The union Democrat., 1870-09-17
NUMBER 15.
crimblsxa ChareA s.cepre.

The Newark AdrertiSer tells Q startling
story Of an adventure in that place:
"St. Patrick's Cathedral has q steeple SUR.
mounted by ball, on which is cross. The
top Of the cross is two hundred and fifteen
feet above the surface of the ground. the
hight being but FIVE feet short Of that of Bun-
ker Hill Monument. The steeple is weed,
square at the base. and tapering to roint.
Along each angle from the base to the point,
are nailed. at the distance of four feet apart,
ornamental knobs Of wood.
"Al this woodwork, being weather-heaten,
in the course of time rots especially tho
knobs and the crosss, which presents many
small angles; so that it become necessary 10
attend nov and then to the repairing Of thess
parts. To erect a staging for the purpose
when q man OF sufficient daring and coolness
might climb and do the work, would not be
the most economical method. Such men are
rare, but they are to be found. The price
paid for each ascent is usually cbout twenty
FIVE dollars. The risk does aot consist mere
ly in the danger of becoming g;ddy and de-
mora'ized, while clnging in mid-air TO the
outside Of a steenle. while the neigh6ors and
passers.by are collecting in groups below and
gazingupward. with hated breath and tremt-
ling knees, at the climber. lie must go up
by cinging foot and band to what no finds;
and what he must cling 20 are the verv
Enobs, rotting and weakening in the wealth
er, and finally to the cross, already decayed
aud almost ready to drop. The man who
does this scrt Of work in Newark is Frank
Jacobus.
Zone day he was engaged to make an as
cent of the cathedral steeple for the purpose
of moving the old cross and replacing il with
new one. Going up inside the steeTle to
the highest admissible point. he reached out
from the narrow window and felt one of the
knobs to test its strength. Judging II to hs
strong enough he swung himself out by it.
and scrambling up caught hold Of the next
higher knob and rested his feet upon the low
er one, so far all right. He glanced around
him and then looked up along the line Of
knobs that reached far up to the ball and the
cross, marking his hazardous way. II was
something Of an experiment. Were the 9TH
er knobs. too, strong enough? Carefully and
quickly he scrambled up and felt Of the knob
next higher. 1t seemed to have sufficient
strength. lie pulled upon it. 1t bore his
weight, and up he went. Gathering conf
dence, he made his tests and drew his conclu-
sions rapidly. Hc went ~ more and more
quickly, at last scarcely caring to try the
strength of the knobs Before trusting his
weight to them. Already two-thirds Of the
otctIc NcIo CltiuDcu. ~ lew mOTo cuOTta
and his hand would be clinging to tae cross.
"Iie reached forth to raise himself. A
slight scraping sound reached his keen ear.
even in the breeze blowing strongly about
his ears. The knob had moved under his
pull-.was giving way. A mist epread he
fore his ewes. lie felt himself falling back
ward With a convulsive effort that lam-d
his back, he ciutched at something and
brought himself forward again, and down he
slid. His presence of mind had not once left
him. He even tested the knobs as he slid
over them. to see where he might trust to
stop himself with The momentum Of his fall
ing. Gradually he even lessened the mo-
mentum. Then he fastened his grip upon -
knob. 1t held him. and he was safe. The
sigh that went mp from the observers in the
street below almost reached his quickcned
ears as it grew into a shout. lie was not
demoralzej. lie might have come down
and given up the job. Not so. His purpose
to 90 up to the cross was not changed Bot
he could no longer trust himself TO the knobs
on that angle of tie steeple. lie must GO
across to the next angle. lie tried to reach.
but the knob was just beyond his utmoet
stretch Of foot or hand.
"The observers below there looking on in
hreathless suspense. They saw him go up
higher. almost to the very spot whence be
had fallen, and then at last reach out aud
swing himself across. lie was now on ar
other angle, clinging to an untried place and
looking up at the long line Of untes,ed knobs.
| lie went up more carefully, less rnpid.y than
before, trying erery knob we'll before trusting
| his weight to it. Soon he was at the bali.
Grasping that. he slid himself up over ii and
sat himself down on It, with his feet on either
side of the cross. There he waited awhile,
though he seemed still to be busy. Then
raising himself to his feet. he stood beside
the cross. With bis hand be broke it piece
meal, and threw the pieces down, and they
fell into fragment as they touched the stone
walk. Then he decended, and in few min
utes was on the ground again, to be surround
ed by some of the observers.
"a little frightened. en-. Frank, auizzed
one Of them. when you slipped there?'
"'Not a. bit. just as cool as am here,
now. at this minute
"'Risky, though. wasn't it?'
"'Well. yes, it was risky. But the worst
Of it was tore my pantaloons.'
| "'I don't zee it,
"'But I mended them
awhile you were sitting on the, ball, there?'
"Yes; I wasn't coming down with snch
rent as that in them. TIE wind was blowing
hard and things fapned, bnt happened to
have self threader. Billy Wirhers had civ
/ en- me this very morning, and I'd stuck il in
my vest. threaded the reedie without look.
inE at it. and sewed up the tear in a hurry
well. Frank. you're a cool one.'
81 have to be-" he said, and lie elnncsd
around At some ladies who were grouped q
few yards of looking at him.