Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-07-31
ACROSS THE CHASN.
Peri1Ous Feat Of . Rope walker
Crossing the Tallulnh In Mid.AiP

Perilous Feat Of . Rope walker
Crossing the Tallulah I'm Aid.AiF
From the Atlanta Constitution.
Prof. Leon has crossed the Tallulah Falls
chasm, and won the greatest feat OF rope walk
ing on record.
THE SCENE OF INTEREST.
The river at this point runs east and west.
Along either side rise precipitous mountains
OF gray granite, bearing the touch Of extrethe
antiquity. On the Rabun county side, below
the falls, Is Point Inspiration. The rocks are
steep and jagged, blackened with the drppings
OF centuries, and frownng fiercely under the
strong light OF the MONDAY sun. Behind this
point the country continues to rise, fringed
with stinty foliage, but rich in shrub and
flowers. Across from it, on the Habersham
county side, lies Lovers Leap, huge platform
OF rock, which bulges out from o bank of fifteen
hundred feet precipitOuS ascent In the huge
gorge between these points rushes the mad
denlng Tallulah, gaining fresh fury with every
succeeding fall, and plunging on towards
lCs estuary. Against the Rabun side the sun
Was beating its scorching rays, while on the
daDerSham side the mountain shadow had
already began to throw itself out.
THE ROPE ACROSS
This was the scene and time chosen by Prof.
Leon for his great walk. Firmly stretched
! from Point Inspiration to Lovers Leap was the
fateiul rope, securely guyed by fourteen ropes
direction. The end at Lovers Leap was fas-
tened at point 1000 feet above the chasm
DeioW, 1t sagged in One-third of the distance,
fully fifty feet. Thence to Point Inspiration
II run straight line.
PROFESSOR LEON APPEARS.
AT 4:3O Professor Leon and party arrived at
Point Inspiration, and began preparing for the
work ahead. The rope was found to have
t taSis6 era delay Impotence was mani
Ies1ed by many, it being freely asserted that
Leon SI, would never dare the perilous feat
=. At $40, with his balancing pole in his hand,
1 ne stepped upon the rope. A moment later
earth below. Deep silence stole over the thou
sands and hearts palpitated. With carefully
selected step the walker passed twenty feet out
the waters edge he appeared to be an atom.
ne was King at the rate of thirty-three steps
to the minute until about one quarter of the
distance was covered.
Then the rope made fearful swag, describ-
IN Ing circle OF not less than ten feet
side and then on the other, was marvellous.
1t was evident that something was wrong, and
eyes were closed lest Leon should go plung-
ing down into the depths below. For one
minute he walked with slackened pace, max
ing only sixteen steps, then with a quick
sa rope pc and
on longer journey. He had been eight min
utes on the rope. He called out loudly for
the tightening of the guy lines. This con-
sumed nine minutes. In an instant, amid the
clapping of hands and inspiring strains from
the band, Leon was on his feet again, and held
MS balancing pole tightly.
AN INTERESTING BY PLAY
Among the lookers-on in the Lovers Leap
assemblage was neat little lady dressed in
black. Her face was wrought up to the highest
degree of excitement. She looked long and
1nquiringly at the approaching figure, trembling
at signs OF danger, and looking relieved at
signs of success BY her side stood a little
girl, four years old, dressed in white. The
~ have in tot ixN,,
OF holding the balancing pole, and appeared,
by this mute language, to inspire the walker
These were the wife and child Of Professor
Leon.
At twenty-five minutes to six, Leon was
nrmly on his way, stepping thirty-three PAGES
again began its mad pranks. By this time,
Leon, who appeared to the lockers on from
Lovers Leap to be but speck when he started
rom Point Inspiration, became visible in full
body, the working of the muscles, told too well
the terrible strain under which the walker was
laboring. There was sigh OF relief when he
reached his last quarter, in which he had to
make an ascent of fifty feet. With this change
OF position Leon increased his steps to forty to
the minute. The people, as Leon approached
the edge of Lovers Leap, stood up in excite
ment. The walkers hands trembled he
grasped the pole, his neck and tace were livid,
but his legs were firm pillars of Steel One
more step at fifteen minutes to six, and the
rock of Lovers Leap was but five feet below his
feet.
Another second and he dropped his pole,
when he was supported on either side by Judge
Van Epps and Mr.. 2. j. Moran, who led him
up the steep. The wife rushed into his arms.
the little girl ieaped to his breast. A moment
more and the walker was in charge OF DIR. X. c.
Divine, who was astoEished at what he found.
When Leon started out his pulse was steady, at
ninety, while standing, and seventy-five when
sitting, with temperature ninety-nine and
three-quarters. When the feat was over his
pulse was, sitting, 115. and standing 125, full
volume, with temperature OF ninety-nn
This wonderful record will be appreciated by the
medical fraternity. in ten minutes, Leon was
himself again.
WHAT THE WALK MEANS.
The figures by actual measurement are as
follows: The rope from the point where Leon
stepped on it to the point where he stepped Off
was ], 44O feet. When he stepped out at Point
Inspiration $50 feet Of space lay beneath him.
Toward the center this was increased to about
1000, and at Lovers Leap, it was $50 feet
below. 1t took him just twenty-five minutes
TO cross the chasm, from which nine minutes
should be subtracied for time lost in fixing the
guy ropes. This makes not only the longest
walk, but the highest walk ever accomplished
by human being.
The balancing pole used by Prof. Leon was
forty-six pounds in weight.