Seacoast history Blog #109
March 15, 2011  

Eric R. Christian of Eliot, Maine noticed a forgotten bit of seacoast history while surfing online. He discovered a reference to a circus gymnast who performed his highwire act in the center of Portsmouth’s Market Square in 1863. In a letter dated July 5, 1863, George P. Paul of Eliot told his uncle about the event. His uncle Aaron Jones Fletcher was then a soldier in the Civil War from Acton, Mass. Fletcher survived the war and lived to the ripe old age of 98. His letters found their way into the Acton Public Library. That letter was recently posted online. Here is what it said. (Continued below)  

July 5, 1863
Portsmouth, NH 

 “At Portsmouth man whose name is John Denier walked on a rope stretched across the street from the top of a 3 or 4 story store to the belfry of the North church on the Parade, about 100 ft from the ground; he carried a stove with him and cooked his supper consisting of fried eggs on the rope; he walked on it backwards and that blindfolded.”

Digging around online we find John Denier performing a “tightrope dance” at the New Bowery Theatre in New York in July 1861 and at Sarasota Springs in 1865. He worked the PT Barnum, R. Sands and Howe’s circuses during the Civil War. He is best known for his successful high wire crossing of Niagara Falls years after the first crossing by Charles Blondin in 1859.

Another account describes Denier’s performance in Massachsuetts this way: "At half past four, the champion artist made his appearance in silk tights and glittering jacket. After trying the rope, his "___ power" was handed to him, and at the report of a pistol, he commenced his journey. A breathless silence reigned, as almost every person present expected some accident, more or less serious. He was high over some jagged rocks, and a fall at that moment would have dashed him into pieces. Mr. Denier, like a true American citizen, entertained no idea of a dissolution of the union -- in his case, of body and limbs, and went on quite calmly. He did not stop to dance, lie down or roll over, but was content with a firm footing and a sure balance. At length, he got upon terra firma, when such a shouting, clapping of hands, and other demonstrations of enthusiasm ensued . . . The performance occupied about five minutes.” 

With his brother John Denier he also performed for considerable sums in a tour through the Provinces of Canada where he was considered “a big deal”, according to reports of the times. This clipping comes from an engagement in Connecticut:

“The Denier Brothers, Tony and John, have been giving performances at the People's Theatre, Hartford, Ct., during the past week. Their performances consist of the trapeze, solo on the cornet, stilt act, pantomime, horizontal bar, comic Chinese dance, and tight rope ascension. On the 19th John Denier made a rope ascension from Main street to the top of the American Hotel. The brothers have been engaged to make two ascensions at Hartford on the 4th of July.”

And this final one from a performance in New Jersey: “John Denier had a narrow escape last week at the Casino, Newark, N.J. While making his ascension on the tight rope, and when half way over, the stays gave way and down came the guy rope and Denier among the audience; he landed safe on his feet, and jumping up, turned a somersault. Since then he has appeared each night and walked the rope ...”

We have yet to look up this incident in the local newspaper archives for details. Anyone who gets there first, please send us a copy so we can post it here.

 - Source: Additional quotes from newspaper clippings found on the Circus Historical Society Web site.  
 - Thanks to Acton Public Library
 - See a photo of John Denier on PictureHistory.org