It was on this date in 1859 that the first person to cross Niagara Falls on a TIGHTROPE did so.
This idiot’s name was Jean-Francois Gravelet-a Frenchman known professionally as Emile Blondin. He performed his “feat” 160 feet above the Niagara gorge-just down from the Falls. It was the first of several famous tightrope walks, each with a different variation, from being blindfolded to having his manager on his back!
No video exists of this (obviously), but there have been many attempts to survive the Falls in a barrel-or similar device—and of course, I do have newsreel footage for your amusement here!
What possesses someone to flirt with DEATH like this? Some people have made it-and others have died in the attempt to….what? I mean, what is the POINT? Unlike someone who may risk his/her life for say, space exploration, going over Niagara Falls in a barrel accomplishes NOTHING, even if successful.
That said, enjoy the following clip-chronicling a few attempts—not all of which were successful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1y6RL7kpSI
If you’d like my blog in your inbox daily, just let me know! It’s free-you have me over a barrel! Tim.moore@citcomm.com
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