The 12th of July will mark an anniversary of one of those amazing daredevils who risked their lives for fame and fortune at Canada’s Niagara Falls.
It was on that date in 1876 that the first woman to walk a tightrope across the Niagara Gorge just below the mighty Falls, made her crossing.
At only 23 years of age, Maria Spelterini, not only walked a tightrope across the several hundred metre distance, but then did it again, backwards, then with peach baskets on her feet, then with hands and feet shackled.
In the century from approximately 1850 to 1950, many people had tempted fate to either swim or boat through the extremely fast flowing and turbulent rapids, go over the actual Falls in a barrel or similar contraption, or walk a tightrope.
Many died in the attempts, until the “stunts” were made illegal.
The first tightrope walker was a French daredevil, Jean Francois Gravelet- “the Great Blondin”. In 1859, not only did he cross a tightrope high above the gorge , but did a backflip, crossed on a special bicycle, and later carried his manager across on his back.
In 1860, a Canadian performed a similar effort, but took a washing machine to the centre, lowered a bucket 200 ft to the water, brought it up and washed some ladies handkerchiefs and returned.
Several other tightrope crossings were made, with at least one death until 1896, when the practice was halted.
In 2012 after lengthy negotiations with officials on both sides of the gorge, special permission was given for aerialist Nik Wallenda to cross near the base of the Falls.
This was slightly controversial however as he was obliged to wear a safety harness preventing a deadly risk should he fall, whereas none of the others in the past had such equipment.
Canada’s Niagara Parks Commission imposes a fine of up to $10,000 for any “stunts” on its property, although in granting the permission for Nik Wallenda has said it will consider proposals from stunting professionals once every 20 years as a tribute to the heritage of the practice as Niagara.
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