The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-10-31
St. MichaeI,s steenIe.
IRON tA. MY. Post

The romantic story Of the bells Of ST..
aIchsels Church in Charleston, s. c.,
Ehich We copied day or two ago from
QB Carson's book, reminds US OF an in
cideut In relation TO that church which
probably has never been printed, or if il
ha, Is old enough and interesting enough
to Be tod again. We heard It related
long since BY su old lady, who witnessed
itwhen she was young girl, perhaps
eighty years Of age.
This lady, who was from Massachu.
sets, was on visit at Charleston in the
!Atttr part Of the last century; ltwss at
a! time when there occurred q FIRE
which burned upa considerable portion
Of the city, and which Tor many year,
marked an era in its history as "the time
Of the Great Fire"
WhiIethe fire was raging and the whole
city seemed doomed 10 destruction, the
Mayor and Aldermen sat in solemn and
aaIIous council 10 devise ways and means
0stay the cona4gration and to provide
Tor those who had lost all their worldly
possessions, and who stood half naked and
ihlveriug BY the smouldering ruins OF
their homes. The news came 10 them
presently that ST. Michael's was in dan.
ger, Tor the fire was approaching the
square where il stood and u storm OF great
burning brands was showered down upon
~ root and hurled against Its steeple.
Men upon the root put ont the fiery mis-.
hIes as they fell, and could reach and dis
lodge those that fastened themselves upon
Tue lower portion of the spire; but the
Danger was that some burning shinglc,
oorle far upin the air by the gale, would
make !odgment out Of reach, ensuring
a0t only the destruction of the church, but
Spreading the flaming messengers far and
EIde from this great heighth over parts Of
IRE.
The fear was well.lounded. Itwas not
.oog before flying brand caught aud fas.
,sned itself upon the topmost height of
'He spire, The spectators watched 1t
GtoEio1sly in the vain hope that 1t would
dfop before its blaze caught upon the
surrounding woodwork; but, held to it's
pace, perhaps by the wind, it kindled
brighter and brighter till it was plain that
ClIeSs some human hand could pluck it
down, the spire and all that would be in.
volVed in its destruction were doomed.
Ihs helpless crowd looked up and watch.
a. the burning brand, but among them
Gil there was not one man fearless enough
otSctlve enough to attempt to scale the
lIddy height. The Mayor and Council
GoOd In the square below, powerless and
aspalring like the rest, but Offering a
Nse reward 10 any one who would at.
smpt the daring leat OF dislodging that
'patk OF flame that ilickered in the gale
The very summit Of the steeple, and
grew each moment brighter, and would
But presently a man appeared in the
.eiEy Of the church, and leaning over the
nlIlOg looked upward, as II measuring
slA his eyes the distance Of the many
mst .sS Of almost perpendicular ascent that
,uIl lay between him and the spot oi
aAae above him. Then he mounted up
" IAe railing and stretched his hands
soOVG him upon the steeple. From the
UOEd OF thousands below went up one
Msemighy shout that almost shook
sM IS Az about him; then great silence
ss1 upon the multitude as they held theit
uIeslSs, and their upturned faces grew
S,ae SaIe IN the ruddy light as they watched
~ progress; Slowly, painfully, careful.
y sSa steadily he crept up aud up, rails,
'g5!H ,us aHimse!I from one slight projection to
~S1IHf, nJJ,aef, invisible to those below, but
SSt HSica served him for u foothold and
~. sa,cl hIshands could grasp. Allaround
,V' many squares the fire ragged unheed.
w. and men forgot their blazing homes
~, W 'he light OF their burning they
j,.S jIa,SaeI this solitary figure creeping hun,
v.aH, sSS oI leet above them, up St. Michael's
SspIe' AT length the brand was within
HoIn MI sTaen, and holding on with one hand
o,S.. AZ! ae seized the blazing mass with tho
Sa .IsL and hurled It clear into the square
To'o NV, and the spire stood cut black once
i,Sv. MY against the sky with no light upon
bon..s p' 'he reflection IRON the burning
,bGS, nc! not yet did the crowd dare TO
va TH. aItaeir exuItatatlou that Michael's
mov;sd, I ;aved, for Its savior still cluug, q
1s,.f speck beneath the golden ball
Ss SsmSat o OF which tho sailors greeted &C
SnU SUus 10 sea, Slowly, painfully, care
Gs,SS.,N GS, steadily he began The more difficult
Ss9s, .S9 and not till he had stepped safe
H. 'SS etnIy over the railing and ic,o
V,Ss,'y oil the church did The mitbty
Iocs s'Us W, men wh1 hailed great deliver
rOism "pH ri.1 FeSoGntsed an act OF daring lie
inc a. 'ae above the roar OF the surround
nan I,s; w., . ST. !. Nichaevs WAS saved and III,