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Maria Spelterini (sometimes spelled Spelterina and occasionally referred to as Marie, July 7, 1853 – October 19, 1912) was an Italian tightrope walker who was the only woman to cross the Niagara gorge on a tightrope, which she did on July 8, 1876, as part of a celebration of the U.S. Centennial. She used two and a quarter inch (57 mm) wire and crossed just north of the lower suspension bridge. She crossed again on July 12, 1876, this time wearing peach baskets strapped to her feet. She crossed blindfolded on July 19, and on July 22 she crossed with her ankles and wrists manacled. On July 27, 1876, she made her last trip across the Niagara Gorge on a tightrope.[1]
Spelterini began performing in Italy at the age of three with other family members in a circus act.[2] She toured Europe, performing at Moscow (crossing the Moskva River), St. Petersburg (crossing the River Neva), Saint Aubin on the Island of Jersey (August 1872), and Catalan (24 August 1873). In a May 5, 1877 performance in Rosario, Argentina she survived a fall while riding a velocipede (bicycle) that malfunctioned on a wire. An article appeared in the French newspaper L'Univers illustré in October 1873, showing her crossing the harbour at Saint Aubin, Jersey and her portrait.
Spelterini arrived in New York in 1876 and began performing at the Jones Wood Coliseum. Spectators paid twenty-five cents to see her do tricks on the wire, including running backwards and sitting in a chair while wearing a flamboyant costume. She sought permission to tightrope between the towers of the Brooklyn Bridge, which was still under construction, but was refused. So, she performed at Niagara Falls instead. Thousands traveled there to see her performances and to give her presents. She returned to Europe and little is known of her later life.[3]
Italian rock noir band Belladonna dedicated to Maria Spelterini their song "Maria Spelterini" in their 2016 album The Orchestral Album.[4]
References
edit- ^ Dunlap, Orrin E. "Women Daredevils article". cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
- ^ "Spelterini at Niagara". New York Herald. June 22, 1876. p. 8. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
- ^ Firkus, Angela (2021). America's Early Women Celebrities : the Famous and Scorned from Martha Washington to Silent Film Star Mary Fuller. Jefferson, North Carolina. pp. 148–150. ISBN 978-1-4766-8023-1. OCLC 1175680384.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Belladonna's song "Maria Spelterini" on YouTube
External links
edit- Images of Maria Spelterini tightrope walking over Niagara Falls Niagara Falls Public Library (Ont.)
- Niagara's first female rope walker dazzled thousands with her stunts
- Life of lady wire walker shrouded in mystery / Spelterini, Maria
- Spanish article on the Argentina performance
- Maria Spelterini first woman to cross the Niagara Falls
- Stunters and Daredevils
- A History of Stunting at Niagara
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