The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1878-07-09

Travellers on the East River boats
have noticed for several weeks past a
net work surrounding the great
stceple of the Church of the Re
deemer, on East Third street, which
rises high above the tenement roofs
Of the most densely populated Sec
tion on the earth's surface The
spire can be seen with a glass from
Hempstead plains, twenty miles
away on the barrens of Long Island,
and it's golden cross is visible from
the hills back Of Jersey City. It
rises 800 feet above the curb, and
since it's erection, twsnty>seven
years ago, it has stood firm and
stable, enduring many storms and
requiring but few repairs.
The scaffolding about the spire is
for the use of the workmen, who are
now giving the church thorough
overhauling, inside and out, undor
the direction of Mr.. Schickel, archi~
tect. Inside, the church is to be
done over in oil~colors in place of
the present faded water>color work,
and over the main altar, seventy
feet above the floor. q NTunicb ortist
is busy painting al elaborate work
of Christ in his glory, surrounded
by saints and angels. A new high
altar will bring the chancol end of
the church into prominence. The
plain, diamond"lightcd, painted
glass windows are being replaced by
elaborate stained glass, the offerings
OF wealthy parishionors, and 100000
or $4,000 is to be spent upon the
work of renovation.
The entrance to tho tower is
closely guarded, the pastor alono
carrying the key of the little door
which opens into one of the great
pillars at the base of the tower.
Within the bulky bit of masonry
circular stair runs winding up in
dust and darkness for about seventy
feet, whore it leaves tho visitor to
the level of the aisle coiling, OF what
may be called the line of the trifori-
um. Another climb of tho rickety
wooden stair over tho plastoring,
and the long passage below the
ridge pole and above the muin nave
ceiling is reached. A small door
here looks into the tower-room, and
from the windows Of al apartment
fifteen feet square one may see that
the cornices Of the five STORY tene-
ment are on level with him In n
room below the tollers and boll-
ringers assemble, and find ready to
their hand tho ropes that serve as
keys to the chimes above. Up
through trap door is lofty room
lofty because here tho clock
weights travel their monotonous
journey up and down. Firmly fixed
upon heavy transverse beams, se-
curely anchored into tho five foot
brick walls, is great box of sand.
1t seems to have no particular rea.-
son for boing in that particular
place. and calls out a question from
nearly every visitor. It is to pre-
vent damage if the 500 pound chime
weights or the 250,pound clock
weights should fall. Nearly 80 feot
high is this room, with a stairway
winding about it. Above it the
clock work is sbnt UP in a large
closet, with the levers which chime
the quarters and the hours exposed.
Up another story are the clock
faces, four square. Up again, and
tho cool air blows refreshingly in
among the bells from one louvre
window to another. There are in
MI five bells, from the great hour
toller, weighing 5000 pounds, down
to the ''baby,' weighing less than
800 pounds. The inscriptions upon
them are q curious mixture of Eng
lish, Latin and German, for some of
them are imported. There are one
or two empty chambers, and then
slanting sides begin to tell Of the
spire. ~,
Stepping from a wee wins
dow far up the spire side,
World reporter, who was
accompanied by Mr.. Ebelmann, the
head carpenter, found himself on o
narrow platform of planking, and
much in need of q clear head. A
single misstep or momentary sur
render to anything like dizziness