Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1858-04-09
Thrilling SceRe--FearfuI Experience of
Lightning Rod Wan.

Thrilling SceRe--FearfaI Experience of
Lightning Rod Wan.
Mr.. Thomas Kingston, who for several
years has followed The business of putting
up lightning rods, which, Of course, re-
qnires steady nerve and fun brain, met
with an accident recently, by which. but for
the most singular presence of mind, or
supernatural instinct. he would have been
dashed 10 pieces. He is compelled TO climb
roofs, over chimneys, and up spires, and fix
rod with perfect GOODNESS and precision,
hundreds OF feet above tue level of the
earth
On the occasion TO which we refer, Mr..
X. had asceuded ST. Pauls Cathedral,
whose spire is about two hundred and thir-
ty-fve feet high, near the head of Broad.
way, and gone to the very top where hav-
ing left his ladder below, he clang by his.
arms and legs, fastened the last foot Of rod
and attached lis poini--quite heavy piece
OF metal-securey as he supposed, 10 the
cross surmouBtiug the steeple. He had
just completed tie difficult task, watched
by number OF persons in the street be-
low, and while looking at the work aud ex-
periencng that satisfaction which results
from hazards and labor accomplished, Of
sudden something heavy struck him and
made his brain reel until be could hardly
see. Instead Of loosing his hold at once,
as woull scem to have been the natural and
inevitable res Il he clung w,ih power be-
yond himself and Il viii superior TO his own,
rs,s~er and iis-tistc1ise 60 th@ sI,ire. He
sstlta occurred. and to Ills
cotsfased senses appeared thai the steepe
was tufnbiine tlat spine strange cause
was about TO bring the vast structure to the
ground.
Some forty seeouds-an age 10 him
mast have elapsed before be subverted con-
sciousness to know that the entire upper
part OF the rod had fallen upon his head
causing the blood to trickle over his fore
head, and nearly blind him. lie was 10
a dreadful pcrplexity, and most dat geroas
position He feared, if be moved, he would
90 cleaving the air to terrible death upon
The stonny street helow--and at the same
time he knew he could not, in the disorder
ed stale OF his nerves, and his increasing
weakness, retain his grasp, more the result
OF fate than Of feeling. much longer II
he stirred he might fall if he remained he
certainly would aud so, determined to
make nj least an effort for his life, he pot
one foot up very cautiously, then bis arms,
and then moved the other foot and after
half a minute oil exerton, and the greatest
danger. he touched the topmost round of
the ladder and in few seconds more was
inside of the sieepie and safe.
Then ii was Mr.. ks great courage and
strength forsook him his nerves and mus
cles relaxed he grew sick unto death ; his
knees gave way his vision swan, and he
sank upon the platform motionh.ss and in
sensible. He must have lain there half an
hour before he caud rise an walk. and he
did not recover from the shock for more
than fortnight after.
The people gazing up at him from the
street describe the scene as painful 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 mo-
nent dashed to pieces at their feet. Des-
tiny had ordered otherwise, and Mr.. X.
still pursues his dangerous avocation; but
he SAYS If he were TO 1--we thousand years
he never would forget the intense horror
Of those century-like moments; when he
seemed to hang upon the air more than two
hundred feet above the earth and 10 be mo-
meniarily descending to a dreadful death.--
ciaeinaati Enquirer.
A WISE RuLE-Among the lessons
taught by Bishop Soule to the preachers,
is the following, which we heard him, says
the Ne1C Orleans 4dcocote, utter al the
Alabama Conference, as a preventative
against all embarrassment growing out OF
debt. Ii even defines the limits OF safe
speculation and if observed by business
men. wolld take the edge off of psnics
Brethren my rule IS this, and | advise
YOU TO adopt it Never owe any more than
YOU are able to pay. and allow no nar TO
owe YOU more fhan YOU are able to loose.
sWell, John. did you take the note ! gave
you to Mr.. Smiihers?' inquired gentleman
of his rustic servant. Yes, sir" replied John,
Il took the note, but | don't think he can
read IT. aCannol read itg" exclaimed the
gentleman; .why so john" )" Because he Is !
blind sir. While was in the room. he axed
me- where my hat WAS, and Il wor on my
II T.f-o