High-wire daredevil defied the odds

Ivy Baldwin, hero of the high wire, passed away in his sleep on Oct. 8, 1953 after 87 action-packed years. Who would have guessed that the little man, who lived so dangerously, would die so peacefully? A Civil War baby boomer born in San Antonio the year after Appomattox, Willie Ivy waited until he was fullgrown -- five-foot-three and 110 pounds -- to leave home. The 12 year-old stayed in town…