The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-05-13
The Slater.
"IuDeE NOT, LEST N sr JupcrD." 4"

BY the statute under penalty, II is necessary
to prove malice prePepse or felonious at.
tempt.
We shall now, however, relate case OF
murder committed under most extraordinary
circumstances-the murder of 4 son, a child
thirteen years old, by bis fatherj a murder
committed deliberately, calmly, premeditst.
edly, confessed by him, witnessed by hun.
dreds, and Of which crime no jury could have
found him guilty. ... .
The most, or at least many, Of the old
Gothic churches in the old cities Of Europe,
and particularly Germany, are like those
built in modern style both On that and this
side of the Atlantic, high towers attached,
containing the belfry and clock, and termin.
ating in high narrow spires. These spires
ascend in very narrow angle and terminate
in point apparently us short as that Of an
arrow or lance, whence the name Of Ian.
Get towers. These towers are covered or
.iled With slate, arranged in layers and fust.
ened to the wooden frame work by an iron
nail passing through hole in the slate.
Either through decay or damp, BY which
the nails are corroded, or the force OF the
wind, some Of these plates or tiles become
detached and fall off, exposing the wood work /,
and unless such damage be promptly repair
ed, the whole steeple would soon fall into
decay and the fabric tumble upon the roof Of
the church, and not only be productive Of ad-
ditional damage to the edifice but endanger
life and limb. On the principle, therefore,
Of putting stitch in time TO save nine, the
towers or steeples are from time to time ex-
amined and the requisite repairs mude.
At the time am speaking of, the modus
operandi under such circumstances was very
primitive, nor is it at all unlikely that the
Germans--a people so much attached to the
Institutions of their fathers-will have intro.
duced any improvements in this respect
Thus whilst in other countries much time,
expense and inginuity are wasted in erect
ing sseaaldihgs, both safe and convenient
for the workman, there a. man ascends
ladder to the top and per forms his work.
He proceed, in ihe Folid&lhS ~uys ..
He commences bS le,tihg d Rite Ay, to
the tail of which long slender twine is
attached. Dy dextrous movement he con-
trives to swing the Rite roihN the rrpsD or
weother.cork, by whirh the .s,prPle ID SUI.
mounted, there it fastens. Then, tying a
rather thickened cord TO one end of the
twne which has been suspended, he pills
that up over the cross till he has got Fold ci
the end Of that. Continuing thus 10 fasteh
a stronger rope to the preceding one, he at
last succeeds in fastening thick rope,
strong enough to hold ladder fastened at
one end. This ladder too, is pulled up, and
after it has height sufficient to admit an.
other to be fastened to it, he continues the
process till number of ladders have been
fastened together Of length sufficient to
reach from the roof Of the church to the top
Of the steeple, so close that in ascending them
there IL roori between them and the wall OF
the steeple barely sufficient for the toes of
man to rest on the steps. The workman
now slings bng or bundle of slate across
the right shoulder. In his pocket he car.
ries sufficient quantity Of nails, and the
hammer is stuck in the folds Of his waistcoat,
or in his grdle. His preparations are now
completed.
BY these ladders the workman must as
cend. During his accent, and till he reach.
es the top, he receives support from his
hands; but as soon as his work commences
he must occupy them Otherwise; with rest
ing his breast ugainst the steePle he per.
forms bis task, and after its completion he
descends as he had aecendrd. II is need.
less to cay that this is a most dangerous oc.
cupation. The least unsteadiness Of the
eye, all attack Of giddIuess, an inclination
of the body to one side or the other, the slip
ping OF foot from one of the steps, the
shaking of the ladder by sudden gust OF
wind, any one of these cdstalties Places his.
life In imminent danger, for should he lose
his footing, or his hold, he would be precipi
,ated several hundred feet upon the roof Of
the building, and nearly every bone in his
body would be crushed. Death. almost in
stantaneous, would be inevitable. Such &C.
cidents are not Of an unfrequent occurrence,
and in consideration of the danger and risk
attending this occupation, the persons en-
gagged in it, and who were employed by
the city, were very literally paid, and when
rendered unfit to perform their duties. any
longer. through weakness or old age, pro-
vided with pension for life. These men
had the privilege Of choosing their success
sors, and as long and careful training was
necessary, they always selected young boys.
who, alter serving their apprenticeship, be-
came their assistants, and at last their sue.
cessors by right. sr aa
Arend KirshHer was the roofer Of the city
Of Prague. He had been so for number of
years. was married, and the father numer.
ous family. He was expert ct his trades and
being man Of exemplary morals, he vas
universally respected: The largest, or CO.
thedtal church, in,thst city, called, II Ire.
member rightly, the Their Kirche, required
repaiFsp and ,Asend hsd appointed 4 day iorex-
smihinR and commencing the work. The
q. Il 1.i;,,gy aiiva ati.If nfassaSsisa Hal