NIAGARA CROSSED BY A FEMALE TIGHT-ROPE WALKER.

Evening Star, Issue 4286, 21 November 1876, Page 3

NIAGARA CROSSED BY A FEMALE TIGHT-ROPE WALKER.

'The daring young lady Signorina Speltini, a young Italian lady, performed a short time ago her promised feat of walking across the Niagara Falls on a tight-rope, which was stretched immediately over the point where the rapids boil most furiously, and a couple of hundred feet beyond the suspension bridge. At this point, the same at which Blondin stretched the second rope, the gorge is more than one thousand eight hundred feet across, and the banks about two hundred feet above the seething water. It is one of the wildest and most troubled parts of the river. The rope was two and a-quarter inches in diameter, of the best manilla, and weighed nearly a ton. The lady was attired in green boots, fresh-colored tights, a tunic of scarlet, and a shining green bodice. Bands at each side of the river played during the walk. She reached the Canadian side in eleven minutes. At the expiration of ten minutes the Signorina again appeared, balance-pole in hand, and began the return journey. Steadily she came back across the long line, stopping at the centre to rest upon one knee, then again stepping forward with measured and steady tread. When within a few rods of her destination she stood immovable for a moment while being photographed. She then traversed the remaining distance safely. The wind toyed with the Signorina's flowing hair, but did not displace her equipoise; and she enlivened her sedate march with a few fancy steps, which showed her thorough disregard of fear.—Exchange.