The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1876-10-06
r How an Angel was Repaired.
From the Boston Transcript.

From the Boston Transcript. At
Directly opposite the Winter Palace in
St. Petersburg, and one Of tho most con-
spicuous objects ON the whole line of the
Neva, is the CITADEL or old fortress, in real
ity the foundation of the city --the golden
spires of its church shooting the sky and
glitteting in the sun. This spire, which
rises tapering till it seems almost to fade
away into nothing, is surnounted by u
large globe on which stands an angel sup
porting cross. This angel, being made of
perishable materials once manifested
symptoms Of decay, and fears were enter
tanned that it would soon be numbered
with the fallen. Government became per-
picked how to repair it to raise scaffold-
ing to such height would cost more than
the angel was worth. Among the crowd
which daily assembled to gaze at it from
below was roofer of houses, who. afterta
long and silent examination, went to the
Government and offered to repair it with
out any scaffolding or assistance of any
kind. His offer was accepted, and on the
day appointed for the attempt, provided
with nothing but coil Of cords, he ascend
ed inside to the highest window, and, look
ing for a moment at the crowd below and
at the spire tapering away above him,
stood on the onter ledge of the window.
The spire was covered with sheets Of gild-
ed copper which to beholders below, pre-
sented snlg u smooth surface of FURNISHED
gold, but the sheets were roughly laid and
fastened with large nails which projected
from the sides Of the spire. He cut two
pieces. Of cord and tied loops at each end of
both, fastered the upper loops oyer two
projecting nails, and stood with his feet in
the lower; then clinchi1ig the fingers Of one
hand over the rough edges of the sheets Oh
copper, raised himself till he could hitch
one of the loops on higher nail with the
other hand. He did the same for the 9th
er loop, and SO he raised one leg after the
other, and atlength assembled, nail by nail,
and stirrup by stirrup, till he clasped his
arms around the spire, directly under the
ball. Here it seemed impossible to 60 any
farther, for the ball was ten or twelve feet
in circumference, with a small and glitter
ing surface, and no projecting nails, and
the angel was above the ball, as completely
out of sight as if it were in the habitations
of its prototypes, But the daring roofer
was not disheartened. Raising himself in
his stirrups, he incircled the spire with a
cord which be tied around his waist, and,
SO supported, leaned gradually until the
soles of his feet were braced against the
spire and his body fixed almost horizontally
in the air. In this position he threw a cord
over the top of the ball, and threw it 50
coolly and skilfully that on the. first at
tempt it fell down, on the other side just as
he wanted it. Then he drew himself up
to hls original position, and by means q
this cord climbed up the smooth sides OF
the globe, and in a few moments, amid
thunders Of applause from the crowd below
he stood by the side of the angel.ga AAftel
attaching a cord to it he descended, and the
next day carried up with him q ladder q
| ropes, and effected the necessary repairs.