Geelong Advertiser, 15 January 1881, p. 3.

Last night a fearful accident occurred to James Alexander, the Geelong Blondin. As announced by advertisement, Alexander entered upon another of his daring exhibitions on the high-wire in the Market Reserve last evening. The band had struck up a lively tune and inaugural fireworks had proclaimed the ceremonies commenced. Blondin gracefully attired had crossed the treacherous wire and retreated to the elevated platform at the north end of the rope, to reappear in the second feat of the programme, which consisted of cooking pancakes and lowering them to the spectators from the wire. No one present anticipated the approach of the dreadful calamity which was soon to befall the unfortunate performer, who, with easy confidence, emerged from the elevated dressing room, bearing the necessary utensils wherewith the culinary operations were to be gone through. Harris, Alexander’s assistant, took up his accustomed position beneath the wire, ready to land the cooked pancakes to the people present, and the preparation of the cakes proceeded gaily. Alexander was just on the point of lighting the fire in the stove which forms portion of the apparatus, when the main wire broke on the south end just above the anchor which is buried in the ground, and came down with appalling suddenness, precipitating the unfortunate young man to the ground, a distance of about 30 feet. There was a large concourse of people present, and a terrible scene ensued. Some screamed, others nearly fainted, while a thrill of horror ran through all. Harris rushed to his fallen comrade who lay insensible on the ground, lifted him in his arms, and bore him, apparently lifeless, to the tent, closely followed by a crowd, and deposited him on a stretcher in the tent. The scaffolding, relieved of the tension of the rope above, threatened momentarily to fall on the crowd, and might have done so had not Constable White, who happened to be present in plain clothes, promptly succeeded in securing the tottering mass. Dr W. Shaw, who was on the ground, was quickly in attendance upon the injured young man and Miss Alexander, who generally accompanies her brother when he is about to perform, pressed anxiously through the mass of people to her brother’s side. Restoratives were attempted to be administered to the insensible man, who, though not dead, was only slightly breathing and quite unconscious, and a car was brought to the spot, and he was taken to the hospital and committed to the care of Dr Scott. He pronounced the case a very serious one, and, though no bones were broken, the symptoms indicated concussion of the brain. There were no bruises externally visible save some marks of concussion on the left shoulder, and about the left side of the face and close to the ear on the same side of the head. Up to a late hour the patient was still unconscious, and stertorous breathing indicated that the brain was affected. Young Alexander has lately completed a successful tour as a rope-walker in the different colonies. He is 21 years of age and is a native of Geelong. By trade he is a carpenter. His mother is now Mrs Alexander Grant and resides with her husband at Inverleigh. His sister resides in town. Some three years ago an accident befell him while performing at Sydney, and he was nearly killed. A fatality appeared to have been overhanging him yesterday, for the agent of the dramatic company at present performing nightly at the Mechanics’ Institute was seeking him all day, in order to offer him suitable compensation to induce him to forego the entertainment last night; and although they both occupy the same hotel it was so ordered that they did not meet. It may be mentioned that only a few days since Constable White, while on duty, warned Alexander that, according to law, he was compelled to have a net under the rope. There has been a net under the rope, it is true, but it has only been hung there, rolled up, or lying on the ground, an evasion of the law. Miss Alexander accompanied her brother to the Hospital, and a large number of persons showed their anxiety by following the cab to learn the result of Dr Scott’s examination.