The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-09-10
JOURNEY OF PERIL
FOOlhardy Trip Across Niagara
River on q Cable.
Daring Antics While Crossing the
Chacm in the Presence Of Az
frlghted Thousands.

Samuel Dixon, of Toronto, Performs the
Wonderful Feat IN Most successfuI
Manner.
NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y, Sept. s.-The
name Of Samuel Dixon, photographer
OF Toronto, has been added to the list OF
''Heroesof Niagara 4 for on Saturday he
successfully performed the daring feat
OF crossing the cable stretched across
Niagara river at point midway be-
tween the suspension and cantilever
bridges The cable is three-fourths OF
an inch thick and 9s3 feet long. 1t was
erected by Stephen Peer, of Niagara
Falls, three years ago, and he succeeded
In crossing 1t on June 23, 1887. He was
30 elated over his success that he went
on protracted spree and on the night
OF June 25 OF the same year he was found
bleeding and unconscious on the rocks
below the cable, having gone asleep on
the precipico and rolled over the cliff.
q On August 3. 1887. Prof. L. Delan at
tempted TO walk the same cable, but
was nnnerved after getting out a few
feet from the bank and gave up the at
tempt. Since then the cable has never
been used and so eral Of the guy ropes
end sandbags disappeared. sAll were
replaced, however, for Dixon's attempt,
and the cable was drawn In six feet,
thus raising 1t In the center about four
feet A huge British flag fioated from
the Canadian end OF tho cable and the
American flag ornamented the cable on
the American side. Both banks OF the
river were thronged, especially the Ca
madam side, from which the start was
made.
The time fixed for the foat 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.
Seizing the balancing pole he spoke q
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 tho starting place he
raised one foot and balanced the pole
on his leg. A little further and he dem
onstrated to the crowd that he was full
OF nerve and confidence by bending one
knee to the wire and saluting the peo-
pie. He picked his way very cautiously
as he 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 a
few tricks, raising both feet over the
pole, the latter resting on the cable.
Exactly twelve minutes after starting
OUT Dixon struck terra hrma on the
American side and was enthusiastically
, received by the Americans After q
rest OF four minutes he reappeared on
the wire and walkedo to tho Ameri-
can flag, whore he rested himself and
wrapped tho stars and stripes around
him. After few tricks be won't back
to the American side and was conveyed
in an open carriage across the bridge to
the Canadian side. Without pausing
for rest he again wont out on the wire
backward and when he reached the
British flag he sat down and folded the
flag over his shoulder, being photo
graphed in this position as we'll as in
an upright position. Dixon was then
lioniEed by tho crowd, and some OF his
friends took up liberal collection for
him. gTc b