Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-08-17
Crags ana Cragsmen.

stretching away toward FIley, the
Bempton, Buckton, and Speeton cliffs
uplift their awful forms, impending
over the boisterous waves ms they break
in thunder over that iron. bound coast.
For ages these cliffs have been the
haunts of innumerable sea-birds. To
them they wing their clamorous way
as night falls; on their lodges and crags
generation after generation of web
footed fowl have built their nests.
During the season OF incubation, F"
says Mr.. w. White, "boys are let down
the edge of the precipice by ropes, to
gather the eggs, which they do in
bushels, for the use of the sugar houses
at Hull, and for other domestic pur-
poses" 1t would seem that this "dread-
full trade" is not confined to boys alone.
Our contemporary records that for the
last three and-forty years a now aged
resident of Bempton has been in the
habit of descending the adjoining cliffs
with the aid of rope. Accompanied
by his son and by another stalwart
mate, the veteran climber" as, in
Yorkshire phrase, he is designated,
prepares himself annually for the nest
ing season, which lasts from about the
10th of May to the 18th of June. The
old man, strong in the vast experience
which he has gained, goes down the
cliffs while his mates stand upon the
summit and manage the pulley and
ropes. "I was bauld cragsman ance,"
said Edie Ochiltree, "and mony q
kittywake's and lungie's nest hae i
harried up amang thae very black rocks;
but lis lang, lang syne, and nae mortal
could scale them without a rope-and if
I had ane, my ee-sight, and foot-step,
and hand-grip hae a failed mony day
sinsyne." The old Bempton cragsman
has seen as many years as Sir Walters
celebrated Gaberlunzie, and yet in
him neither hand. nor foot, nor eye, nor
what is least enduring of all-ne1ve
have as yet failed. "He proceeds. :"
says the correspondent in question, 'to
adjust his gear; which consists, first,
Of what he calls breeches. They are
made of strong hempen material,
something like the headpiece of a
halter. There are two places to insert
the legs, with loop at each end, which
draws across in front and meets another
loop at the end of a strap round the
waist. and through these loops the
main rope is fastened" This main
rope, on which the weight of the egg
collector hangs, is made of the strongest
and best material, and is nearly three |
hundred feet in length,
Thus far the description is not of o |
nature to tempt amateurs to follow the |
Did cragsman's example, but 1t should |
De added that, besides the suspending |
-ope, there is another much thinner in |
substance wlnch is passed round q
,rowbar at the top of the cliff, and |
which the climber takes In his hand, to
steer by and to steady himself, as we'll
Is by its aid to swing on TO the ledges.
Having thrown two canvas bags ovel
lis shoulders, the veteran descends,
md with feet thrust out at right angles
o the seat upon which he Is placed,
Keeps himself off the precipice's jagged
md projecting edges. 1t Is reassuring
o be told that. though the descent locks
an accident seldom happens,
he only danger being from the fall of
stones and pieces OF rock that the
smaller rope detaches, to guard against
which thickIy- -wadded hat is required.
The only casualty which in forty three
1ears has befallen the old Bempton
'cllmmer" was occasioned by tumb-
ing rock which broke his left shoulder.
We can readily understand that use,
which is second nature" may rob the
hazardous employment of its terrrors,
out that it should be attempted by q
volunteer bespeaks his possession of no |
amount of pluck. We should |
recommend no one to make the expert
nent unless he be steady of head, firm |
If heart, and with muscles hardened
oy exercise and training To an intre-
Did climber of this kind it cannot but |
De an int oxlcatlng sentation to find
himself suspened among thousands of
birds winging about his head and max
ng the air vocal with their startled
,ries.