Charles Blondin. Aka The Great Blondin.
He was a French daredevil who made his first circus appearance as a young boy performing somersaults and wire dancing as 'The Little Wonder".
Blondin was an amazingly athletic acrobat who once leapt over two lines of soldiers holding fixed bayonets!
He was many things but most well known as a tightrope walker. He never used a net. He never used a harness.
June. 1859. The 35 year old strung a hemp rope between the American and Canadian sides of Niagara Falls. He then proceeded to stroll across the chasm, pausing to enjoy a few swigs from a bottle of wine that he pulled up from below!
He must have been a fan of the Falls as he repeated the stunt multiple times with new and slightly suicidal feats:
- On stilts!
- With a sack over his head!
- Walked in baskets!
- Wearing chains!
- Pushing a wheelbarrow!
- Carrying his terrified manager on his back!
But get THIS! The Great Blondin crossed the Falls with a cooking stove. Stopping halfway to prepare an omelet! An omelet! While balancing on a 2 inch wide rope suspended over 160 feet above the raging water! Madness!
It is estimated he walked 10,000 miles on a tightrope over the span of his career. His skill brought fame and he was in high demand across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Blondin was married three times and fathered eight children. To celebrate his 70th birthday, he walked across Montmartre. Because why not.
Wow. Just wow.
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