Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-12-12
SELECT SKETCH.
A PERILOUS HOUR.

l was apprcnliced to decorative pain
ter, but being of bold, danger loving
turn, | ran away to sea before my time
was out.
After some years of knocking about, l
got tired of a maritime life, and having
married and determined to stick to the
shore, got work with builder, whose
peculiar line lay in erecting tall chimneys.
| had always cool head, and could stand
on elevations that made most men dizzy,
and so was soon favorite hand with my
master.
We had on one occasion to fasten
lightning conductor, which had. sprung
near the top of II very high chimney, and
Mr.. Staining chose myself and one James
Colly to do it, as the IN 'st daring of his
men About half dozen of us went that
morning with handcart, containing the
necessary ropes, blocks, tie kite, and a
box or cradle. Having flown the kite ,and
dropped it's lire 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.
Colly had only been married fortnight
and as we stepped into the cradle the men
banteringly asked him if he hadn't a last
dying speech 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 town
that the conductor was to be fixed, though
as the day was not named, did not ex-
pect we should have spectators; but as we
got higher, and the view opened under
our feet, | saw that the streets were al
ready 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 folly, and that
he thought | might think of better things
than how TO amuse those gaping fools who
he dared say, desired no better than to see
us meet with an accident.
had come up in the best heart, think
ing, indeed, nothing about the danger we
incurred; but as we drew nearer and
nearer to the top, and had nothing, as it
seemed, belonging to this world near to
us but this straning 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 better to
keep his eyes about him, SO that he might
grow used to the height.
Good Heaven what was this 7 Here
We were within yard of the top project.
ing coping, and still they were winding
away without Stacking the speed in the
least guessed in moment that they
mistook our height, and that with the
great purchase Of that windlass the rope
would be broken when the cradle came tc
the block. sprang up, and catching the
rope, climbed hand over hand to the cop
ing, Colly, too, sprang up and followed
me. He, too, got safe; and still they wen
on winding up, till the rope sung agair
= with the strain there was upon it.
Then it snapped, and cradle, hauling
line, aud the main rope, with its block
fell down. Thus were We two poor mel
1 left in most desperate situation.
j Poor Colly was completely dazed will
, alright, and the moment he got on th'
] coping, which was only foot and hal
broad, lie cried out:
4 "Where can l pray '--where can
kneel aud pray"