Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-10
THRILLING SCENE.

A"hfLLiN6 SCENE.
We learn from the Cincinnati Enquirer that
Mr. Thomas Kingston, who for several years has
followed the business Of putting up lightning
rods, which Of course requires steady nerves
and q firm brain, met with an accident recent
ly, by which, but for the most singular presence
OF mind, or rather supernatural instinct, he
would havefallen from dizzy height and been
dashed to pieces He is compelled to climb
roofs, over chimneys, and up spires, and fix a
rod, with perfect GOODNESS aud precision, hun
dreds of feet above the level Of the earth -
On the occasion to which we refer, Mr. h had
ascended st. Paul's Cathedral whose spire is
about 2SJ feet high, near the head of Broadway,
and gone to 'he very top, where, having left his
ladder below, he clung by his arms and legs.
fastened the last foot Of the rod and attached
Its point-quite heavy piece Of metal-secure-
ly, as he supposed, to the cross surmounting the
steePle. lie had just completed this difficult
and dangerous task, watched by a number of
persons in the street below, and while looking
at the work and experiencing the satisfaction
which results from hazard passed and labor ae-
complished, of a sudden something heavy
struck him, and made his brain reel until he
could hardly see. Instead Of losing his hold at
once, as would seem to have been the natural
and inevitable result, he clung with a power
beyond himself and n will superior to his own,
closer and instinctively to the spire lie knew
not what had occurred, and to his confused
senses 1t appeared that the steeple was tum-
bling, or that some strange cause was about to
bring the vast structure to the ground.
Some forty seconds-an age to him-must
have elapsed before he sufficiently collected his
scattered thoughts and subverted consciousness IS
to know that the entire upper part of the rod
had fallen upon his head, causing the blood to
tIlckle over his head, and nearly blinded him
He was in a dreadful perplexity and most dan
gerous position. He feared, if he moved, he
would go cleavIng the air to n terrible death
upon the stony street below-and at the same
time be knew he could not, in the dsordered
state of his nerves and his increasing weak
ness. retain his grasp, more the result of fate
than Of feeling, much longer. If he stirred he
might fail II he remained he certainly would;
and so, determined to make at last an effort for
his life, he put one foot very cautiously, then
his arms, and then moved the other foot and
after half a minute OF exerton and the great
est danger, he touched the topmost round of
the ladder, and in few seconds more was in
side of the steeple and safe
Then II was Mr.. KS great courage and
strength fOrsook him his nerves and muscles
relaxed; he grew sick unto death his knees
gave way his vision swan, and he sank upon
the platform motlonless and insensible. He
must have lain there half an hour before he
could rise and walk, and be did not recover
from the shock for more than a fortnight after
ward
The people gazing up at him from the street
describe the scene painful and exciting In
the extreme. When they observed the rod fall.
thrill OF horror ran through their hearts, and
two women swoOned away, for they expected
TO behold him the next moment dashed to
pieces a. their feet. Destiny had ordered
otherwise, and Mr.. K. still pursues his danger
Gus avocation; but he says If he were to live a
thousand years he never would forget the in
tense horror Of those century-like moments,
when he seemed to hang upon the air moro
than two hundred feet above the earth and to
be momentarily descending to a dreadful death.
A MORMON, With HIS WIVES AND BABIES
EN- ROUrs FOR WAsHINGrcN.-A good Mormon
story is told by friend of ours now travelling
IN the West, looking after the commercial in
terests OF the house with which he is connected
and who possesses fund of sly wit, which is
brought admirably into play on all fitting oc-
casiORs. While stopping short time since at a
hotel IN Cleveland, Ohio it happened that the
Marsh Children, a troupe of juvenile comedians
familiar to US all, Numbering % or 80, arrived
and put up at the same house Their first sp-
pearance in the dining room naturally attracted
great attention, and many were the inquiries
made In reference to them, who and what they
were, where from and whittier going, &c, &c
They occupied an entire table-all under I2
years OF age, dressed alike and nearly all girls
with five six middle aged females-tbeir
teachers-sprinkIed among them At the head
OF the table sat Mr.. Marsh himself grave
solemn and dignihed in manner, q sort of Alex-
ander Selkirk in a small way, monarch of all
he surveyed. AT the table and by the side of
MI Quiz, sat two or three gentlemen somew hat
rural IN aspect, who were evidently good deal
mystined at the appearance of things and on
putting the question of what it meant, they
were informed that the grave parsonage at the
head OF the table was delegate from Brigham
1oung, prominent and noted Mormon, on his
way TO ashlngtOn, to settle with the President
the difncuiues IN Utah, and the elderly ladies
present were his six wives, and thirty children
were portion of his progeny. The thing took
The "rurals. after taking a good look at
Marsh, then at the family arrangements, re-
tired and the house, as well as the town itself
was soon IN commotiOn, all eager to look upon
true prophet and his harem Amazing
smart children for the kind, SAYS one. ssWhst
disgusting women" exclaims Miss Prim
What an old wretch" responds'a whole troupe
OF Cleveland ladies, as they would gaze and
stare at the Utah saint with all their ewes
1he children at last became alarmed-tbeir
teachers next, and Marsh was quite beside him
self, not knowing whether to lock upon these
attentions as favorable to his success or portepd
ing something of a more serious nature. The
matter finally exploded and there was a general
scattering with the giggling accompaniment by
the ladies. and hearty outlaws on the part Of
the men who were sold. Mr.. Marsh determined
70 show his card-Ordered his bills to be imrne-
diately posted while Quiz himself stepped on
the cars in pursuit of business and-further ad-
venture We hope he found both. Erchanee
EXPLORATION OF APRICA.-On the 18th nit
dinner was given to DIR. Livingstone at Lon.
don. previous N his dana TN n H. 49,. e