Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-09-09
RoPE-WALKIpa FEAT AT NIAGARA.
A Toronto photographer Gives Thrill
Ing Exhibition of NerYe

toronto photographer Gives Thrill
Ing Exhibition of Nerve.
NIAGARA FALLS, n. Y, Sept S-The
name OF Samuel John Dixon, a photogra.
pher of Toronto, has been added to the
list of "Heroes of Niagara for he sue
cessfully performed Saturday afternoon
the daring feat of crossing the cable
stretched across Niagara river at point
midway between the suspension and cam
tiiever bridges The cable i1s hree- fourths
OF an inch thick, and 923 fleet long. 1t
was erected by Stephen Peer, of Niagara
Fails, three years ago, and he succeeded
In crossing it on June 90, 1887. He was so
eiated over his success that he went on a
protracted spree, and on the night of
June % OF the same year he was found
bleeding and unconscious on the rocks
below the cable. having gone asleep on
the precipice and rolled over the cliff.
Preparations for the Event.
On Aug. z, 1887, Prof. f. Dolan at
tempted to walk the same cable. but was
unnerted. after getting out a few feet
from the bank and gave up the attemnt
since then the cable has never been used.
ana several of the guy ropes and sand
bags disappeared. All were replaced
however, for DiXons attempt and the
cable was drawn in six feet thus raising
1t In the center by abcut four feet. A huge
British flag floated gracefully from the
Canadian end of the cable and the Ameri-
can flag ornamented the cable on the
American side. Both b.nks of the river
fhrnn ialI I.- H.
side, from which the start was made. A
number of persons on the cantilever
bridge obtained fine view
The Rope-Waiker Appears on Time
He was quietly sleeping in the room of
his hotel at p. IN. Whea he arose soon
afterward he took IA look mt the cable
gave few directions to photographer
who bad arranged his camera on the cliff
and returned to th- hotel The time fixed
Tor the feat was $3.50 o'clock, and two
minutes befor the appointed time he reap
peared dressed in yellow tights. a black
SILK waist band red silk socks. black
coat, and black cap. He glanced across
the great river from the lofty cliff, and
took off his coat Just at the minute an
pointed. Seizing the balancing pole. he
spoke few words to the crowd and
started on his great walk. He appeared
he least bit excited and his legs tren hled
slightly as he walked out few feet.
Some ''Proiectin' in Mid-Air.
When about POO feet from the starting
place he raised one foot and balanced the
pole on his leg. A little farther and he
demonstrated to the crowd that he WAS
full of nerve and confidence by bending
one knee To the wire ami salutin.. the peo-
pie. He picked his WAY very cautiously rs
he went down the slope toa point near the
center, when he sat down on the wire. A
little farther he resurl II his seat on the
wire and performed y few tricks. raising
both feet over the pole. the latter resting
on the cable Continuing his journey. he
looked up AT the people on the cartilever
bridge, and waved one hand to them.
Twelve Minutes Making the Trip
passing train seemed to interest him
fnlly as much as he Interested the paSsen.
gers. On the upward s:ope he sat down
sererai times, finally straddling the ca
BILE and pole rs comfortably as if on horse.
back. Again he sat down and moved his
hands to the people His walk was then
continued, and in exnctly twelve minnie
after starting out Dixon struck terra
trina on the American side and was en-
Enthusiastically received hy the Americans
~
on the wire and walked ont to the Amer
lean flag. where he rested himself. and
wrapped the stars and stripes around
him.
Close of the Performances
After a few tricks. he went back to the
American side, and was conveyed in an
open carriage across the bridge to the
Canadian side. Without pnusing 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 phot ographed in this
position. He then gave brief exhibition
Dixon was then lioGized by the crowd.
and some of his enthusiastic friends took
up a liberal collection for him.
Will Try 1t Again Next Summer.
In an interview Dixon said that the idea
of crossing the gorge occurred to him
while ou his way to the recent convention
of the Photographers association He
practiced n little at his home and that
was all the preparation he had for the
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 series of ca
BILE performances. Dixon is 80 wears of
age, and weighs l3S pounds