Museum Blog

By Elizabeth Hamblyn.

Visitors to Whanganui today have a choice of bridges to cross, but in the past new and adventurous ways were found to navigate it, and grab a little attention at the same time.  One of the more unusual ways of crossing the Whanganui River was done by the aerialist Señor Vertelli, who in 1867 walked across the river on a tightrope.  Señor Vertelli described himself as the ‘Australian Blondin’ in reference to the French daredevil and tight-rope walker, Charles Blondin, who became world famous for his crossing of Niagara Falls by tight-rope in 1859.

Señor Vertelli arrived in Whanganui in October 1867 and saw an opportunity to boost his reputation by crossing the Whanganui River using the wire cable used by river ferry punts. He placed an advertisement in the Wanganui Herald outlining his intention to cross the river on 26th October 1867, “regardless of danger, unconscious of fear”.

On the appointed day Vertelli appeared punctually at 3pm, looking every inch the professional showman in his gold singlet and bright blue tights.  The wind was blowing very strongly as Vertelli clambered up on the wire, but he took up his balancing pole and stared out unconcerned.  Weighing over 11 kilos and 5.5 meters long the balancing pole was no prop.  As the crowd held their breath in suspense Vertelli traversed the 300 meter cable and then turned around and crossed back to the town side.  The cheer that went up from the crown was deafening and everyone in his vicinity moved in to congratulate him and drop coins into a large leather bag which Vertelli had ready and waiting for just such a display of public goodwill.

Vertelli crossed the river again shortly afterward, but this time pushed a wheel barrow along in front of him.  However, according to the Evening Post article of 6 November 1867 “he found the spectators deaf to his entreaties to be allowed to carry one of them over on his back”.  Although not as brave as the man himself, the crowd was not too shy to re-fill his bag with money in appreciation of his efforts.