The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-06-10
TALL CLIMBING.
How Cincinnati Man Mounted the
Highest spire in America.

The following is an account of tick
lish performance which lately took place
in Cincinnati:
/ 'People who were in the vicinity OF
Fouth and Nam streets, yesterday af-
| ternoon, enjoyed free show in the way
| of daring climbing feat to the top of
| the First Presbyterian Church spire.
| Mr.. j. IL. Weston, the champion steep
I-le-climber of the city, was employed to
make some repairs to the tin sheeting
| toward the top of the spire, and to put a
| new point on the lightning rod; and, as
| a preparation for the work, placed line
| of ladders from one of the highest win
dows to the top of the hand surmount-
ing the high structure. In this danger
GUS undertaking he was watched by
hundreds of people. To place the lad
ders in position and secure them, he had
for the most part to go in advance and
haul them up after him. This was not
done in starting on the ascent from the
window, from which, for about 20 feet
upward, there was, on the smooth sur
face of the spire, no foot or finger hold
for the brave climber, and here seemed
the most difficult and dangerous work
of the whole business. The end of the
ladder was thrust out the narrow window,
upon it was placed and tied double
ladder, the top of which was rested
against the spire. Then one of the
double ladders was showed upward,
Weston climbing up the under side of
the lower one meanwhile, and with the
bottom not the most secure, with the
top sliding from side to side with the
motion OF elevating it, and with a man
upon it in peril, the people looked up
and shuddered. Reaching the top, he
tied rope about the ring under the
large wooden holdings, secured the top
of his ladder, and hauled up another
one. Then he climbed up around the
holdings, then up the pole which sup
ports the hand, and then up the smooth
pole to the dizzy height where are the
iron rods, with gilt stars on the ends,
indicating the points of the compass.
Here he carelessly stepped about, and
tied more ropes, and let down line and
drew up another ladder. Some thought
Weston had lashed himself to the pole,
but this he did not do. He was standing
on his feet, with his knee braced against
the pole, and relying on his nerve. The
last ladder hoisted was hooked to the
top of the hand, and on it Weston
mounted and tied the top. He wasat the
pinnacle of the highest steeple in Amer
lea. He had line of ladders and ropes
complete from the window to the hand,
and then he came down to terra frma,
and cooliy insisted that a newspaper re-
porter should go heavenward, and shake
hands with the spire, and see how Sc
cure and safe was the pathway up. The
reporter took Weston's word for it,
after toiling up through the inside stee-
pie, and looking out of the top windows.
After Weston had come down, his as
istant, Sam Hall, who has already done
some cool climbing, went up on the
ropes and ladders and planted a small
flag on the hand. Sam, a man weighing
ITO pounds in his stocking feet and shirt
sleeves, looked something like wood
pecker while he was doing this"
The First Presbyterian Church spire
is the highest this side of the water.
1t is 285 feet high. Its only respecta
BILE rival Is the spire of Trinity Church,
New York, which is claimed to be 2S4
feet high. The hand, which is of cop
per, is feet and 5 inches long.