, 1870-06-29
BURROWERS IN THE AIR.


A1N0NH ~ OERs
From tie ciaei..,.a.i Ga1cttr, Jtate %.
Not for a million-not for Ciucinnati-not
for all the gold in the world would snybody got
me- n, to 60 up there. II should undertake lie
like o that I'd fall and smasll, Buro I would
These men ought to be vol paid for suchrisks. !
such Expressions one might here on Fopr,1,
street, Saturday. from Broadway to CeufTaI
avenue. wucA is certainly long enough dis
tance, and, doubtless, from many an upper story
which commanded view Of the tall staepIo'
whose Heayen-pointing finger il two hundred
and seventy-ive feet above the base on the
church: Yesterday morning and yesterday az
noon calculations Of the came nature might be
heard from the quarters above named. The
asaeFefnhon6 were sometimes vigorously dllal-
iicd, always strong, and in most cases eyi-
dentir backed by strong emotions The eyos
Of the speakers were directed upward. Tie
lockers often held to bannisters, i bit OF rail-
ing, uoor-facing or window-Guard, and fre-
4uentIy drew short breatha.
The focus OF these mnltitudinous owes was
! man climbing the spire of the FIRST Presby-
terlan Church. In fact, threo men wore On
gagged III the ascent. but tile ono who for the
time was in the BALANCE between life and death
commanded the sympathy Of the crowd. These
tame tlltee brave fellows made the ascent of
tho Cathedral apire, only \ few weeks since.
aud one Of them stood on the top Of the cross
iiiat terminates that beautiful bit of arcI,itec-
ture two hundred and twenty-five feet above
Terra ftn'a. There the feat seemed wonlor-
1ui, ana SO 1t was, but far less time was re-
aulred IN accomplishing it than in tho present
instance. Amy ono who has seen tic two
spires need nut be told tho reayon,
Sat'lfday afternoon the ascent OF the First
Presbyterian Church Bplre WAS commenced,
Yesterday, at half-past IL o'clock, it was com
pleted., Eishty-tivc 5cot below the tip Of tho
index finger in wlicl, tho spite culminatos a
scafrold was bni1t from the topmost louvre
windows in the octagonal portion Of the spiro,
Oh the side facing Fourth street. The plat.
form OF this afforded base of operations A
sixteen-foot, ladder was plaeea upon it
na sn stoed a'n9I Il liz fhS S,ss sprs e. ,3s 9ne
the other assembled it, flung a rope round the
Fpiro and fastened the top Of the ladder.
Down came our climber like squirrel, took
M another sixteen-foot 1ndder to the top of
the first, spliced it with ropes, and made the
heavy ring mo1dmg. How that was done WAS
awonder. all the moro startling when ono con-
sidcrs that in the splice the top OF ladder num-
ber one had to be pulled two feet from its
resting pluce aTainst tho Brire. Tho top OF
der was lashcd to the middle Of tho
spliced one, while its top, in q line
perpendicular above its base, touched the L,r
rim molding, the severe point OF the ascent.
While the people below bclleld aud trsmblcd,
the little man climbed straight to the top Of
this trembling. unsteady laller, and laslsd II
fast: From now on the ascent was porpeu-
dicular, but the worst WIS over. One aftee
another was nddod to the long line Of ladders
until six wero joined together, and tic top Of
the topmost was on lovel with tho knucklea
OF the great golden hand. This was ACCOM-
plished ut noon yesterday. Arrest and dinner
were taken.
After noon our steep1e-climber went to the
top OF tho topmoat ladder, stepped upon the
index finger with one hand, snd reaching up-
ward with tic other, put his hat upon tlo top
Of the lightning-rod, and there left it while he
came down and crept into the steeple. The
people below we're too much awed to cheer
Expressions Of wonder and admiration for the
almost sublime performance were frequent
and henrty. The object Of ali this is to re-
place rusty lightning rod by q new ono,
The feat has not beon aeon three times in
America Tor it is sail tho Unitcd States has
but one higher sDife.