WIRKE-WALING EXTRAORDINARY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1377, 15 July 1878, Page 3

WIRKE-WALING EXTRAORDINARY.

[From the “Sydney Morning Herald,” June 10th.] Since Mr L’Estrange created a sensation by walking across an inlet of Middle Harbor onahigh-ropo some mouths ago, funambu lists of various degrees of excellence have become so numerous! here that rope-walking has, to a greit ex ent, lost its attraction. This, in all probability, is in consequence of the operation having very little that is graceful about it. It is only when a ropewalker intimates that be will execute his feats in such a way that bo runs great risks of losing his lire that anything like a crowd will muster to see his performances. One of these thrilling entertainments took place on Saturday last, in which there was the novelty of two persons risking their lives simultaneously. ThcJ occurrence had been contemplated by the public for several days past with considerable interest, as it was said to have arisen out of a wager of £2OO a-side, between Mr J. Perkins, representing this colony in wire-walking, and Mr Carl Grand, who represented Victoria in the same art. The bet, whether bona fide or not, was decided at Mossinan’s Bay, one of those parts of the harbor most celebrated for pieturesqueness. Two wires, each about three-quarters of an inch in diameter, were stretched over the water from trees amongst some rocks and stayed in the usual manner. The lengths of the wires were stated to be 1800 ft. respectively, and their height 400 ft. from the surface of the water. It the height, however, was put down at 100 ft. these figures would be much nearer the mark than 400 ft. The length was evident ly as great as it consistently could be with the features of the locality, and certainly as great ns the necessities of the case demanded, for it was a most perilous journey to pass over it. When everything was ready there must have been between 20U0 and 3000 people present. These w'ero brought to the spot by steamers, yachts, or skiffs, and as the weather was Hue, and there was so much delay in the proceedings that many persons did not hesitate to condemn the affair as a swindle, the majority of them amused themselves roaming amongst the the rocks and in the woods. Tl oy and the numerous boats in the bay made the scene very animated. When the sun had disappeared behind the bills and the patience of

the multitude was well-nigh exhausted, Perkins and Grand wont up to the western brink of the bay, and almost immediately afterwards appeared in acrobatic costume. Perkins was considerably the elder of the competitors, Gr nd being quite a youth. Their preparations were soon accomplished, and a pistol shot started them down tlu steep dip of their wires. Throughout their tedious journey they did not increase their speed above rather a slow walk, nor did they alter it to execute any gymnastic manoeuvres. It became evident from the first that Perkins would win tbe contest on account of the advantages he possessed above bis companion. His rope was wi ll guyed and steady, while Grand’s was out of line, and oscillated too freely to allow of bis making a good pace. Besides these drawbacks one tree intercepted his progress when be started, and another as ho finished, and those caused him to bring the pole he was using from a horizontal to a perpendicular position, and so jeopardised his balance. These incidents, which could not have been unforseen, gave Perkins, who had a clear course and a long stride, an opportunity to go to the front, and load nearly the whole way. He eventually won by about a dozen yards, and dropped to the ground amidst very great cheering. ________