Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-10-06
Over Niasara ON a Wire.

| ~ EuC CuNi vi vi IlSSltNS
on clothes line stretched between the
roof of two tenements," said Clifford
Calverly, the young Niagara rope
walker, II could dress and undress on
wire. Then it was that l determined
to cross Niagara.
Il visited the falls and had my wire
stretched across the gorge, distance of
about 600 feet The first day ! cross
ed without incident. The second day
l ran most of the way and did it in 6
minutes and 2S seconds.
''While ] was on the wire ar aCci
dent happened to one of the guy ropes,
and l was precipitated forward. For
tunately, | did not loss my head, and
caught by myknees and toes as fell for
ward. Every one thought | stumbled
purposply, and since then | have often
taken the dive and caught by my toes.
81 tried once more, running the
whole distance, and did it in = minutes
81 l-5 seconds. believe | am the on
" man who has run across the falls.
CAS- | was so successful | determined
to cross at night. had not gone 10
feet when sudden squall struck me
and | almost lost my balance, but |
kept on. | hurried my steps and Lad
reached the half-point, when suddenly,
without moments warning, the cleo
trio lights went out.
Ordinarily would not have mind
ed the darkness, but with constantly
veerng gale, now in my face and now
at one side, found it the most difficult
thing in the world to keep my balance,
and, to add to my discomfort, the rope
began to sway.
Sometimes / would have to lie down
and hold on with both hands with the
pole balanced under my chest. Between
The flaws of wind | would get up and
creep forward few feet. | could hear
the people shouting on the banks; they
had given me up for dead.
at took all my nerve to keep from
being frightened. Even If | was blown of
the wire determined to let them see
that was no coward So, sitting down
on the wire, with the pole well balanced
across my knees. ! took advantage Of a
lull in the storm and lit cigarette. a
moment later shout of JOY went up
from my friends and the multitude gath
cred on the farther bank. 1t gave me
renewed courage, and again | faced the
wind and made my way on through
the darkness until at last | reached the
shore and was safe.
William Beck, young man who
once crossed high wire on young Cal
verlcy's back, related his experience as
follows
Il was induced to accompany Cal
verlv because | was assured there was
no danger, and one of the boys bet 500
that | did not have the nerve.
"Without noticing that | was ner-
vous Calverly said Come and draw
ing my two hands over his shoulders,
he lifted me to his back. Convulsively,
| clasped my legs around his waist and
tried to beg him to let me down, but
my tongue was dry and refused to
speak.
Another moment and we were off.
From below the wire always seemed
steady, but now | discovered that it
sagged from side to side and up and
down. | held Calverly so closely about
the neck that he was almost strangled.
"'Look up he gurgled. But I
could not The green earth, far, far
below seemed to have q fascination for
me that | could not resist. / longed to
plunge downward.
I'VE reached the centre of the wire and
was bathed in pcrspirati0n. could hear the
plaudits of the masses, like the roar of the
ocean, and it turned my stomach
60 back. pleaded.
"'l'r afraid to turn with you on the wire:
you are too nervous was the cool response.
Then don't stand here doing nothing
| almost shrieked. and the tears began TO
tricSle down my checks On he went, until
at last the pole opposite 10 the one we started
| from was reached and we started back. What
Calverly did on the wire, or how long it took
to cross DO not know, for lay my head on
his, closed my eyes and remembered nothing
more until he called ME to get down. | did
so, but he had to hold me- or l would have
dashed head foremost from the little plat
form
For half an hour sat there with nv feet
dangling over the edge then mustered enough
c'uIa e 10 limb down. / Won my bet. but
would not cross Il high wire on anv mans
back for thousand times the amount of the
wager. Philadelphia Press.