Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-07
DIXON'S GREAT FEAT.
6lONDtN AND ALL OTHER TIGHT
ROPE WALKERS OUTCOME.
He Walks Across NIagara Falls on SEVEN
Eighths Inch Cable--dis PERIL
Gus Antics.
By telegraph to the pispasch.l

NIAGARA FALLS, OST., September 6.-The
great Blondin and all other tiShtrope
walkers we're outdone this afternoon by
plucky resident of Toronto, who walked
cable seven eighths of an inch in diameter
stretched across the Niagara gorge between
the suspension and cantilever bridges.
True to his announcement. he appeared at
the Canadian end of the cable at 3:2S
o'clock. Dixon. ms he stood on the narrow
wire, with his balance-pole in his hands,
looked pale and anxious. he whispered
some words Of instruction to his attendant,
8nd started on his perilous trip.
At least 5000 spectators lined the banks
OF the river. People held their breath,
and seemed to be petrified at the antics of
the man as he scampered down the wire
hundreds of feet above Niagara's roaring
waters and rugged cliffs. On he went till
about quarter of the distance had been
traversed. when O halt was made. He
stood on one foot, holding out the other
almost horizontally and waving his hand
TO the spectators Then he continued on
his perilous journey TIL the centre was
reached, when he sat down and threw
both legs over his balance-pole. which was
resting on the wire, and stretched out at
full length ON his back on the wire, cross
ing his feet and folding his arms on his
breast.
A shrek of horror went up from the fe-
male spectators, many of whom walked
away to save themselves from fainting.
Dixon calmly untolded his arms and waved
FIRST his right and then his left hand to the
spectators. He then arose, and as he did
50 the wire yibrated so much that
he had to lean over good deal to get
his equilibrium. Then he went on until
three quarters had been passed. Then he
again stood on one leg and went through
number of other manpuvres, after which
he ran up the incline, reaching the Ameri-
can side at 3:421E. He sprang from the
wire three feet over the edge of the cliff,
much to the relief OF the thousands OF
spectators, who applauded and cheered
him voeiferously. After rest of five
minutes on the American side Dixon re-
turned TO the wire with hoop on his ankles
and walked out to where the Stars and
Stripes loated in the breeze, about $50
feet from the cliff, and went through seve-
raj man@uvres, winding the flag about his
shoulders, after which he drove to the
Canadian side and walked out about the
same distance as he had done on the
American side and wound the Union Jack
about his shoulders
WHY DIXON DID IT.
10 an Associated Press reporter he said
he had no motive in making the perilous
trip other than while crossing the suspen-
sion bridge about month ago with some
friends to attend the Photographers Con-
vention at Philadelphia he noticed the ca
BILE and remarked that he could walk
across on 1t. He said that he had done
rope-walking in his youth, and for the past
few weeks preparatory TO to-day's feat he
had walked several times on rope 200
feet long stretched sixty feet above the
ground on Hantas Point, Toronto.
Dixon is thirty-eight years OF age feet
6 inches high. and weighs 1873 pounds. He
is of sallow complexion, and wears heavy
dark moustache and chin-whisk.rs He
was dressed IN teIra-cotta colored tights,
black silk trunks. and cap and wore moe
casins. The balance-pole he carried
weighed 30 pounds. was "a feet inches
long, and was tipped with iron at either
end. Dixon was born in New York city,
and 10 of Irish parentage. He has lived in
Toronto for the past fifteen years.
BAD WIRE.
The wire on which Dixon crossed is the
one on which Stephen Peer while intoxi-
Gated walked on the night of June %,
1897, and below which his lifeless body
was found week later. Later Professor
DE Leon started TO walk across. but quick
" gave it up and hurriedly skipped out of
town.