The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-07-18
81. 90 A YEAR.
GIDDl HEIGHTS.
The Periious Perch of the Workmea on
the Top of the Washington Monument.

rope in the first coil was 4 inches III
circumference, and both coils were
woven with extraordinary care from
manila OF the stoutest quality, and
afterward thoroughly tested. "Now
we are ready" said Superintendent
Mclaughlin as he stepped into the
elevator, accompanied by carpenter
and two rlggerS, whose nerves have
often been tried in the work on the
great obelisk. In ten minutes the ele-
vator reached the base of the pyramid
a roof and stopped. From this point
interior ladders ran up distance of
90 feet and reached the base of the
window directly under the cap stone
and looking south. Climbing up with
their accOutrements and staying
themselves as best they could by cling
ing to the stone arches and cross-pieces
of the interior construction, McLaugh-
lin and his men ran the plank out of
the window until about two feet OF it
projected over the ledge. The other
end was securely lashed by 81 piece OF
the stout rope to a beam below
Around the waist of James Hogan,
one OF the riggers, one end OF a
rope was passed and made Sc
cure. 1t was drawn so as to al
low barely length for freedom OF
movement, and the other end was
tightly fastened within the roof. In
HOgan's hand was then placed about
fifteen feet of 4 , inch rope. Mounting
the plank, which was only twelve
inches wide, he cautiously crawled to
its projecting end, and slowly straight
ening himself, stood erect upon the
slender footing which overhung the
dizzy height OF $40 feet. For several
seconds Hogan stood rigidly, as if
waiting for a sudden giddiness to pass
away, and then holding the two ends
OF the rope he threw the loop over the
top OF the cap-stone, and permitting
it to drop until it reached the base Of
the window. tied it firmly around the
pyramid. By the same process and
IN the same manner a single strand of
the rope was tied around the monu-
ment at the top of the window. Ho-
gan next stepped upon the rope four
inches In circumference, and, holding
to the upper rope with his hands,
crept around to the western side of
the monument. Assistant Rigger
Charles Smith then passed out upon
the narrow rOpeWay and Mr.. Nc
Laughlin followed, making his way at
once to the northern side OF the pyra-
mid, where the telescope had located
the stone injured by the lightning.
Both were protected in the same man
ner as Hogan against the catastrophe
OF a fall by a rope about their waists
Thousands of shuddering eyes from
adjacent portions of the city were
fixed upon the immense height where
the men, looking like black mites, bus
lily worked, letting fall from the upper
or hand-rOpe, on each side of the
monument, a tacking OF ropes which
rea ched the windows below in the base
of the pyramidal roof
Glow did you feel, Mr.. Mclaughlin,
when you first got clear of the window
and stood out on that plank ?" asked
a Post reporter.
Il have grown up with this mOnu-
ment," said Mr.. Mclaughlin, land
have been out on it many time
Mine was the last hand that touched
the aluminium point when the scatfold-
ing was taken down. But, u spite OF
my long experience, | must frankly as
sure you that to-day when | had my
first glance around | felt for a mo-
ment decidedly uncomfortable. Oh,
no! | didn't apprehend any danger.
/ knew we had made everything fast
we certainly wouldn't have ventured
out if we hadn't been confident Of
that"
''How did the world look to you
from that perch up there ?"
"Oh, that is an unanswerable ques-
tion," replied Mr.. Mclaughlin, with
an expression OF hopelessness. "NO
man can do Justice to it. You must
sect for yourself and gather your own
impression No, it was not windy up
there to-day-the weather was very
favorable and simply beautiful"
What did your examination re-
veal"
"Well, ] stood upon the upper rope
and could then Just comfortably look
at the aluminium tip. The lightning
had destroyed the sharppOint and the
top presented the rounded appearance
in the top of key. | discovered also
that it was the mOnOlithic stone on
the north side in the course directly
under the cap-stone which had been
struck. It's east end was cracked from
top to bottom. The crack IS about
haf an inch wide and extends, think,
entirely through the What will
we do? We will delicately apply a
powerful force and drive the pieces to-
gether. A well-padded maui will per-
haps answer the purpose. The NOR
tar, of course, which held the stone
has been broken and dislocated, and it
will not practicable to remortar it.
1t will be necessary, therefore, to en-
pIOy some method OF riveting when it
is restored to its position. A couple
OF bronzed expansive bolts will prob
ably beall that is needed"
"What will be done tomorrow?
"From the lower windows we will
build on each side a scaffolding OF
plank 2 feet wide and 10 long, which
will be attached to the tackling lines
you see depending from the upper en-
circling rope down to the windows.
These, when drawn up to a position
Just below the lower encircling rope
will meet and be lashed together at
each corner OF the pyramid. Col.
Casey will then 90 up wIIh US and
make a thorough inspection OF the
whole top OF che roof; and the best
method OF closing the crack by bring
ing the sundered pieces together will
be considered, and perhaps finally de-
termined upon. This, and the intro
ductIon OF the additional rods for the
future protection of the monument, is
the whole object OF our operations up
there. / think that as the work must
necessarily progress slowly, We will be
engaged upon it at least for week"
Miss BETTY was a remarkably young
and handsome looking woman for her
years, and she never told any one how
old she was. "Gracious ME, Miss
Betty" said an old acquaintance
admiringly one day, chow well you
keep your age" Thanks, " she re-
piled with a smile How do you ever
manage to DO it?" ''Oh, easy enough
never give it away. ."-Merchant