The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-28

inches in diameter, with a body of steel
bound round with hemp. The balancing
poles vary in weight according to the bus
mess, from thirty-seven, forty forty-five,
forty-seven pounds"
And the hight at which you perform p"
From forty to a hundred feet, accord
ing 10 circumstances. / am Indifferent"
ms career has never been equaIed or APP
preached by any other performer on the
rope and the nerve which saved him from
accident for more than half a century was
the subject of investigation and admira-
uon OF more than one medical society Az
an Illustration of this quality, the fol-
lowing anecdote is quoted from CasselPs
Magazine:
"A feat that Blondin couldn't rehearse
was performed at the geological gardens.
Liverpool He had given an afternoon pt,r-
romance there, and was TO perform again
IN the evening. During the interval be-
tween the performances some one slig-
sested playfuliy that It would be a fine
thing for him to take a lion across Cam
ltal idea, thought Blondin. So he indicat-
ed TO the management his readiness to
wheei across any lion they liked to send
up 10 MIN. The lion chosen was eighteen
months old and was known as Tom Say
ers' me performance was in the open
arr and IL was Just getting dark when
inc Hon was slung up and strapped 10
the barrow. pretty stiff gale was blow
ing. The rope sagged a good deal too.
so that there was a steep decline from
each mast. IL was, therefore, deemed adj
Vlsable that some control should be kent
over the barrow and its strange freight
from the platform, In case Blondin might
not be able to prevent 1t from running
away with him down hill. So line was
attached to the barrow to keep 1t In check
and the end of this was retained bv an
head.
"On walked Blondin, trundling his load
before him, which must have been douhlv
ulircult owing TO his hands being fully en-
gagged steadying himself with his pole
when, through some stupid bungling on
the part OF the individual who had charge
OF the line, the latter let Il slip out OF his
hands An exclamation of horror and
surprise rang through the assembled
masses, who, on this occasion were said
TO number 100000. The excitement now
became intense, and those who had taken
up positions Immediately under the rome
or hawser took themselves 70 less danger
Gus places, as every one anticipated that
the nero or this story would be precipl-
tated, together with his comrade in dan
ger, to Mother Earth. The wheelbarrow.
deprived OF It's check, hurried onward at
terrific pace, down, down the inclina
of rope with frightful rapidlty. The line
mat mad been let go became entangled In
the topmost branches of some trees.
|
were now entertained, as II appeared evil
dent that on the line becoming taut Blon-
ain would be either jerked off the hawser
or prevented from reaching his destina-
tlon-the opposite masthead. The excite
| ment at this stage was painful In the ex
IRENE. every one being as silent as The
grave, the destruction of this
daring fellow being apparent and in
eyitabe. Blondin, however remaining
motlonless for short Time like a statue
IN the elements, began to move slowly
backwards; cheer after cheer arose from
the vast concourse at this moment. and a
| feeling of relief settled upon all. and gave
place to admiration at the splendid style
in which he completed his extremely Diff
heult backward journey. After a brief
rest Blondin set out again with Tom
Sayers,' and accomplished the feat he had,
undertaken without hitch"
Apparently the only limit to his sensa-
tional feats on a rope was fixed by public
opinion, and more than one effort was
made to restrain him. He inspired more
political cartoons in this country during
the time that he was conspicuous here
than any other man not a politician.
Abraham Lincoln once gave a very point
ed answer to a deputation that waited on
him for the purpose of pointing out the
shortcomings of his administration when
he said:
Gentlemen. suppose all the property
you were worth was in gold, and you
had to put 1t into the hands of Blondin to
carry across Niagara Falls on a rope.
would you shake the cable or keep shout
ing out to him. 'Blondinl stand up lit-
tie straighter: Blondinl Stoop a little
more; go little faster; lean more to the
south? No. You would hold your breath
as well as your tongue and keep your
hands off until he was safe over"
Blondin was the hero OF the hour after
his sensational feats at Niagara, and
when he appeared in this city no cham
pion prize fighter was ever followed BY
such crowds.