North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1870-07-20
The Steeplc Climbers.

"Not for million-not for Cincinnati
not for all the gold in the world would
ANYBODY get me to go up there. Ii l
should undertake the like o. that I'D fall
and smash sure, would. These men
ought to be well paid for such risks"
Such expressions one might hear on Fourth
street, Saturday, from Broadway to
Central Avenue, which is certainly long
enough distance, and, doubtless, from
many an upper story window, both north
and south of this line, which commanded
view of the tall steeple, whose heaven
pointing finger is two hundred and
seventy-fiive feet above the tase of the
church. Yesterday morning and yester-
day afternoon CALCULATIONS of toe same
nature might be heard from the quarters
above named. The assertions were some
times vigorously qualified always strong
and en- most cases evidently backed by
strong emotions. The eyes ofthe speakers
were directed upwards. The lockers
often held to banisters, bit of railing, a
door facing, or window-guard, and fire.
quently drew short breaths.
The focus of these multitudious eyes
was man climbing up the spire of the
First Presbyterian Church In fact,
three men were engaged in the ascent,
but the one who for the time was in the
balance between life and death, COM
manded the sympathy of the crowd
These same three brave fellows made
the ascent of the cathedral spire, only
few weeks ago, and one of them stood
on the top of the cross that terminates
that beautiful bit of architecture two
hundred and seventy-ive feet above
terra frma. There the feat seemed
wonderful, and so it was, but far less
time was required in accomplishing it
than in the present instance. Any one
who has seen the two spires need not
be told the reason.
Saturday afternoon the ascent of the
First Presbyterian church spire was
commenced. Yesterday, at halfpast IL
o'clock it was completed. Eighty five
feet below the tip of the index finger
in which the spire eliminates scaffold
was built from the topmost oetagonial
portion of the spire, on the side facing
Fourth street. The platform of this
afforded base of operations. A six
teen-foot ladder was placed upon it and
leaned against the spire One man
stood at the base of this, the other as
cended it, flung rope around the spire,
and fastened the top of the ladder
Down came our climber like squirrel,
took up another sixteen-foot ladder, to
the top of the first, spliced it with
ropes, ard made the two as one, with
the top resting against heavy ring
moulding. How that was done was a
wonder, all the more startling, when
one considers that in the splice, the top
of the ladder number one had to be
pulled two feet from its resting place
against the spire.
The top of this secured, the bottom of
another ladder was dashed to the middle
of the spliced one, while its top, in line
perpendicular above its base, touched the
big rim moulding, the severe point of the
ascent. While the people below .beheld
and trembled, the little man climbed to the
top of this trembling, unsteady ladder and
dashed it fast. From now on the ascent
was perpendicular, but the worst was over
One after another was added to the long
line of ladders, until six were Joined to-
gether, and the top of the topmost was on
level with the knuckles OF the great gol-
den hand. This was accomplished at
noon yesterday. A rest and dinner was
taken.
Afternoon our steeple climber went to
the top Of the topmoat ladder, stepped on
the golden knuckles, stood upright, held
to the index finger with one hand, and
reaching upward with the other, put his
hat upon the top of the lightning rod, and
there left it while he came down and crept
into the steeple. The people were toe
much awed to cheer. Expressions Of won.
der and admiration for the almost sublime
performance were frequent and hearty
The object Of all this is to replace a rusty
ightri ing rod by new one. The feat has
not been seen three times in America, 70,
it is said the United States has but one
higher spire.
The Best AUTHORITY People who en-.