The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-08-03

REMARKABLE for its spire, the lof.iest.oi
St. Petersburg, is the church OF ST Peter
and st. Paul An annecdote connected
with this church, and not known, be-
lieve, out Of Russia, is worth telling. The
spire, which rises
Lofty, and light, and SMALL,
and is probably represented in an engrav
ing as fading away almost into point in
the SKI, is, in reality, terminated by a
globe OF considerable dimensions, on which
an angel stands, supporting large cross
This angel was out of repair; and some
suspicious were entertained that he de-
signed visiting, uninvoked, the surface Of
the earth The affair caused some IN.
easiness, and the governme at length be-
came greatly perplexed. To raise scat
folding TO such height would cost a large
sum Of money; and in medi1ating fruit
/, ssly on this circumstance, without know
ing how to act, some time was suffered to
eIapse.
Among the crowd of gazers below, who
daily TUNED their oy on and thoir THOUGHTS
towards the angel, was mujik called Te-
lOuchkine This man was rooter 81
houses "a slater, rs he would be called in
countries where slateS were nsedD ana MS
spocu!ations by degrees assumed more
practical character Than the Idle wonders
and c0piectures OF the rest OF the crowd.
The spire was entirely covered with sheets
of gilded copper, and presented t. The eye
a surIace as smooth as If it had been one
mass of FURNISHED gold. But Teiouchkine
knew that the sheets of copper were not
even uniformly closed upon each other,
and, above all, that there were large naus
sed to fasten them, which projected from
! the side Of the spiTe.
Having thought on these circumstances
| till his mind was made up, leioIchh hlne
| went to tie government AMI "it red TO
rera,r the angel without scatiulding, and
without assistance, on condition OF being
reasonably paid for the time Expended IL
the labor. The offer was accepted.
The day fixed for the adventure arrives
Telouchkine, provided with nothing more
than coil of ropes, ascends the Spirc III
the interior to the last window Here he
looks down at the concourse OF the peo,
pie below, and upat the glitt, ring needle,
as il is called, tapering far above his head
But his heart does not fail rim; AMI step
ping gravely out upon the window, he
sets about his task.
He cuts a portion of the cord in tht
form Of two large stirrups, with loop al
each end. The upper loops he iasteus
upon two of the projecting nails above
his head, an places his foot IN the others.
Then digging the fingers of one hand into
the interstices of the sheets OF copper, ht
raises one Of the stirrups with the othel
hand, so as to make it catch nail higher
up. The same operation he performs OF
behalf of the other leg. and SO On alter
nateiy. And thus he climbs, nail by nail
step by step, and stirrup by stirrup, til
Ills starting point is undistinguished iron
the golden surface, and the spire Vindle
in his embrace till he can clasp it al
round.
so far, so we'll But he now reach'
the bail-a globe of between nine and tel
feet in circumference. The angel, the Oh
ject Of this visit, is above this bali, an'
concealed from his view by its smooth
round and glittering expanse. Only fanc.
the wretch at this moment, turning VI
bis grave, eyes and graver beard, to an oh
stacle that seems to defy the daring an
intrepidity of man!
But Telouchkine is not dismayed. 81
is prepared for the difficulty; and tb
means he used to surmount it exhibits th
same remarkable simplicity as the rest o
the feat.
Suspending himself in his stirrups, h
) giids he needle" with cord, the end
, | Ol WHICH uc ldStcus 1iOuuu lis Wdsst,
So supported, he leans gradually back, ii
The soles of his feet are planted agains
the spire. In this position he throws, b
a strong effort, d coil of cord over the ball
, and SC coolly and accurately is the air
taken, that at the first trial ii falls in tn
required direction, and he sees the en-
hang down on the opposite side.
To draw himself into his origi lal pos
ton, to fasten the cord firmly around tn
; globe, and with the assistance Of this au,
iliary to climb to the summit, is now a
easy part of his task; and in a few minut,
more Telouchkine stands by the side
!, the angel, and listens to the shout tht
, bursts like sudden thunder from the col
l course below, yet comes to his ear onl
like faint and hollow murmur.
The cord, which he had an opportuni
Christening properly, enabled him to d
, scend with comparative facility; and II
4 next day he carried up with him ladd
! of ropes, by means of which he found
. { easy 10 effect the necessary repairs.