The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-06-10
Perilous Ascent of o Cathedral
Spire 222 Feet High.

We gather the following account Of =
wonderful performance and marvellous
exhibition Of nerve, which lately took
place In Cincinnati. from tho Gazette Of
that city:
yesterday, two brothers named Rodri-
guez, Spaniar,ls. as their names indicate,
came to Father Edward Purcell and AK
ed leave to put In order tho lightning rod
that runs up the tall spire Of the cathe-
dral Mt the corner Of Plum and Eighth
streets. The Father told them the insula-
tors on the rod were broken. and other
repairs to H. no ono could tell how much,
werc needed. but he besought them to
put up scaffolding In order to get Mt tho
rod which was to be repaired. Having
been commissioned to do the work, they
proceeded TO tho execution OF II without
delay.
To tho passers along tho thorough
fares tho sight of two mon threading
their way up tho outside of the spiro was
full Of interest. Coming out Of the spirc,
at one of the Louvre windows just above
tho dial face Of tho tower, the man swung
n ladder partly by ropo dropped down
from narrow aperture just below the
base of the spire, and partly by Its own
hooks caught upon the stono molding
around tho next story above the tower.
Upon this pcndulous ladder one Of the
men clambered, hanging to tho rung
like parrot on its perch. On the ledge
of the mOlding tho hooks of the ladder
hung to, was good base of operations.
A half dozen ladders were provided.
Ono was drawn up and planted on the
new base, and lashed In place, both ut
the top and bottom. The top touched
the last ledge of the molding In the as.
cent, from tho base of which tho tower
arose.
On the streets for squares distant along
Plum, In both directions, and along
Eighth eastwardly, witnesses watched
tho ascent, while near tho scene, tho pave
mei,ts were lined with spectators. The
two brothers were on the scene by this
time, and the ascent up the spire proper
had been commenced. Tho first ladder
of the final series rested on tho base OF
the spiro and was lnshed to II, both ut tho
top and bottom. by ropes passing around
the spire. Two men carried second
ono up 10 this one, lashed tho bottom OF
the former to the top of tho latter. The
next thing was to secure this last addi-
ton of climbing apparatus. Ono Of tho
brothers climbed It while tho other held
its base. Up in that dizzy height q rope
was thrown around tho spire and the top
of this last ladder secured by 1t, until five
or six ladders were strung In tho series,
tho topmOst reaching within two or three
feet of the base of the cross, which ter.
minHtos tho spire Mt height of two hun.
drcd and twenty-five feet above tho base
of the Cathedral.
When the line of spliced ladders had
crept up the eastern face of the spire TO
this position. u ladder with hooks at the
top was carried up and hooked upon the
cross. One of the brothers assembled this,
took position first upon IN arm OF the
cross and then stepped up and STOOD
erect upon the very tip-top of the up
right portion of that stone cross. Stand
ing there he unscrewed tho top OF tho
lightning rod and tossed 1t to the ground.
Several variations Of tho performances
took place about this timo. Once both Of
tho brothers were on the opposite arms
of the cross. The standing upon tho
top of the cross, and the climbing about
It's arms continued for some time, when
the men descended, leaving their ladders
for continuation of the performance to
day.
The crowd checrcd when the top Of
the cross was reached. that Is, the boys
In tho crowd cheered. The men were
sober observers. One strong fellow turn
cd from the sight with the remark that 1t
was too much for his nerves. Others
shuddercd audibly. and wished aloud for
tho mon to conc down. but still they con.
tinued to look. Men who had passed ut
4 o'clock. when the work began. return.
ok and saw II completed at sundown.
Everybody expressed relief when tho
men came down, and many gave vent
to regrets that tho perilous work would
be continued to-tlay."