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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2015-11-25, Page 9Leslie's fall from grace CONTINUED FROM > PAGE 8 In 1865, Leslie was the third tightrope walker to successfully cross the Niagara Gorge (The others being the great Charles Blondin in 1859 and William Leonard Hunt (aka the Great Farini) in 1860). Funambulism (tight rope walldng) requires a rare blend of concentration, balance, and an insane amount of courage. Leslie dis- played all of these characteris- tics when he performed before an awe struck crowd of 6,000 people high over the Niagara Whirlpool. Leslie's acrobatic antics, the Huron Signal wrote "surpassed any venturesome feat ever performed by Blondin:' On August 1, 1865, Leslie exhibited his tightrope walking skills in Goderich when he crossed the ravine at Harbour Hill. His funambulist feats enthralled an audience of over 13,000 people who watched the American Blondin perform death defying stunts atop the high wire. It was his most suc- cessful performance to date. It was no wonder that Leslie wanted to repeat his Goderich success with an encore perfor- mance. The Signal announced that Leslie would cross the Bay- field River performing such acrobatic feats as "carrying a stove on the rope, cooking his dinner, &c:' Over 2,000 people arrived in Bayfield to watch Leslie's daring acrobatic perfor- mance on September 8, 1865. However, Leslie's Bayfield performance was a disaster. On the appointed date, heavy rains and gale force winds made walking a tightrope that was 100 feet high and 600 feet long "a very dangerous affair" according to Leslie. Even more frustrating for Leslie was that he had to abort a first attempt at crossing on the high wire because the local "men who were holding my guy ropes tried to shake me off' After replacing the men on the guy ropes, a second attempt at crossing the high wire fared no better. Leslie later claimed that "a few loose characters who would rather see a man killed shook the guy ropes a second time After a short performance before a "drunken crowd," Les- lie abandoned any attempt to cross the Bayfield River. Leslie returned to his hotel and, while changing out of his wet clothes, an unhappy audience member barged into his room and "demanded satisfaction" from Leslie for his poor perform- ing. After a few threats, the angry man reluctantly left Les- lie's room. Shortly afterwards, when Leslie went to the barroom "to refresh' himself; he was accosted by his earlier intruder. After an altercation, Leslie and his agent, S. S. Sumner, settled their hotel bill and made a hasty exit. While hitching his horse to his wagon in the sta- ble, the same man grabbed Leslie by the throat and punched him twice. Leslie "completely laid open" his assailant's head with a blow from his horse whip. An all out brawl developed GODIERICFI LI]NR- ARENA BINGO - EVERY WEDNESDAY 7PM TV BINGO Monday nights 7:00 pm Hurontel Channel 1 TuckerSmith Channel 48 Eastlink Channel 10 7:00 pm LIC. #M717467 between Leslie and Sumner and his assailant's gang. Sum- ner was badly beaten. Leslie's watch and chain were stolen but he was able to run into the nearby woods. With knives drawn, their determined attackers followed them. Leslie feared for his life, but the fast thinking hotel keeper reached Leslie with his horse and wagon by another road and allowed him to escape. Leslie galloped off as fast as his horse and buggy could run for Seaforth (what happened to Sumner?) but was astounded to encounter three gang mem- bers lying in wait for him at a crossroads. One attacker caught the bridle on Leslie's horse but Leslie was travelling so fast that his attacker was thrown under the wagon's wheels Leslie lashed at the heads of his other two attackers who quickly gave way and let him pass. After a harrowing escape, Les- lie made it to Seaforth where he was "verykindly cared for" by ME Boyd, an inn keeper Humili- ated, his reputation as the'Amer- ican Blondin" in tatters, Leslie published an account of his death defying escape from Bay- field in the newspapers. Leslie called the Bayfield incident "a disgraceful transaction" bypeo- ple "who were afraid to protect the stranger in their land:' He offered a $200 reward to anyone who could fumish the names of his assailants. But was Leslie's story true? There is reason to doubt the complete authenticity of Les- lie's story. No one was ever identified. No arrests were ever made. Was it possible that a daring Bayfield escape story PARK THEATRE ¢U 2 ,• - CODERYCE- Sig 524 781i t;Olt MOVIE INFORMATION...., www.rnavielinksdca kt Amber -Leigh Durand Registered Massage Therapist Accepting New Clients Amber -Leigh is a therapeutic/rehabilitation therapist who focuses on conditions such as: • Acute sport, Occupational and Motor Vehicle Injuries • Chronic pain • Tendonitis • Pregnancy Related Symptoms • Headaches/Migraines www.amberleighdurandrmt.com Please contact The Clinton Chiropractic & Wellness Centre at: 519-482-3481 A* To Place A Christmas Greeting in the Dec. 16 edition of the Clinton News Record PLEASE CONTACT Dawn @ 519-482-3443 x527 303 dawn.johnston@sunmedia.ca by Dec.10 Thank you Wednesday, November 25, 2015 • News Record 9 was an attempt to mask a dis- mal high wire perfor- mance? His reputation never recovered from his Bayfield debacle. And, Leslie was prone to fits of fantasy. In April 1882, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle claimed that Leslie was "in a violent state of insan- ity:' From his Brooklyn apart- ment, Leslie threw a rope out of a window. After imagining that he had secured it the opposite window, Leslie announced that he was going to tight rope walk across the street. With the rope dangling out the window, 250 people watched Leslie step onto the window ledge before someone grabbed him. In the same incident, he was arrested for attempting to stab a policeman. The newspaper report said that his "mania" was caused by his wife's death and his inability to find steady work. Leslie also believed that he was "a wealthy man" because he would buy "blocks of property" in New York and pay for them in "worthless checks for millions:' Harry Leslie died alone in Brooklyn, unknown and pov- erty stricken in February 1883. Whatever the truth about Leslie's dramatic escape from Bayfield, it was a far cry from when he known as the `American Blondin." INIMAN RIVER DIRECT CITRUS TRUCKLOAD SALE CLINTO MONDAY, NOVEMBER 271:30PM - 3:30PM China Palace Restaurant 20LB BOX OF FLORIDA SEEDLESS NAVEL ORANGES OR RUBY RED GRAPEFRUITS = $35.00 www.indianriverdirect.com :f' S. a, "0 i. 1'11 2 L444 g ynSmen10, Brought you by Kinettes Central Huron Gives Back! Annual Christmas Parade Friday December 4th 2015 at 7:0o p.m. We encourage parade entries to donate non --perishable food items to support our local Food Banks The Girl Guides want to help keep people warm this winter and will be collecting socks for the Huron County Christmas Bureau You can find a Colouring Contest sheet at www.clintonkin.ca. Winners will be announced Dec. 4th For Parade Float Entry please email clintonkinsmen@clintonkin.ca See you there!