River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-01-25
On The Verge of Death.
FROM the New York Herald.

OH Ht fCASt VI DtIlHs
From the New York Herald.
\ GYMNAST'S ADVENTURE.
had among my felIow-students a
special TcnOwn for my skill in every
kind of gymnastics. Athlete exercise,
i'm the widest sense of the term, was to
me a pleasure to which | had surren-
dered myself, body and soul. and in
consequence of which / possessed, al
though not tall and strong, some mus
Gle and high degree of confidence,
while had acquired, in perilOus sit
uatiOns, presence of mind, all of
which qualities form even now a con-
siderable portion of my character.
When at last my studies were ended
and | had obtained situation as pas
tor in Western Germany, did not give
up my old inclination for gymnastics,
and there was considerable talk one
fine day that the Young clergyman of
the Church of st. BlaSius had been
seen hanging in his garden by his legs,
and in this headlOng position caressing
his little son, who was crawling under
him on the ground. | possessed such
an article of humanity since, on my
accession to the paStOTate, had enter
ed into matTimony.
But my favOTite diversion, when /
had a few leisure hours, and the sun
was not too scOrching, consisted in
climbing TO narrow projection on the
lofty church roof. and walking about
there while | smoked my cigar.
What a magnificent place this old
church roof was Quite another world
than that which lay far below me-a
region OF rock and stone, without veg
citation OF water. except when it rain
el. and the cutters were filled, in
which case this special realm present.
ell little attraction. 1t was a world
where | had often INDUCED in star
= tLIug.
regarded this airy region as my
special province, where | reigned in
solitary majesty over my sub jects.c con-
sI~ting of davis and swallowS--Often
very noisy and intOleTable ones. 1t
excited in me a merry, perhaps some
what bOyish feeling, as thought what
a look my superintendent would put
ON when he heard of my excursions in
tbs narrow gloomy towers, and the
great ginning stone heads, fat cher
UlS, scaly dragons and cutters of zirc,
which was presented a wild prospect
over picturesque landscape.
Sometimes | climbed down in the
broad gutter in the middle of the
roof, from which nothing was to be
seen above but the blue heavens and
lhe swarming swallows and below the
broad paved church square, on which,
10 feet beneath, the people crept
about like ants.
Ii was during one of these excur-
SiOns that the event occurred which
will relate, and which thoroughly
cured me for several months of my de-
sire for roof climbing.
| must inform you that around the
outside of the cathedral, just where
the roof terminated, ran smooth pro-
jecting edge about foot wide. Under
This, considerably lower, just above
the great entrance, was a huge stone
projection, which formerly supported
a colossal figure of st. Peter. holding a
great iron lantern. The statue had
long ago disappeared and half the Ian
tern was broken off, so that what was
left had the appearance of an arm
chair without legs.
Standing on the stone caves one
day, above this relic of past centuries,
the thought suddenly struck me that
il would be an amusement of a new
and original kind to swing myself
down and enjoy my cigar in this fan
tIstic armchair.
Without heSitatlng Z moment turn
et around. kneeled down and seized
the caves with ayconvulsive grasp, and
the next instant was dangling in mid
air over the abyss more than 100 feet
from the earth.
AS looked in this situation, under
me at the defective lantern, found
was not directly over it-indeed,i 1T was
two feet further from the wall than
had thought.
This circumstance, however, caused
me little anxiety. Giving myself q
swing, by which | easily pressed one
foot against the building, l sprang safe
~ into my resting place in the broken
lantern.
Here | sat long time smoking my
cigar, drumming with my heels upon
the wall, and cOmplacently enjoying
the cool of the evening and the mag
Biticent prospect.
The sun was setting before l had
NAANA~AN VI NAtt&NA NaAAAt- lily
which | was especially induced to dc
10y the sight of one or two persons who
were standing beneath and gazing VI
at me.
IL was not three minutes before quite
crowd had gathered around them L
enjoy the spectacle of a man sitting il
st. Peters lantern.
Halo, thought /, lit is now time
to return! Some one will find out
who am, and then there will be pref
ty gossip in the place" but suddenly
became aware that my return was moi
so easy.
NV seat was so constructed that
could not raise in nv usual way. The
sides of the lantern were of smooth
iron. and so high that | could get NJ
hold. There was nothing left me but
to press my hands on the seat behind
me, and raise myself so, and draw my
legs after me until they could rest
between my hands upon the lantern
Then | could raise myself up to my
full height and turn around on my own
axis.
This way OF raising yourself every