New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-20
FASCINArIoyS or SrEEPLE CLIMBING.
HOW ONE MAY GET ACCUSTOMED TO THE DANGER
VIEW or A WORKMAN.

HOW ONE MAY GET ACCUSTOMED TO THE DANGER
VIEW, OF A WORKMAN.
With bated breath AMI upturned faces, a
large crowd stopI tue other day watching man VINO
was slowly ascending the steeple of uptown church
He sermel 10 90 over the delicate scaiol tng Ike
snail. The crow below expecting every moment
10 him fall When he reached the end OF the scafold
in and stool apon ece OF framework that looked Ia
the distance il it about foot square he leaned
far over AMI shouted something TO another workman
about halfway down The spectators shulderel INT
could take their eyes from the little climber who hal
left the scafoln; and was still going NJ the -teepe
When he reached the top he remained for few minutes
examined the steeDle every side AMI then retraced
his steps When be got safely back To the scaf1il he
waved his Land TO the people and smiled Ife went 10
the top tie steepe several times in tie course OK an
hOur. AMI every time crowd gathered
You thak 70 hazardous :" said tne steepe-cliuber 10
TRIBUNE reporter when he came down TO the ground
Though he looked : small when IN tue air he was
con ,ideranly above the height sim AMI wiry,
all bone and MUSCLE with clear, steady eve and hand
and per confidence in himself His sparkled AZ
il he love with the work a. he continued; People
who OF u,ei to being at great heights a-d who feel
dizzy when few feet from the ground. naturally look
wonder upon working hign up in the air. and
think that he mast feel they would probably 90
upon steeples aud other elevated places 20 adj
tai designs than any other man In the business
and feel just lch At home standing on a mario "
boarl 200 feet from the ground would on a rock
tel perfect Of safety aud think OF falling.
But was not always without fear. When first
began the business always started up the scafoldins
with trembling legs AMI qulking heart. and many
times have not to the TOP but returned with some
excuse for going up just then An Old who had
been climber In his day me on one % these
occasions when my heart was week, and gave
bit OF Twice that cured faintheartedness In time He
said when starting up always TO fix your mind ntently
on you going TO do and keep every thought
Of fear 1t something Is going to happen. out Of your
mind This was Just the thing, and have found from
experience that II is thinking about fear that makes
man AFRAID and OvercautiOn has given many poor
fellow a tumble, where bodness and seeming reckless
would nave carried HIM through all right There
are ouly few expert cIIut ers. Hundreds quit the
business IN short time because they cannot overcome
their nervous dread nave seen stout hearted Fellow.
would march up 70 ctnnOn's mouth without a
culver when they got % tue place where the carol ling
ends ana from when point they w0u nave 10 SUN 10
hut ton OF lead hai been hooked
to their foot AMI it would not 20 up an inch.
have kDOwn who when they got into tlcklish
spot wOIld have black sp@cks come befO tneIr
which would move up aud down aud III circle and they
would tdli down ana mug plank IKE long Ost rOtuei
Their heads would seem TO be In whirl This Il where
gets ratified and It requires the greate.t exer
else OF Will u overcome this feeling nave felt this
way many tines aud even now | sometimes have a
sudden desire wnen on the pinnacle OF steepe to Jump
Oh nat always Laugh at the IDEA and II goes away ~
quickly n 70 comes. man who drinks stlmuants j.
'' a. c,,,'h.r mat he g,t ariIe ana nnn-rnl,r
best climbers.
Does 10 prevent dizziness when going to great
height 10 keep the eyes turned upward T.
TINS popular no ion, but there IS nothing IN II
excsut that tue attention Is turned from the idea ~
falling. TINS viii keep from tumDling. But the
place for the eyes the ROAD TO lie travelled 10
that eyhiug II Ia position. high wind sometimes
renders scanOdng unsafe and II man has his eye Oh
the sky nc would never see II.
Dld you ever fall y
I've had many narrow escapes but only one good
fan This was anoot seventy feet I had sick child
home and q thinking about her and absent
minded started On sideways between the sranOld and
ope and in two three seconds at the bOitO..
| thOuGht would be killed. and IN second my whole
life flashed through my mind and also the future OF my
family ana how they would all look after the children
full grown. | knew that was humping az tln-t
the tmbers Of the scaiOd, but there pain and
overcome apparently BY "a soothing II 1uencc and
mad more pleasant journey III my lie II secnrd
If falling for hours | knew when struck the
bottom and felt shock at the sudden stop. but
not disagrceable. had enough pain aerward, though
and IL took about SIX months to patch up my body.
Both aud leg were broken. ! made up ny
mind to give up the business when got well. bat In
little while the old fascination back and went TO
climbing again.