New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-09

the cable had been drawn to within two
hundred feet OF the Canadian bank, that
this rope would not be strong enough to
land It. Blondin tied rope about his BODY
and walked out on the small rope and at
tached another rope to the cable.
Blondin established reputation for him.
self even before he walked across the
gorge. For days he gave exhibitions at the
pleasure grounds performing wonderfully
on a wire. Finally. at o'clock on the
afternoon OF June 80. 1859, he started out
on the cable from the American side
When about one hundred feet out he sat
down lay on his back, stood on one foot.
and then resumed his trip. He repeated
this by-play many times. At one time the
Maid Of the Mist came up the river, loaded
with passengers Blondin dropped cora
to the deck and pulled up bottle, from
which he drank. Then leaplng to his feet
without touching his hands 10 the cable,
he continued his walk to the Canadian
cliff. He was on the rope eighteen min
utes Half an hour after finishing this
trip ne walked on the cable back to the
American side, making this journey In
seven minutes. He then took up q col
lection.
lie made d second trip, on July 4, Of the
same year. this time walking with sack
over his head and body. This he Ola
again on July "A, Willard Fillmore then
being one OF the spectators. When ne
reached Canada he dressed as a monkey,
and trundled vince barrow over the rope.
| Another trip was made on August 8, al
which time R!ondin stood on his head. Al
another time he carried his manager on
his back across the gorge.
All these trips had been made in day
light on August 81. however. Blondin
mace night trip. AT the ends OF the
! rope searchlights We're placed. and colored
lanterns were put on the ends OF his bal
ancinc pole. When he reached the middle
OF the rope the lights Oh his pole went
out and il was only by feeling the rope Tor
vibrations hat his attendants were able 10
! tell whether lie was still walking or mao
! fallen into The depths below. AT another
| time in the same year. the daring per
! former walked with his legs shacked ana
baskets on his feet. Shortly after this he
ale meal while IN the middle OF the
I Gable.
I In tho following year Blondin walked
| across the whirlpool rapids, with the
Prince OF Wales-the late King Edward
/ among tho spectators. Hc carried Cor
cord on his back He crossed walking
backward He crossed blndfoldcd. Ana
/ he crossed on stills.
I'm this same year-lse0-ca another
nerformer. named Fsrini, who crossed on
a SLACK wire lie walked with his feet IN
sack. and washed handcrkerchieis Tor
/ yemen While midway between the shores
+ Others late, essaved the rope walking trick
Harry Leslie crossed tho gorge in July ana
ian August. 1850. Rel'eni made his first
crossing in August, 1873, droppnc into the
river 10y means Of rubber rope. Ihen'
I'm 1876. came ? woman Maria Speterna
WHO crossed the gorge on rope two ana
q quarter inches thick. She crossed with
/ baskets on fcr foot. and had her Wrists
and ankles manacled There is no record
! that any other woman ever crossed on
J rore Manv other walkers nave crossed
( the gorge. bat tho name q none lives as
/ ,i,cr ,b.t Of i}'opGiu