The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-11-23
WAYNE COUNTY. IND, NOV.

ler part, when / would get a clutch
ind hold on to a couple of biz iron
'ands and get secure footing,
Though a ticklish job, / had done
he same before, and SO got all
light after the 6rst trial. Well,
worked away steady, taking GU.
he old slate and putting in the
new, and mailing down those that |
we're loose. / must have been
two hours at work when wanted |
to go up for more nails, so com
menced to haul away, kicking
my sell from time to time clear Of
the swell Of the dome. So far so
good. When I was almost half
way up thought I'd stop jus,
minute to take breath, as it was
a hot, sultry day, and warm even
up as high as I was. My toe was
or . isysiswith one layer of slate.
when / thought I noticed was
lowering an inch or SO, when it
stopped; then began again, and I
went down most eight inches; then
stopped again for a minute, and
lower l went by half conrse of
slate. Iwas thoroughly alarmed.
OF course, I reasoned, it could on
ly arise from one of four things
either the rope was stretching,
and that wasn't possible, or the
double, hitch had given to the
rope round the head Of staircase
was slipping, which again, too,
wasn't possible, it being contrary
to the rule Of knots, or the stair
case was getting pulled out, which
wasn't likely, or, what was worse,
and which struck me must be the
fact, the rope was cutting, and l
settled on that. I watched to no.
tice if there was any inclination to
twist in the rope, but couldn't see
it. Now { knew that if I made any
violent motion, might increase
the damage. / clutched all could
to sides OF the states, trying tc
take advantage Of even nail that
might be sticking up, but l couldn't
get more holt than again glass.
1 was now under the larger part of
the swell of the dome; with .
, hundred feet clean uuder me. To
get below to where l had been
working was impossible, I was
afraid to swing out on the rope
now, which would have caused a
. jerk. It was no use to holler, for
, no one could have heard me; and
there was no use of making
, signs, as I " "a on the side away
from the street, and nobody could
see me. Up must go, and may
: be thought, if the rope will hold
> I may get up yet. Slowly I wen
: up, with a quiet steady pull. Il
was about shutdown, and as / go
! up, inch by inch, I saw the sur
[ shine on a bit of jagged tin, it wal
8 that which had been cutting slowl.
but surely into my rope. Will
9 the strain l had given it, three o
t four Of the strands looked az
, they had been cut through with
e sharp knife, and I was hanging no,
b by may be strand. All along
d had held fast to my tools; now
It let 60 my hammer first, aud tn el
IT some twenty states, and / hear
o tn EN- smash with o clatter belo'
1t on the tombstones. Slowly l cep
d up, nearing the point little wher
Y the rope was cutting. just then
IS got my lead over the top Of th
g round. l had pretty strong knit
ID in my pocket, SO l jabbed it in b.
sr tween the edges of the slate, unit
D it took hold in the woodwork
rs and l braced my heel against i
! If l had had two knives, coul
&c have managed firstrate using on
as for one foot. and the other for th
10 other, 80 as to take the strain Q
IN the rope. l tried all / could
throw the rope OF the tin, but Sc
at ing it was still under strain, Wi
We my beft to il, l couldn't bulge
es Well, l never should have know
is to this day how would have pul
IN ed through if it hadn't been for
TO W oman who just then stuck b.
he blessed old head out of 8 lit
ch window in the church below m
a, "Mister,' says she, "don't "
es know your trade better than to
1T throwing down slate and thin,
At that way2 And my child as can
's, as near as could be having b
IL, head split open with . slate, n
I'm the sections wife. and just O.
40 if ! don't report all about it to Il
as vestry as meets TO night"
~ Says l For Gods sake dor
:" scold, for am here in q scrap
My rope 10 cut, and getting cut I
the time I'm talking to you, al