Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-25
GIDDY HEIGHTS.
PeriIous Perch of the workmeu ON Top OF the
Washington Monument.

INV eiV'atoi vi tnc w asniilBtOn HUI
ument stood ready for an ascent yester-
day morning, loaded down with huge
coil Of rope, another Of smaller size, q
narrow plank, and several tools. The
rope in the first coil was four and one
half inches in circumference, and both
coils were woven with extraordinary
care from MANILA of the stoutest quail
ty, and afterwards thoroughly test
ed. "Now we are ready" said
Superintendent Mclaughlin as he
stepped into the elevator, accom-
panied by carpenter and two riggers,
whose nerves had often been tried in
the work on the great obelisk. In ten
minutes the elevator reached the base
of the pyramidal roof and stopped.
From this point interior ladders ran up
distance Of so feet and reached the
base Of the window directly under the
capstone and looking south. Climbing
up with their accoutrements and stay
ing themselves as best they could by
clinging to the stone arches and cross
pieces of the interior construction,
Mclaughlin 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 dashed by piece of the stout
rope to a beam below. Around the
waist of James Hogan, one Of the rig
gers, one end Of rope was passed and
made secure. Ii was drawn so as to
allow barely length for freedom Of
movement. and the other end was
tightly fastened within the roof. In
lIOgan's hand was then placed about
fifteen feet Of four and half inch rope.
Mounting the plank, which was only
twelve inches wide, he cautiously
crawled to itsprojecting end, and slowly
Strengthening himself. stood erect upon
the slender footing which over
hung the dizzy height of 545 feet.
For several seconds Hogan stood
rigidly, as if waiting for a sudden gid
diness to pass away, and then holding
the two ends of the rope, he threw the
loop over the top of the capstone, and,
permitting it to drop until. it reached
the base of the window. tied it firmly
around the pyramid. BY the same pro-
cess and in the same manner a single
strand of the rope was tied around the
monument at the top Of the window.
Hogan 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-Rig-
ger Charles Smith then passed
out upon the narrow ropeway and
Mr.. Mclaughlin followed, making his
way at once to the northern side of the
pyramid, where the telescope had To-
Gated the stone injured by the lightning.
Both were protected in the same man
ner as Hogan against the catastrophe of
fall by rope about their waists.
Thousands of shuddering eyes from adj
iacent portions Of the city were fixed
upon the immense height where the
men, looking like black mites, busily
worked, letting fall from the upper or
hand-rope, on each side of the monu-
ment, tackling of ropes which reached
the windows below in the base Of the
pyramidal roof.
"How did you feel, Mr.. Mclaughlin,
when you first got clear of the window
and stood out on that plank asked a
Post reporter.
~ 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 scaliolding
was taken down. But, in spite Of my
long experience, must frankly assure
YOU that to-day when ! had my first
glance around | felt for moment de-
cidedly uncomfortable. oh. no, !
didn't apprehend any danger ! knew
We had made ,yli ;ung fast---we GER
t4.nir shouldn't have yentured out if
We hadn't been confident Of that.
How did the world look to you
from that perch up there B."
oh, that j. an unanswerable ques-
ton" replied Mr.. Mclaughlin, with an
expression Of hopelessness. " No man
can do Justice to 1t. You must see IT
for yourself and gather your own inn
preston. No. it was not windy up
there to-day-the weather was very
favorable and simply beautiful
"What did your examination re-
yeal?"
well, I stood upon the upper rope
and could then Just comfortably look
at the aluminium tip. The Lightning
had destroyed the sharp point and the
top presented the rounded appearance
of the top of a key. discovered also
that il was the monolithic stone on the
north side in the course directly under
the capstone which had been struck.
lis east end was cracked from top to
bottom. The crack is about half an
inch wide and extends, think, en-
tjrely through the stone. What Will
we do. We will delicately apply a
powerful force and drive the pieces TO-
sether. A well. padded maui will per-
h,ps answer the purpose. The mortar,
Of course, which held the stone has
been broken and dislocated, and it will
not be practicable to remortar 1t. 1t
will be necessary, therefore, to employ
some method of riveting when it IS re-
stored TO its position. A couple OF
bronze expansive. bolts will probably
be all that is needed"
What will be done tomorrow! >
aFrom the lower windows we will
build on each side a scsfiolding Of plank
. feet vide and 10 long, which will be
attached 20 the tackling lines you see
depending from the upper encircllne
rope down to the windows. These
when drawn up to a position just below
the lower encircling rope, will meet and
; be dashed together at each corner O
, the pyramid. Colonel Casey viii
then 20 up with US and make
I thorough inspection Of the whole TOT
/ of the roof, and the best method o
closing the crack by bringing the sun
dered bieces together will be considered
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