Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-09-11
BLoNDlN EcLIPSED.


Niagara Gorge on Three-Quarteri.e"
| Wire Rope, and Almost Paralyzes tho
| Spectators by His PeriiOus Antics-."
| Intrepid Performer the Lion Oh III"
Hour.
NIAGARA FALLS, n. Y, Sept. Tine
name of Samuel John Dixon, photog-
rapher of Toronto, has been added 10
the list of 'heroes of Niagara" for nc
successfully performed, yesterday after
noon, the daring feat of crossing the
cable stretched across Niagara river at
point midway between the suspen-
sion and cantilever bridges. The capie
is three-quarters of an inch thick anu
923 feet long. 1t was erected ny
Stephen Peer. of Niagara Falls, three
years ago, and he succeeded In crossing
it on June 90, 1887. He was so elated
over his success that he went on pro-
tracted SPREE and on the night of June
! 25, of the same year, he was louho
| bleeding and unconscious on the rocks
below the cable, having gone asleep on
the precipice and rolled over the clln.
On August 2 1887, Prof. E. Delano at
| tempted to walk the same cable, put
was unnerved after getting out a few
feet from the bank and gave up the at
tempt. Since then the cable has never
been us ed, and several Of the guy ropes
and sand bags have disappeared. All
were replaced, however, before DiXon's
| attempt, and the cable was drawn in
| six feet, thus raising it in the center by
about four feet.
A huge British flag floated gracefully
from the Canadian end of the cable and
the American flag ornamented the cable
| ell 10 A
interest was manifested in the photog-
rapher's adventure. but not as much as
was expected. Both banks o. the river
were thronged, and especially the Ca
madam side, from which the start was
made. A number of persons on the
cantilever bridge obtained fine view
of the affair. Toronto, the home OF
/ Dixon, was numerously represented,
and the Canadians went wild over the
| rope walkers success and insisted
upon exhibiting him to the admirin 6
crowd from the veranda of neigabor-
| ing hotel. They also carried away
pieces of the cable, Dixon himself Sc
curing piece about ten feet long.
1t was quito generally expected that
| Dixon would back out at the last mo-
ment He was quietly sleeping in the
room at his hotel. When he arose soon
afterward he took look at the cable.
| gave a few directions to a photographer
who had arranged his camera on tho
cliff and returned to the hotel.
The time fixed for the feat was half
past three o'clock, and two minutes be-
fore the appointed time he appeared,
dressed in yellow tights, black silk
waistband, red silk socks, black coat
and black silk cap. He glanced across
the great river from the lofty cliff, and
took off his coat just at the minute APP
| pointed Selling the balancing pole,
he spoke few words to the crowd, and
started on his great walk. He appeared
the least bit excited. and his legs
trembled slightly as he walked out
few feet
When about two hundred feet from
the starting place he raised one foot
and balanced the pole on his leg. A
little further and he demonstrated to
the crowd that he was full of nerve and
confidence by bending one knee to the
wire and saluting the people. He
picked his way very cautiously as he
went down the slope to a point near the
center, when he sat down on the wire.
A little further on he resumed his seat
on the wire and performed few tricks,
raising both feet over the pole, the lat
ter resting on the cable. Continuing
his journey he looked up at the peo-
pie on the cantilever bridge and waved
one hand to Them. A passing train
seemed to interest him fully as much as
he interested the passengers.
On the upward slope he sat down sew
eral times, finally straddling the cable
and pole as comfortable as on track.
He sat down and waved his hands to
the people. His walk was then con-
tinued, and in exactly twelve minutes
after starting out Dixon struck terra
firma on the American side and was en-
Enthusiastically received by the Ameri-
cans. After rest of four minutes he
reappeared on the wire and walked out
to the American flag, where he rested
himself and wrapped the Stars and
Stripes around him. After few tricks
he went back to the American side and
was conveyed in an open carriage across
the bridge to the Canadian side. With
out 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 shoulders.
being photographed in this position as
well as in an upright position. He then
gave brief exhibition. Dixon was then
lionized by the crowd and some Of his
enthusiastic friends took up a liberal
collection for him.
In an interview Dixon said that the
idea of crossing the gorge occurred to
him while on his way to the recent con.
vention of Photographers Associat ion.
He practiced a little at home, and that
was all the preparation he had for this
feat. He said that there was no wager
made on the performance, and he
would not repeat it again this summer,
but will return next June and give Sc
ries of cable performances Dixon is
thirty-eight years of age, and weighed
yesterday 1873 pounds. He is an Ameri-
can, having been born in New York
City.
Non-Union Men Arm Themselves.
ALBANY, n. ", Sept. 6.-The nom
union employees of the West Albany
yards are armed with revolvers to-day,
and will deal summarilly with any who
attempt to beat them.
Accident on the Denver g. Rio Grande.
DENVER, Col, Sept. 7.--The Times
Canyon City Col special says a terri
BILE accident occurred on the Denver &
Rio Grande road at five o'clock yester-
day mOrniDp near Adoha Tho tro;n