Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1859 — Blondin's Crossing the Falls with Man upon his Back. [ARTICLE]

Blondin's Crossing the Falls with Man upon his Back.

All the f°ats, wonqjerful and startling as they have been, tier Blondon has heretofore Performed at the Fall, were so entirely cast into til.” shacie by his incredible performance yestefday as jo seem triflingaud insignificant, 'll is uncreu'Hed nromise to carry a man across the chasm noon his back wa s kept to the letter, and none of to’ predicted accidents resulted from the featful ui?'' l ' rt ak i ng. 15loudi n first crossed from the Aa,.'erica.?,sidealone, performing during the passage most of the daring feats descriued in our account of his crossing on the 3d inst. After a short -est on the Canada shore lie started on hit? return, with M Colcord, his agent, cbnging to his back. From his shoulders two looped cords were- suspended by his side, in which the legs of the daring rider were swung, w hile his arms clasped Blondin’s neck. 11 i p isitiou was such that at the distance from shore to shore, could hardly he seen, and when the adventurers started upon their terrible journey, bets were freely exchanged among the spectators on this side as to whether Blondin alone or accompanied according to programme. He stepped out so briskly and lire ly that it seemed impossible that his hack was freighted with a living load. But as he advanced the rider became more clearly disti nguished, and while all; doubts disappeared, the trembling anxioty of the lookers-on was pai-n'ully increased. About one-eighth of the distance was traveled without any halt or sign of fatigue. Then Blondin came to a stop, and Colcord. slipping his legs from their slings, dropped his feet upon the rope, and stood snoot-ting himself with his hands -upon Blondin V shoulders while the latter rested. The halt was, ppidiuDs, of a moii ents duration, when Colcord again mounted !*> his seat, regaining it apparently with the utmost ease, and acting with all the sell possession of Blondin himsob. After this the halts and resting spells were frequent, the length of the journey and the weight of his load telling upon even the iron nerve and muscle of Blondin.

Several times the spectators vve e terrified by seeing the rope tremble and sway from sum cause, and by apparent signs of exhaustion in B 1 .ndin. Whether these latter were assumed or real it is impossible to say, but especially at the center where the rope is entirely clear, and w itiiout guys, he shook and staggered in a manner to cause the stoutest nerve among the spectators to shudder and turn pale. The latter half of the journey was performed with fewer rests than the first, and the last stage was one of alm >st desperate length; and Blondin reached the end ol his terrible trip, by an almost superhuman effort of detei mined will. When he was fairly on terra firm a, the pent up excitement ol the or vvd burst forth in deafening cheers and the w ildest demonstrations, and the two heroes, Blon lin and Colcord, were seized and borne away on the shoulders of the crazy multitude. —Buffalo Ex. The feat of Mr. Dolave, at Rochester, it seems, has excited Mr. Blondin, and now he announces that he will cross his rope this week, and carry with him a cooking stove and utensils, and when in the middle of the river will cook an omelette for the passengers of the Maid of the Mist. Gre.it rivalry between the rope wa Ikers these days.