The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-06-30
A PerilOlls Hour.

was apprentlceu 10 decorative painter,
but being of a bold, danger-loving turn, l
ran away to sea before my time was out.
After some years of knocking about, got
tired of a maritime life, and having married
and determined to stick to the shore, I got
work with builder whose peculiar line lay
in erecting tall chimneys. had always a
very cool head, and could stand on eleya-
tons that made most men dizzy, and so
was soon favorite hand with my master. .
We had on one occasion to fasten light
ming conductor which had sprung near the
top of very high chimney, and Mr.. Staining
chose myself and one James Colly to do it,
as the most daring of his men. About half
cart, containing the necessary ropes, blocks,
the kite, and box or cradle. Having flown
the kite, and dropped its line across the top
of the chimney, we soon drew up rope at
the end of which was block, through which
ran the line whereby we were to be drawn
up 13uaf a7.. ..~r.ra....
Colly had only been married a fortnight
and as we stepped into the cradle, the men
banteringly asked him if he hadn't last dy-
ing speech to leave for his wife; and then
Mr.. Staining having shaken hands with US,
and bid us be cool and steady, we were
drawn slowly up.
1T was known all over the town that the
p conductorwas to be fixed, though, as the day
was not named, did not expect we should
have many spectators but as we got high
er, and the view opened under our feet, /
saw that the streets were already thronged
with starers. Colly was, very quiet; and
when WAVED my cap to the people, he said
snappishly that this was no time for such
oily, and that he thought might think of
better things than how to amuse these gap
ing fools, who, he dared say, desired no bet-
ter fun than to see us meet with an acci-
dent as''' ar3"t
taI had come up in the best heart, thinking,
indeed, nothing about the danger we incur
red; but as we drew nearer to the top, and
had nothing as it seemed, belonging to this
world near to us but this stralning rope,
began to see the peril Of the undertaking. -
What Colly thought of it, don't know-he
sat at the bottom of the cradle, never looking
out, though told him he would do obetter to
keep his eyes about him, SO that he might
grow used to the height. -I;.. s.
Good heaven ! what was this? Here we
were within yard of the top projecting cop
ing, and still they were winding, not slack
ing speed in the least! Iguessed in a mo-
ment that they mistook our height, and that
with the great purchase of the windass the
rope would be broken when the cradle came
to the block. I sprang up, and catching the
rope, climbed hand over hand to the coping.
Colly, too, sprang up and followed me. He,
too, got safe; and still they went on wind
ing up, winding up, till the rope sang again
with the strain there was upon it.
Then it snapped, and cradle, haulng-line
and the main rope with its block, fell down.
Thus were we two poor men left in most
desperate situation.
Poor Colly was completely dazzled with af.
fright; and the moment he got on the coping,
which was only foot-and-a-half broad, he
called out, "Where can pray? where can [
kneel and pray 2" and SO said, very sol
emnly, "Sit down, Jem; God win hear us il
we pray to him sitting down." l,i lfs
70 The color Of his face was transparen,
blue; and it was distorted and twitcliing, as
if he were in fit. His eyes we've very wild
and drawn into squint, and he couldn't 81,
steady, but swayed his body backward and
forward, SO that felt certain that he must
topple over.
"Come, Jem, lad" thinking 70 take the
fright off him; it's bad enough, but it car't
be mended. Hitch up bit, and put your
arm round the rod may be it viii steady
you" os ofJ
"Whcre are you! and where is the rod?
he asked, in very hollow voice, though h,
WAS looking straight at me, and the rod wa