The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-04
FEATs ON A TIGHT WIRE.
Perils of Midair Performers Described
by Niagara Rope Walker.
MON the Philadelphia Press.

TFOIu the EnlldQelpnld 1TeSS.
cat the end of month of practice on a
clothes line strung between the roofs Of
two tenements," said Clifford Calverly,
the young Niagara rope walker, Il could
dress and undress on a wire. Then it
was that determined to cross Niagara
Il visited the falls and had my wire
stretched across the gorge, a distance of
about LOCO feet. The first day l crossed
without incident. The second day l ran
most of the way, and did it in six minutes
and twenty-eight seconds.
While | was on the wire an accident
happened to one of the guy ropes and
was precipitated forward. Fortunately
/ did not lose my head and caught by my
knees and toes as | fell forward. Every
one thought l stun bled purposely and
since then / have often taken the dive and
caught by my toes.
Il tried once more, running the whole
distance, and did it in 2 minutes 81 l-5
seconds. believe l am the only man who
has run across the falls.
las / was so successful determined to
cross at night. l had not gone ten feet
when q sudden squall struck me and / al
most lost my balance, but | kept on.
hurried my steps and had reached the
halfway point when suddenly, without
moments warning, the electric lights
went out
"Ordiuarily / would not have minded
the darkness, but with constantly veer-
ing gale, now in my face and now at my
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 a few feet. | would hear
the people shouting on the banks; they
had given me up as dead
1T took all my nerve to keep from be-
ing frightened. Even if | was blown off
the wire l was 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 a cigarette. A
moment later a shout of joy went up
from my friends and the multitude gath
cred on the farther bank. 1t gave me re-
newed courage, and again faced the wind
and made my way on through the dark
ness, until at last | reached the shore and
was safe"
William Beck, a young man who once
crossed high wire on young Calverly's
back, related his experience as follows:
81 was induced to accompany Calverly
because l was assured there was no dan
ger, and one of the boys bet me 800 that
did not have the nerve.
without noticing that was nervous
Calverly said Come and drawing 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 OF
From below the wire always seemed
steady, but now discovered that it
sagged from side to side and up and
down ] held Calverly 50 closely about
the neck that he was almost strangled.
"'LoOK up, he gurgled, but 1 could not.
The green earth far, far below, seemed to
have a fascination for me that | could not
resist. 1 longed TO plunge downward.
I'VE reached the center of the wire and
I was bathed in Precipitation. / could
hear the plaudits of the masses like the
roar of the ocean and it turned my stom-
ach.
Go back. pleaded
"I'm 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
trickle down my cheeks On he went,
until at last the pole opposite to the one
we started from was reached and we
started back. What Calverly did on the
wire or how long we took to cross do not
know, for l lay my head on his, closed my
eyes, and remembered nothing until he
called me TO get down. | did so, but he
had to hold me or | would have dashed
head foremost from the little platform.
For half an hour l sat there with my
feet dangling over the edge, then mus
tered enough courage TO climb down. 1
won my bet, but | would not cross high
wire on any mans back again for a thous-
and times the amount OF the wager"