Columnists
Crossing the Falls
It is estimated that more than a billion people watched Nik Wallenda’s crossing of the Niagara River, at the Falls. In my humble opinion, such a feat deserves a word or two from these gnarled fingers.
As most of you know, Wallenda is not the first to cross the Niagara River. A certain Jean-Francois Gravelet, also known as Charles Blondin, began crossing the gorge in 1859. I use the word “began,” because he performed the activity several times.
Blondin was born in France, and entered a gymnastic school in Lyon when he was five years old. When he was 31 years old, he went to the United States. Four years later, he crossed the Niagara.
Maple Street Senior Public School stood on Maple Street near the centre of Niagara Falls, not far from the river itself. They levelled the school several years ago. In 1967, I began my teaching career in that building. We were given more than an hour for lunch, and I often sat and wolfed down a peanut butter and jam sandwich at the edge of the Falls. Always a spectacular sight.
There were museums nearby, outlining the exploits of those who risked their lives by tackling the Falls, some by intention, some by accident. More than a handful of people have gone over the Falls and survived. Most don’t make it. Even those who prepared carefully, in barrels and other similar projectiles, risked their lives. One family in particular, the Hills, led by the father “Red” Hill, gained fame by hurling themselves over the precipice.
Even though he accomplished his feat more than a hundred years ago, Blondin truly was the master. He crossed the gorge, now the location of the Rainbow Bridge, in a variety of manners: blindfolded, in a sack, pushing a wheelbarrow, on stilts, on his back, carrying his manager, even standing on a chair with only one chair leg on the rope. And yes, on one occasion, he stopped midway across the gorge, sat down, cooked and ate an omelette!
Blondin succumbed to diabetes in Ealing, England, in his 73rd year.
Wallenda comes from a long line of famous circus acrobats. He still performs with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, along with his wife Erindira. The tradition began in Germany.
Karl Wallenda formed a small group of circus performers, including his brother and his wife in 1922. John Ringling spotted them performing in Cuba in 1928, and booked them for a show at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Since that time, several family members have died tragically while performing amazing stunts. In that regard, the American Broadcasting Company, which had the broadcast rights for Nik’s walk across the Falls, insisted that he have proper safety equipment for the walk. As it transpired, the safety harness was not necessary.
Nik Wallenda presented his passport to the Canadian authorities once he had conquered the Falls. I do hope the border guard used the “Have you anything to declare?” line on him. Wallenda likely would have heaved a mighty sigh, and gasped: “I made it.”
Even for those of us who watched the crossing live on television, it was dramatic. The pole he used for balance weighed 40 pounds! Truly an incredible, athletic event.
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