The Portland daily press., 1895-09-16

scent and he had to return walking back
ward AT birmingham reservoir the sag
OF the rope caused him to cross knee-deep
IN water at one part The riding along
the rope on o special bicycle seems olul,
cult feat, am the finish up, surrounded
tive.
Apparently, Blondin does not know
what NERVOUSNESS means, and his sec1et
has been described as confidence In him
self, OBTAINED ny long habit In rope-Waik-
ing. There IS 10 doubt some OF the VIC
Tins he has cal ried across his rope nave
suffered. He would talk to them on tne
most indifferent subject; tell them to SIT
perfectly still, snd avoid olutchlng MIN
around the neck, or look downward When
in mid air: He has frequently detected a
gasp of relief from the man on his back
when the end of his rope was sa1eiy
rea ched. What he considers as one OF his
greatest feats was in walking on a rope
from the main-mast to the mlzzen on
board the Peninsular and Oriental steam
or Poonah, on her way to AustTaha, pc
tween Alden and Gale in 1874. He had to
sit down five times while the heaviest
waves were approaching the ship.
His baggage when on a tour consists OF
the following A main rope OF ooo feet,
circumference, 81 inches, Weight SUI
pounds; % strainIng ropes, 50 guides
ropes, so tying bars-the average weight,
not including poles, being 5Hl-2 tons. The
freight of his fixings-including we sup
pose huge travelling tent, which oan
between Southampton and Melbourne.
About three days are consumed in max
ing his preparations, by the aid OF a
dozen assistants. Tho due adjustments
of his rope is his principal care, and he
superintends every detail
In a fragment of autobiography written
some years ago, Blondin tells us that the
rope he generally used was formed with
a flexible core Of steel wire covered with
the best MANILA hemp, about an inch or
three-q quarters in diameter, several hun
bred in length, and costing about 4lo0.
A large windlass at either end OF the rope
served to make it taut, while 1T was sup
ported by two high poles. His balancing
poles of ash-wood vary in length, and
are in three sections and weigh from "
to AZ pounds He is Indifferent as to the
hight at which he is to perform. Blondin
has never confessed to any nervousness on
the rope, and while walking Re generally
looks IS or 90 feet ahead, and whistles or
huns some snatch of song. The time
kept by musical band has frequently
aided him in preserving his balance
Blondin is. something of both carpenter
and blacksmith, and is able to make
paratus.
At Niagara house, South Ealing, he
is quite country gentleman, surrounded
by his pet black and tan terriers. and
poultry, and recreates himself, and does
a stroke of honest work in his workshop
with it's lathe and forge He Is no smok-
er, takes little or no wine, and is good
billiard player. This blue-eyed, fair-com-
plexioned, rudy old man seems to have
the secret of perpetual youth He dis
plays profusion of diamond studs and
rings; and, besides his gifts from the
Prince of Wales. has had many honors
from crowned heads. He is the proud
possessor of the two gold medals struck
in commemoration of the opening of the
Crystal palace in 1854. The queen has
the other. He has, besides, the cross
from Queen Isabel of Spain, which en-
titles him to the title of chevalier; while
the Australians bestowed a handsome cross
of Australian gold upon him.