous
that some one didlnot fall from the preci-
! pice, but not an accident occurred.
At the appointed hour the
daring adventurer appeared, clad in
| the regulation costume OF his calling. He
| was handsome, well-formed young man,
and accompanied by his wife. just be-
fore he stepped upon the rope the de-
| voted woman threw her arms around her
| husbands neck and implored him to give
| up the attempt. He promised that this
/ a 10 a OF lima hD a NTnIl- q
| rope, and as he made his bow to the
| crowd and stepped out upon the slender
| cord that was TO bear him across the
frighttul heights, the poor woman went
of into Mysteries, and was taken in
charge by her friends. Owing to the
great distance spanned, the rope could
not be kept taut, and it shook badly,
The vast throng held their breath in anXi-
ETY. as the daring man, with balance pole,
slowly and cautiously made his way on
ward. To those in the chasm far below
he looked like speck suspended in the
| air. Several spy glasses were leveled at
the performer, and they showed the per-
spiration pouring from his brow, while his
face seemed distorted. That he was la
boring under great strain these glasses
clearly revealed. The rope swayed
| fear1uIIy, and an extra force
of men were put on the guy
ropes to try and hold them steady. At
last the centre of the rope was reached,
| and Prof. Leon was seen to halt and take
a rest. His strength had given out, for
the anxiety and strain on his nerves was
fearful. at the slightest motion of his
body the great rope sWayed like a pendu-
! lum. The Professor rested for some time,
and at last staggered to his feet and again
commenced his perilOus journey. 1t
was soon reported that he was about to
give out, and it was thought that he
could never reach the opposite cliff.
Step by step he dragged himself onward,
and his feet seemed as if weighted
with lead. AS his strength became ex-
hausted, the wa5bling of the rope was
more and more perceptible. Horror and
anxiety were depicted on every face that
lined the banks. 1t could be readily seen
had drawn on his last recourse for
strength to complete his journey. AT
last the heights were neared, and the rope
swayed more and more. Like a drunken
man he staggered on. AS he neared the
end, great beads of perspiration could be
seen standing out on his forehead, while
the veins in his face were swollen like
| Whip-cOrdS. Eager hands were
stretched out to assist him as soon
as he reached the verge of the precipice.
| With desperate effort he staggered on.
| But few feet interviewed between him
and safety. This was at last and with the
| greatest difficulty passed, and amid a
deafening cheer from thousands of
thrOats the daring adventurer tottered 30
the verge and fell PROSTATE on the ground,
having only strength enough left to call
for doctor. Had Prof. Leon to go ten
PAGES further he could not have done so.
He was completely exhausted. 1t re-
| quired about half an hour to make the
| journey, but to the spectators il seemed
| days, so great was their anxiety. After
the professor was resuscitated, he was
positively forbidden to repeat the journey.