The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-01-02
On Blondin's Back.
From the Buffalo Express.

was still mere boy, said Mr.. Harry
Colcord, an artist, who was recently relat
ing to a party of New York friends some
of his early adventures at sea, that be-
came tired of sailor life and went to Boston
j to look for something to do on shore.
Shortly after my arrival IN that city
made the acquaintance of Blondin, the
tightrope walker, who was a member OF
the Francona Troupe, which included
Martinetti and the famous Ravels. Hav-
ing some natural talent, became, through
the influence of Blondin, their scenic
painter, and we travelled about the coun
try, with varying success, until the be-
ginning Of February, 1860, when the
troupe reached Cincinnati and disbanded.
1t was then that Blondin, who had seen
and been greatly impressed with the beau
ties of Niagara, conceived the idea Of
crossing the great cataract on tight rope.
He asked me what [ thought of making
the Journey across the falls on his back.
..At first l thought he was joking, but
on his assuring me that he was in earnest
consented to accompany him, and to-
gether we started for Niagara to complete
arrangements for the proposed feat.
1--WE experienced no little troublein OBJ
tanning the necessary permits to extend the
ropes But finally we succeeded in getting
them from man named Porter, on the
American side, and went to work. Blon-
din wanted to carry the rope from
Terrapin tower and across to David s
Hotel, which would have led us over the
Horseshoe Falls through the mist and spray
of the great cataract.
.sThese arrangements were strongly
condemned, because people said the spray
would keep the rope damp, and Blondin
was sure to fall; so we stretched the rope
from white Pleasure Ground across to
the Clifton House.
1.-THE rope was 1000 feet long. TWAS
of MANILA, 3 inches in diameter, made in
New York ropewalk, in two pieces Blon
din joined them with long splice, which,
when the rope was extended, was in the
centre of the span It took us nearly five
months to stretch the rope and get the
guy lines in place.
1.-The rope was $50 feet above water at
its lowest point, which was 80 feet below
the highest-in other words, there was a
grade of so feet in each 1000 feet. There
were 10, 900 feet of guy line attached to
the rope Each guy was weighted with
ten-pound sandbag to drop them out of the
way of Blondin' balance pole, and in putt
ing them up the rope walker crossed the
span score of times.
''In July, 1860, everything being
ready, l took my place on Blondin' back,
and we started to cross the rope.
eve began the descent from the Cana
dian side of the rope, and by reason of the
fact that I had to bear my weight on
Blondin' $ shoulders, and could only use my
arms to support myself frequent rests were
necessary. I told Bloadin when wanted
to rest, and then dropped down on the
rope with one foot and waited till my arms
were relieved, when | would spring up
again, using my arms to lift and hold my
self in place.
''There was great crowd present, but
did not see it at first. From my place
on Blondin' back could look out to the
American side and see below the stunted
pines, thrusting their sharp points up from
the edge of the foaming, roaring waters,
ready to split us in two if we fell. [ re-
member that | was anxious to get over,
and [ recall, too, that the great rope before
US swung alarmingly from side to side.
We afterward ascertained that the rope
had been swinging forty feet at the centre.
1.-The swing was caused by there being
length of 40 feet between the guys on
one side and those on the other. 1t was
the middle span. Below us, $50 feet,
reared the river, and over it we swung
from side to side Still moving on steadily
Rlondin never trembled
"When he had gone about 10 feet on
this middle span some one on the American
side pulled the outer guy line. We after
ward found out that it was done intention
ally and the rope was stopped in its swing.
'Blondin stopped, and his pole went
from side to side in vain effort to enable
him to secure his balance. At one time
his pole was up and down on the right
side, at another up and down on the left,
and | recall now with wonder that | was
only curious to know whether he would
succeed in gaining control of himself or not.
Failing to get his balance he started to
run across the horrible span and in safety
reached the point where the guy rope came
| from the American shore. Then to steady
himself Blondin put his foot on the guy
rope and tried to stop, but the guy snapped,
and with dash of speed he ran swiftly
twenty five or thirty feet further, and
said, 'Descendez vouz
1.-The perspiration now stood out on his
neck and shoulders in great beads, and we
balanced ourselves on the swaying rope
Presently he said allons, and | raised
myself to his shoulders, and we went on
safely and without accident toward the
shore
1t was not, however, until we landed
that | appreciated what we had done.
Then it occurred to me that the man who
pulled the guy line was one of those who
had bet that the feat could never be ac-
complished and my Indignation mastered
any reactionary feeling of fear
4 shall never forget the wonderful tab
leau which the 100, 900 people presented
as they stood gazing up at us as we ap-
preached the shore Thousands of them
turned their faces away, or half turning,
cast anxious glances over their shoulders
at us as we drew near the bank Then
the crowd became very much excited
surged toward us, and Blondil started once
more, and with quick run we soon came
to the end of the rope and sprang to the
ground. Cheer after cheer then went up,
and was seized in the arms of man,
who lifted me high up in the air, saying,
THANK God, this terrible feat is over?'
Would you have crossed again
II crossed again, twice, the last time
under the patronage of the Prince Of
Wales. He congratulated us, and gave
us each a purse of 500. would not
make the same journey now for all the
wealth in the world