The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-11-17
UP THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.
A Fearful Ascent Of early 400 Feet Re-
warded by a Magnificent View.

Fearful Ascent OF Nearly 400 Feet Re-
warded by Magnificent View.
WASHINGTON, October 29.-H one feels
desire to sup full on hon ors In Washington,
there Is no way In which success Is so speedy
and certain - An ascent of the 375 feet of
the unfinished Washington monument. Al
though no accident Of any kind whatever
has happened since the work was begun, ow-
Ing to the admirable precautions that have
been observed, the mere contemplation OF
the dangers to be avoided would give Gen.
Washington himself, II he were alive, the
cold creeps. It must be remembered that
the monument Is already among the highest
structures in the world, while the transporta-
tion Of the gigantic blocks Of stone to the
tep Is something which has no parallel in
this country, aud has seldom been equalled
anywhere. Whether the ascent Is calculated
TO inspire fear or not may be imagined from
the reply made by one of the highest officials
In Washington to the inquiry: "Wers you
not just . little frightened going up?'
Enlightened! was perfectly terrified" was
the hearty response given with all the force
of emphasis.
The ascent Is made by the elevator, which
runs through the middle of tho great obe-
lisk. This elevator Is q mere open platform,
which does not deserve the name Of the alli-
vator, as Mrs. Gen. Gilhory puts 1t; 1t Is
rather the terrifer. Every time 1t goes up It
carries from five to ten tons Of stone, and
the only way for visitors to get to the top Is
to huddle around the immense mass Of stone
on the diabolical looking machine. The
platform begins to move slowly and labori-
ously upward, grinding and creaking at every
inch from the enormous weight it lifts. In
half . minute the light Of day totally dis
appears, and at that moment the horrors Of
the position suddenly swoop down upon me.
To be dangling hundreds Of feet above a
chasn with only a rope between fall to
bottom with 10000 pounds of stone is
enough to appal any Imagination. Although
the darkness is blackness inconceivable, end
the intense silence broken only by the groan-
ing of the great mass feeling Its way pain
fully upward, yet the frightful abyss appears
| to become of itself both audible and visible.
The last $50 feet of balancing between
heaven and earth Is like hanging between
life and death. Even the elevator man gives
up his heroic efforts to keep up the spirits of
the party.
At length light from the top begins to ap-
pear, and in minute or two paliid party
! Of pleasure seekers step out OIL the platform
at the top, nearly four hundred feet in the
air. There Is an enormous iron structure
running through the middle of the obelisk
and around this the stone is blocked. Six
feet are added every week in three tiers OF
two foot blocks. The structure is then six
feet above the temporary platform, which is
thereupon raised, and the work of bringing
| it six feet above the level is recommended.
A net work of rope is securely fixed around
the top of the shaft, extending several feet
of, to catch any unfortunate man who might
drop over-the workmen are compelled to be
ON the very verge in order to complete the
outer layer of stone. A young lady not long
since, in spirit Of bravade, threw herself
into this life saving net. Aweak spot In the
the earth. A contrivance like the rigging si
q ship Is on top Of the shaft, and the wind
howls through 1t with ominous force. When
tier or two of stone is laid the workmer
are protected in measure from th violence
of the wind, but they acknowledge thai
when they are working on level it is some
thing terrific.
If anything could repay one for the hor
rors of the ascent it would be the view afte
reaching the top. Even the most hardened
sightscer must be enthusiastic at the grea
panorama spread out before him. The vas
Treasury building looks like Lilliputia
house. The plan of Washington become
as well defined as achecker board. The full
grandeur of the Capitol Is then for the frs
time realized. When it Is remembered tha
the Capitol is of almost the identical dimen
slons Of the great pyramid and of St. Pe
ter's, being perhaps few feet longer tha
either, it may seem that 1t has nothing +
lose by looking at 1t from any point of elevs
! tion. Everything else grows minute fror
the top of the monument except the whit
splendor of the Capitol. 1t seems to be o
q mountain instead of hill, aud amid th
diminishing of every other object the gre'
white dome stands grandly out, so high th'
: it looks as though poised In air.
A look at the elevator and propositio
to descend is enough to kill any enthusiasm
. however. But it Is by comparison with til
ascent simply delightful. There is no moui
tain of stone to make one fancy how 1t woul
: make one feel to 60 to the bottom of IL
: hideous hole with 1t. To the simultaneou
l. and earnest assurances made to the elevate
man that nobody in the party would ever d
so any more, he sardonically replied, GAIL
. / fa,,, bot -