From the Niagara Falls Review:
He called himself Professor J.F. Jenkins – The Canadian Blondin, and during the summer of 1869 it was widely advertised that on Aug. 25, he would cross the Niagara River Gorge on a tightrope using a velocipede (an early form of the bicycle).
When the day arrived, it was clear the publicity had done its job. Thousands jammed both sides of the river to see this new tightrope artist.
No doubt many in the crowd that day remembered having seen the great Blondin, who thrilled massive crowds at Niagara Falls in 1859 and 1860. He had performed amazing stunts on the tightrope, such as carrying a man on his back, turning somersaults, using stilts and crossing blindfolded.
The fact that Jenkins called himself The Canadian Blondin indicated to most that they were going to see a performer equal to or possibly even greater than the marvelous Blondin himself.