Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-08

practicability of my scheme assured, / set
to work to bridge the distance with
hempvn cord. This done, | published NV
intention to the world. The bridge OF
rope ON which purposed making the trip
was 100 feet in length. 1t was stretched
at an altitude of 100 feet above the river at
one side, and crowned the boiling torrent
at hight of 10 feet For time was
looked upon as humbug. was scofed.
ridiculed and laughed at. | kept right on,
however, never doubling but that | would
succeed, and on the 30th OF June, 1859.
made the trip in the presence Of $4,000
spectators. Ny feelings when crossing
this might cataract were no different from
those | had always experienced when
engaged in like undertakings. and
felt no more fear that | do now when
giving one of my regular performances.
The view that / had from the
center of that rope ON that memorable
day. more than repaid me for the pains
and expense of the undertaking. Never
had seen its like nor have seen any,
thing to equal it since. Many of the vari-
Gus feats performed by me at the present
day were. done for the first time on that
single line of hempen rope, 170 feet above
the great falls. Satisfied that had ac-
complished what no other man had done
before, set about celebrating my perform
ance, and made several more trips across
the Falls, heavily handicapped, blind
folded, and with man on my back. Nv
greatest exploit, however, was that given
during my engagement at the Crystal Pal
ace, when | trundled Il wheelbarrow across
a rope 200 feet long, with my baby girl,
Adele, costly tucked away therein. IF
ever l felt any fear 1t was then-not for
myself, but my little one. My wife, however,
assured me that all was well, which, to-
gether with the simple faith of the child,
led me to make the journey safely.
Since the memorable day in September,
1860, when in the presence of II. r. II :,
the Prince of Wales and his suite, made
my last trip across Niagara, | have tray
eled through India, Australia, China, New
Zealand, Java. the Philippine Islands,
Siam aud every country in Europe, but in
none do | consider that | have ever
equaled my performance at Niagara The
novelty of the position, the uncertainty of
the tastenlngs, the inexperience of assist
ants and other sources of danger were all
rendered ten-fold more formidable, from
the fact that no human hand could extend
the feehiest aid III the case of accident.
Medals, decorations and testimonials, how
ever, have also been showered upon me
since that most memorable time, but none
are more valued than the medal given me
over quarter of century ago by the
citizens of Niagara city. Audiences that
in number have far exceeded the Niagara
gathering have assembled to witness my
exhibitions but none ever received me
more cordially. At Brussels 100000 per
sons witnessed my performance at the
Champs de Mars, and was, perhaps, the
greatest audience | ever had, but il was
nothing to me compared with the multi
tude met when first crossed Niagara.
The receipts If "a single performance at
Crystal Palace, London, once reached the
enormous sum of $4,000, but though the
largest | ever knew in connection with
my own performances, they We're really
less valued than the purses bestowed on
me by the various hotel men at Niagara
in return for my accepted perilous Jour
neys across the foamlng torrent.
Concerning the alleged peril of my
performances | must say word | have
never met with an accident in all the
years that have been engaged in the pro-
fesslon. To Others the work might be
dangerous, but not to me. The one great
secret of my success is temperance. Choco-
late is my only stimulant, and when en-
gagged in my professional work partake
only sparingly of this. My duties call for
. code of habits no less rigid than that of
the most sturdy athlete, and | regard my
profession as a most respectable and COM
mendable one. Rope-walking is indeed an
art that might even be taken up as an ac-
complishment by amateurs. 1t has been
ennobled by illustrious men, and, as
means of giving man confidence in him
self, of developing the nerves and of help
lug one always TO preserve his composure,
it can not be too highly commended.
Ability to walk rope would prove a most
valuable aid to man at times as well as
to one who follows it merely rs profession,
and mad twenty children they should ali
become experts in the line' -Lomisrale
Courier Journal.