THE AUSTRALIAN BLONDIN.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 873, 12 April 1877, Page 2

THE AUSTRALIAN BLONDIN.

The Australian Blondin's performance on the rope thrown across Middle Harbour is thus described by the Sydney Morning Herald of March 30th:—"A party of gentlemen were invited yesterday afternoon to have a quiet view of Mr L'Estrange's experimental performances on the tight-rope which he had stretched from cliff to cliff at Middle Harbor. Starting from the Circular Quay at a little after 2 o'clock, an. hour's pleasant steaming in the Britannia brought the party to one of the most picturesque localities that can be conceived —vistas of forest and water, bold headlands, and sweeping bays opening out in all directions, far and near. Great was the gazing ahead as the visitors approached the gorge across which the rope had been carried, and all the field-glasses on board were constantly in requisition to discern a glimpse of the thin brown line, high in the air, along which Blondin was to pass on his perilous journey. Soon they were close to it, hemmed in by the steep forest-covered shores, and almost immediately, as a piece of ordnance was fired, the satisfaction was had of seeing the adventurous gymnast appearing on the south-eastern end of his hempen causeway, high up amongst the rocks and trees. Burdened as he was with a pole over GOlb in weight, he stepped on, at first slowly but firmly, and with a confidence that was discernible by the spectators below. Afterwards he walked at a quicker pace until he arrived at an awkward place, extending nearly 20ft, where two ropes of unequal thickness had been spliced. Hero a slow pace was requisite, but after passing this spot, Mr L'Estrange, thinking himself entitled to a rest, extended himself on the rope on his back, amidst great cheering. Springing to his feet, the remainder of the aerial passage was accomplished with alacrity and apparent ease until the south-western end of the rope was approached, which, by reason of its gravitating bend, has there a visible ascent; but the gymnast eventually passed the tops of the trees on that side, and landed on the rock to which the rope is fastened. Thus was accomplished an extraordinary feat on the tight-rope, at a prodigious height above the water, and over a great distance from cliff to cliff. The time occupied, including the rest, was about ten minutes. The party landed and clambered among the rocks and trees until they readied the fastening of the rope on the north-western side of the inlet. From this spot a picturesque view was obtained of the surrounding scenery, and of the great curvature in the rope, with its sixteen guvs, in spite of the great tension that has been put upon it. Though not so observable from the steamer, it here looked literally up and down hill, and from that spot a walk along it seemed a most formidable undertaking. Mr L'Estrange, on alighting on t' rra Jirma, was greeted with the cheers of those who by this time had assembled round him. He was quite jolly, seemed not at all exhausted and wished that the rope had been twice as high and twice as lqng." [The length of the rope is said to be 1420 ft and its height above the water 341ft.]