The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-11-25

900 persons were present, mainly attract
ed by the prospect of seeing two human
beings going to probable and spectacular
death. Heavy bets We're placed as to
whether the two performers would sue
coed in their feat or perish.
Harry Colcord, who agreed for a SUB
stantial considerati ton to be the man car
ried, was a native of Attica, n. Y. lie
was 81 years old at the time, his muscles
had been tensed and hardened by rough
ing 1t for four years on an Arctic whaler,
and he weighed only 1855 pounds. Blon
dlns weight was $40.
The start was made from the Canadian
81 ere. Bondln wore his professional
tights his burden wore a conventional
black dress suit. The balancing pole was
80 feet long and weighed 60 pounds. The
tight rope taut as a violin string, was
kept in place by guy lines stretched at
intervals of 20 feet, save for a space OF
40 feet in the center. Harry, be sure to
let yourself rest all the time like a dead
weight on my back. If | should sway
or stumble on no account attempt to bal
anee yourself. This advice Colcord strict
ly obeyed.
My first thrill occurred as we started
over the pine trees, whose sharp tops
and the river, it seemed far more terrify-
ing than out over the water. My heart
was in my mouth as we started, but
had absolute confidence in Blonlin, and
l believed that he would set Us across all
right. Our progress seemed to be dread
fully slow. The sight of the rapidly flow
ing river gave me queer sensation; II
was that we were moving up it at a great
rate and going but very slowly toward
10 INopl tanu nd
in order TO give him rest, | had to
get off Blondins back and stand behind
him ON the rope, steadying myself WITH
my hands around his waist while NJ
balanced with the pole.
Imagine the situation-gettinS down off
a mans back hundreds of feet in an.
feeling for and standing on taut violal-
ing rope, and holding on to him, clad IN
slippery tights, when the least false move
or less of presence of mind on the part
, of one or other might plunge you botn
into eternity. And this getting on ID
off had to be repeated seven times.
"When we reached the middle of CTR
journey, at the 40 feet unsupported by
guy lines Blondin suddenly torered and
swaye1, and his balancing pole began fu-
riously thrashing up and down. He had
| lost his balance ard was unable to re-
gain it, He broke into a run. In that aw-
itself on me. and | lay like dead
weight on his shoulders. to stay or fall
with him. When we reached the first
guy line on the American side he slipped
on it, 1t instantly broke, and tue main
rope, pulled by the corresponding guy
line. was ierked sideways. This was The
most critical moment of all. Win his
wonderful agility he recovered himself in
time and won equilibrium enough to run
TO -, ho of lines 20 feet
away. Get off, quick he said, and
obeyed He was like a marble statue; eV-
cry muscle was tense and rigid: large
beads of perspiration trickled from nm.
1t was then | most admired his wonder
full grit and GOODNESS. Neithet, By voice
nor sign did he manifest his knowledge
of the fact that dastardly attempt hal
been made to kill MS, probably by some
| unscrupulous gamblers who had bet
against our crossing.
again | mounted his back, and as We
toi,ed up the slope Of the rope toward
the American bank we confronted an Inn
mense sea of faces. intense with interest,
alarm, fear. A band was trying to play,
but the wrought-up musicians could only
evoke discordant notes. AS we approached
| the brink there was an immense danger
that the rush of spectators might crowd
us over the cliff and Others along with
us At nv advice Blondin rushed into the
throng as far as he could go. There was
a great cheer and the danger was over
For his intrepidity Harry Colcord was
made the recipient of numerous substan-
tia, testimonials. Blondin was presented
with a handsome, damond-studded gold
watch and chain, while the representa-
tiye s of railroads, steamboats, and hotels
presented him with sums aggregating
few thousand dollars.
A second time that fall Blondin carried
Coleord across the river, the passage be-
ing without special incident. The third
crossing was made over the Whirlpool In
August, 1869 in the presence of the Prince
of Wales and a gathering of about 10000
pc ople Immense grandstands were erect
ed on both sides of the river, and the adj
mission fee was 81 Doors placed at reg
uar intervals gave admission to the
stands, and among the ticket-takers were
several men now well known in Chicago.