A PERILOUS FEAT.

Kumara Times, Issue 982, 22 November 1879, Page 3

A PERILOUS FEAT.

A wonderful feat is reported by the Canadian papers to have been performed by one Asa Broughton, who attempted to escape from justice, he having at Madina, U.S., murdered Covert Bancroft, of whose attentions to his wife he was jealous. After the murder he soifght shelter with his cousin, but on the latter learning the affair and telling him that the police were on his track, Broughton determined to cross the St. Lawrence and escape into Canada. At Lewistown a suspension bridge formerly spanned, the river. Some of the old wires still extended across the stream at an elevation of 100 ft above it. Broughton confident that the officers were on his track, reached the site of this old bridge. Fearful that by trying to cross the river at Suspension Bridge he would endanger his safety, he determined to gain the Canada shore by means of the wires. He sat on the bank of the river all night, and at daybreak began his perilous crossing. Hand over hand, suspended in air 100 ft above the river, he made his way towards the opposite shore. The wire swayed to and fro with his weight. Several times he had to pull himself up and clasp his arms and legs round the wire to rest his hands, which were badly blistered and cut. When about half way over Broughton says he thought he must loose hold, so nearly exhausted was he. By frequent lests, however, he finally completed his precarious journey. When he landed on the other shore he was unable to proceed further for an hour. Officers Fuller and Allen, of Medina, who were in pursuit of him, arrived on one bank as Broughton arrived on the other. He went to Hauersville, Ontario, where he was apprehended. He returned to New York State, without making' opposition. He says he killed Brancroft in self-defence.