The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-08-11
THE MAN ON THE STEEPLE.

What a Famous Climber Says Of the Perils
and Pleasures Of His Business.
From the Troy, N. Y, Times
The hundreds. of people who have watch
ed the operations of the man upon the tow
ering steeple of the Third Street Baptist
church painting the wooden spire and re-
arranging the weather vane have expressed
wonder as to the means used to reach his
lofty position. A reporter yesterday went
mp into the belfry and interviewed the
most experienced steeple- climber in the
world, James Ferguson. why, my dear
boy" said he, with an honesty of express
sion that struck home at once; "Tve spent
the greater part Of my life up among these
rolling clouds. For eighteen years sailed
tho sea between the East Indies and China
before the mast. and afterwards occupied
every station excepting that of captain.
When was sixteen years ofage 1 climbed
steeple in Glasgow three hundred feet
high in half an hour. The same feat it
took the noted Scotchman 'Steeple Jack,
three days to perform. Ihave been mount
ing steeples for the past seven years as
business. The last one went up pre-
vious to this was the Chapel street Presby-
terrain in Albany, which is three hundred
feet in height. took down the weather
vane in the shape of fish, which weighs
three hundred anu twenty seven pounds,
being Of copper snd loaded with lead. 1t
Was the first time any one had been up the
steeple in thirty years. The highest steeple
I ever climbed went up three hundred and
seventy feet. This was in Ayrshire. Scot
land. The general impression is that when
on a steeple it is easier to look up than
down. This is all a mistake. When look
ing up an almost irresistible feeling comes
over you to jump from your seat. I had
experience of this kind while on the steeple
of DR.. Darlings church in Albany. Igazed
steadily up for moment into space, when,
without any feeling of dizziness or anything
of that sort, became almost beside myself
had to quit right then and there, for q
moment later would have sprung from my
seat. I can look steadily down and it does
not affect me. I seldom climb steeples in
cold weather. It's too COMPOUNDED danger.
GUS, the sides being icy and slippery. I
was upon Hudson steeple last January.
and then vowed I'd swear off climbing in
in winter. as nearly fell.
They tell me this here steeple shakes
when the wind blows. Do you know it's all
the better for that. 1t gives the iron rods
on the inside play. Look out for these
taut and apparently solid steeples. They
go sometimes with sudden crash And,
besides, lenjoy ride on a swaying steeple.
1t reminds me Of the days when was at
sea. Troy looks immense from the top of
that spire. The people appear like mites,
while the sky bears the same aspect as
from the street. never remember of hav-
ing felt dizzy when on steeple. l felt
just as much to home away up there where
Gods hanoiwork can be viewed in all its
beauty as on The ground. I've got to, in
fact, for if didn't you d never catch me
hundreds of feet from good walking, That
arrow on the spire of the church I took
down, gilded it and replaced it. 1t is ten
feet in length and weighs all of two hun
dred pounds. When putting it back I held
it in position with one hand and frightened
the bolts with the other-no easy task, I
tell you. A man at this business can earn
from 81 to $40 day. AS to the manner
in which ascend that must remain Il
secret. I never allow an outsider to handle
or examine my ropes. I attend strictly to
business when up on high and if saw
even my wife on the sidewalk would re-
fuse to recognize her. I just glory in be-
ing as high as ever can get. It's my
home up there, and think if 20 below
when die it will be terrible piece Ct bad
judgement on somebody's part-probably
my own.