Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-11-30
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.


If one feels a desire TO sup full N
horrors in Washington, says "A letter
from the national capital, there is no
way in which success Is so certain and
So speedy as an ascent of the 375 feet
of the unfinished Washington monu-
ment. Although no accident of any
Lind whatever has happened since the
work was begun, owing TO the admi-
rable precautions that have been OBJ
served, the mere contemplation Of the
d'Igers TO be avoided would give Gen
eral Washington himself, IL he were
alive, the cold creeps. 1t must be re-
membered that the monument is already
among the highest structures
IN the world, while the transporta-
tion Of the gigantic blocks of stone
to the top is something which has no
parallel in this country, and has sell
dom been equaled 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, Were you
Were you not just a little frightened
going up?" Frightened! | was per-
fectly terriied!' was the hearty re-
sponse given with all the force of en-
phasis.
The ascent is made by the elevator,
which runs through the middle Of the
great obelisk. This elevator is a mere
open platform, which does not deserve
the name Of an alleyiator, AS Mrs. Gen
eral Gil1ory puts it; it is rather the
terriher Every time IL goes up il
carries from five TO ten tons Of stone.
and the only way for visitors to g.t
to the top is to huddle around
the immense mass of stone on
the diabolical looking machine.
The platform begins 10 move
slowly and laboriously upward,
grinding and creaking at every inch
from the enormous weight II lifts. In
half minute the light Of day totally
disappears. and at that moment the
horrors Of the position suddenly swoup
down upon me. To be dangling hun
dreds Of feet above 4 chasm with only
4 rope between fail to the bottom
with 10000 pounds Of stone is enough
to appal any Imagination. Although
the darkness is blackncss inconcciy-
able and the intense silencc.brokcn only
by the groaning Of the great mas,
feeling its way painfully 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 be.
tween life and death. Even the clc-
vator man gives up his heroic efforts
to keep up the courage of the party.
At length light from the top begins
to appear. and in a minute or two a
pallid party Of pleasure seekers step
ont on the platform at the top, nearly
TOO feet in the air There Is an cnorm.
)us iron structure running through the
middle of the obelisk and around this
The stone is blocked. Six feet are added
svcry week in three tiers Of two-fout
blocks. The structure is then six feet
above the temporary platform. which
5 thereupon raised. and the work of
bringing It six feet above the level is
commenced. A network 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 eige in order 10
complete the outer layer Of stone
4 young lady not long since. in
= spirit of bravado, threw herself into
this life-saving net. \ weak spot in
the rope would have sent her nearly
four hundred feet to the earth. A
contrivance like the rigging Of a ship
is on top Of the shaft. and the wind
howls through it with enormous force.
When a tier or two is laid the work
men are protected in a measure from
the violence Of the wind. hut they ac-
knowledge that when they are work
ing on level II is something terrific.
If anything could repay one for the
horrors of the ascent. it would be the
view after reaching the top. Even
The most hardened sightseer must be
enthusiastic at the great panorama
spread out before him. The
vast treasury building looks
like iliputian house The
plan Of Washington becomes as