Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-09-13
A FooLHARpY FEAT.

SamNel Dixon, of Toronto, Crosses Ma garn
River on COLLABORATING Antics While
Crossing tho Chasm-A Wonderful Feat
Successfully Performed.
NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y, Sept s.-The
name OF Samuel Dixon, phi otographer
of Toronto, has been added to the list of
"Heroes of Niagara, for on Saturday he
successfully performed the daring feat
OF crossing the cable stretched across
Niagara river at a point midway be-
tween the suspension and cantilever
bridges, The cable is three-fourths of
an inch thick and 923 feet long. 1t was
erected by Stephen Peer, of Niagara
Falls, three years ago, and he succeeded
in crossing it on Juno 90, 1887. He was
so elated over his success that he went
on protracted spree and on the night
of June 25 of the same year no was found
bleeding and unconscious on the rocks
below the cable, having gone asleep on
the precipice and rolled over the cliff
On August Q, 1887, Prof. f. Delan at
tempted to walk the Same cable, but
was unnerved after getting out few
feet from the bank and gave up the at
tempt. Since then the cable has never
been used and several of the guy ropes
and sandbags disappeared. All were
replaced, however, for Dixon's attempt,
and the cable was drawn in six feet.
thus raising it in the center about four
feet. A huge British flag floated from
the Canadian end Of the cable and the
American flag ornamented the cable on
river were thronged, especially the Ca
- s.l. A..
made.
The time fixed for the fcat was $3.50
o'clock and few minutes before the
appointed time Dixon appeared, dressed
in yellow tights, black silk waist
band, red silk socks black coat and
black silk cap. He glanced across the
river from the lofty cliff and took off
his coat just at the minute appointed.
Selling the balancing pole he spoke a
few words to the crowd and started on
his walk. His legs trembled slightly as
he walked out few feet When about
200 feet from the starting place he
raised one foot and balanced the pole
on his leg. A little further and he dem
onstrated to the crowd tn at he was full
of nerve and confidence by bending one
Knee TO UnS Wlre dHu HdluUllg Jie pco-
Pile. He picked his way very cautiously
as no went down the slope to point
near the center, when he sat down on
the wire. A little further on he resumed
his seat on the wire and performed q
few tricks, raising both feet over the
pole, the latter resting on the cable.
Exactly twelve minutes after starting
out, Dixon struck terra firma on the
American side and was enthusiastically
received by the Americans. After a
rest of four minutes he reappeared or
the wire and walked out to the Ameri.
can flag, where he rested himself and
wrapped the stars and stripes around
him. After few tricks he won't baci
| to the American side and was conveyed
in an open carriage across the bridge to
the Canadian side. Without pausing
for rest he again went out on the wire
backward and when he reached the
British flag he sat down and folded the
flag over his shoul der, being photo.
graphed in this position as we'll as il
an upright position. Dixon was then
lionized by the crowd, and some of his
friends took up a liberal coll ection for