Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-02-02
A PERIL0Us HOUR.

painter, but being of a bold, danger
loving turn, ran away to sea before
my time was out
After some years ofknocking about,
/ got tired Of maritime life, aud hav
ing married and determined to stick
10 the shore, ! got work with build.
er whose peculiar line lay in erecting
tall chimneys | had always a very
cool head, and could stand on eleva
tions that made most men dizzy, and
so | was soon a favorite hand with
my master.
We had on one occasion TO fasten
tightening conductor which had been
sprung near the top of a very high
chimney, and Mr.. Staining chose my
self and one James Colly 10 do it, as
the most daring of his men. About a
half dozen of us went that morning
with hand-cart, containing the nee.
essary ropes, blocks, the kite, and a
box or cradle. Having flown the
kite, and dropped its line across the
top of the chimney, we soon drew up
a rope,a the end of which was block,
through which ran the line whereby
we were to be drawn up.
Colly had only been married fort
night and as we stepped into the
cradle, the men banteringly asked
him if he hadn't last dying 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 town that the conductor was
TO be fixed, though, as the day was
not named, did not expect we should
have had many spectators but as we
got higher, and the view opened un-
der our feet, we 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 folly, and that be thought | might
think of better things than how to
amuse these gaping fools, who, he
dared say, desired no better fun than
10 see us meet with an accident.
had come up in the best heart,
thinking, 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 strain.
ing rope, | began 10 see the peril of
the undertaking. What Colly thought
of it l don't knOw-he sat at the bot
tom 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 Z Here
we were within yard of the top-pro-
jecting coping, and still they were
winding away, without Stacking 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 to the block. |
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 winding up, winding up, till
the rope sung again with the strain
there was upon IL.
Then it snapped, and cradle, haul.
ing line, and the main rope with its
block, fell down. Thus were two poor
men left in a most desperate situation.
Poor Colly was completely dazzled
with alright; and the moment be got
on the coping, which was only a foot.
and-a-half broad, he called out
"Whcre can | pray where can /
kneel and prayi" and so | said, very
solemnly, "Sit down, Jem; God will
hear us if we pray to him sitting
down"
The color of his face was transpa.
rent blue; aud it was distorted and
twitching, as if be were in a fit. Ills
eyes were very wild, and drawn into
a squint, and he couldn't sit steady,
bat swayed his body backward and
forward, so that i felt certain that he
must topple over.
"Come Jem, lad" 1 said, thinking
TO take the fright off him, it's bad
enough, but it can't be mended. Hitch
up bit, and put your arms round the
rod-may be it will steady you.
"Where are your and where's the
rodi" he asked in very hollow voice,
though he was looking straight at me,
and the rod was only foot or two TO
his left, By this knew that he was
gone blind with fright and selfpres.
ervation said, don't go near him; but
then / remembered his newly-wedded
wife, and that taking him all through,
be was always a very decent fellow
and thought how / should have liked
him TO have done il | had been in bis
case so ] determined TO run bit of
risk in his favor. OF course durst
not get on my feet but working my
self on by my hands, | got to him, and
putting my arm round bis waist, and
telling him as chcerlully as / could 10
keep cool, | got him with his arm
round the rod. IL had, however,
sprung the stapling for five yards
down, and was so loose that il swayed
with him, and | expected any minute
10 see him fallinghcad and heels down,
and the rod taring away with him.
There was great hustle down below
people were running round the yard
and pushing TO get in, but as yet there
were but some score Of men at the
foot of the chimney, and, by close
looking, | saw them put somebody on
a board, ard carry him gently away
toward the engine-house. One of the
men walked after with a hat in bis
hand; then | knew that somebody
had been hurt by the falling cradle,
and that il must bepoor Mr. Staining,
as none Of our men wore hats. Not
face was turned up to us. | learned
ailerward that our men were 50 taken
up with sorrow that so good man
and so kind a master should be killed,
that for a while they had never
Thought about us and the people out
side imagined that we had come down
with the cradle, so thus we were left