The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1870-07-15
Borrowers IN the 1lir.


The &eepse Climbers at their hazardous cork.
From the Cincinnati Gazette. June ss.]
mot for a million-not for Cincinnati
not for all tho gold in the world would any
body get me 10 20 up there. If 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 Ger.
tainly long enough distance, and, doubt.
less. from many an upper story window,
both north and south of this line, which
commanded . view of the tall steeple, whose
steeple hesven.pointing finger is two hun
dred and seventy five feet above the base Of
the church. Yesterday morning and yes
tcrday afternoon CALCULATIONS of the same
nature might be heard from the quarters
above named. The asseveratiOns we're some
times vigorously qualified, always strong,
and in most cases evidently backed Ivy strong
emotions The eyes of the speakers were
directed upward. The lockers often held
to bannisters, a bit Of railing. u door facing,
or window guard, and frequently drew
short breaths. II ..!...
The focus of these multitudinous eyes
was . man climbing the spire Of the First
Presbyterian Church. In fact, three ,Uen
were engaged in the ascent, but the one who
for the time was in the balance between life
nnd death, commanded the sympathy Of the
crowd. These same three brave fell0ws
made the ascent Of the Cathedral spire, only
o few weeks since, anG one of them stood
on the top Of the cross that terminates
that beautiful piece of architecture two
hundred and twenty five feet aboye ter.
RI frm1. There the feat seemed won.
derful 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 half past twelve O'Clock it was
completed. Eighty feet below the tip Of
tho index finger in which the spire culmin-
atcs. scaffold was built from the topu,ost
louvre windows in the oc,agonal portion Of
the spire. Oh the side facing Fourth street.
The platform Of this afforded base Of 0p-
craliOns. A s;xtccn-foot ladder was placed
upon it, and leaned against the spire. One
man stood at the i@sc Of this, and the other
assembled it, fun. 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. and made the
two as one, with The top resting against i.
heavy ring molding. How that was done
was wonder, all the more startling when
one considers that in the splice the top of
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 lashed to the middle. of
tho sp,ieDd ONO, while its top, IN . line per.
pindicular above its base, touched the big
rim moltling, the severe point Of the ascent
While the people below beLcld and trem-
blcd, the little man climbed straight tn the
the top Of this trembling, unsteady ladder.
and lashed 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 together.
and the top Of the topmost was on level
with the knuckles Of the great golden hand.
This was accomplished at noon yesterday.
A rest and dinner wVe taken.
After noon our steeplc climber, went to
the top of the topmost ladder, stepped upon
the golden knuck!es, stood upright, held to
the index finger with one hand, aad reach
ing upward with the other, put his hat up.
on tho top Of the lightning rod, and there
left it, while lie came down and crept into
the stecplc. The people below were too
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 rusty
rod BY new one. The feat has
not been seen three times In the United
States, for il Is said that the United States
has but one higher spirc.