The Washington critic., 1885-06-18
WORKING IN M,D-AlR.
Protecting the Monument A against Shafts
of Lightning.

of Lightning.
About 2 p. m. yesterday all of Washing
ton that was abroad in the streets and
avenues began eagerly watching the
movements of one, and then another, and
next third black mite like flies upon
room wall that crawled lazily about
the roof of the Washington Monument, so
near the top that frequently the outlines
of the several figures appeared in bold
silhouette against the sky above the
aluminium tip that had been believed suf-
fcient to protect the great shaft againstall
assaults oflightning. These human mites
were John Hogan, the boss rigger who
has worked for years on the monument;
Edward Wayson and Charles Smith, the
master carpenter, who built all the scat
folding, and Mr.. Z. II. Mclaughlin, the
superintendent, under whose eye and
hand the shaft grew from pigmy proper
tons to its present height. Access TO the
exterior of the roof was had through the
narrow opening on the south side, cut
through the course next below the cap
stone by removing the ccmented block,
and then using narrow plank on which,
after crawling through, Hogan stood up
right and cast moose of 5-inch MANILA,
which was secured Just below the base of
the capstone and fixed another on the
capstone Just below the tip. On the first
moose he stepped, using the upper one as
q lifeline, and thus gave room on the pro-
.iecting plank to Smith and then Mr.. Nc
Laughlin, who followed him.
On the two lines, light blocks were soon
rugged, fitted with pinch rope rove
through the sheaves, and the ends were
dropped down to the shutters ut the base
of the roof below, where sIght-secrs are
enabled to view the grand panorama be-
fore them. With the aid of these falls an
exterior sca1lolding will be built about
the roof, beginning from platforms rugged
outward from the lower windows to cna-
bic the work of repairing the damaged
stone to be performed. This scaIlold will
be only about two feet wide, extending
around the four sides and securely bolted,
so that its own weight, fitting on the slop-
ing sides of the roof will bind it safely in
place
1t was found that no material damage
was done to the lower northeast corner of
the capstonc, but just from that point,
extending downward in half curve, the
cracked half an inch wide from top to bot
tom, and extends, Mr.. Mclaughlin thinks,
clear through the stone.
In repairing the damage strong pressure
will be delcately applied around the ex-
| terror of the course and it is believed that,
aided by blows from padded maui, the
| fractured stone will be brought close
| together, when huge rivets of phosphor-
bronze will be fitted to make alf secure as
at first. This, however, so far, is only u
| theory of how the repair will be made,
| but Colonel Casey, the engineer officer in
| charge, will make II personal visit to the
roof to-day, and then decide definitely
| upon what course to pursue.
| The men yesterday were secured from
| danger by having strong cordage fixed
about the waists, so that n misstcp would
have saved them from the certain death
that would result from a fall, yet the work
required much more than any ordinary
| possession of nerve.