The Portland daily press., 1886-11-29
THE sTEEPLE CLIMBER.
A Perilous Occupation In which
there Is Little Competition.


Away to the very summit Of the spire OF
the Park Street Church, where the golden
weather yane swings idly in the wind, where
no sign Of life is ever visible save when
timid, tired bird rests for a moment In Its
flight TO earth, human figure Just percepti-
BILE 10 the pedestrian hundreds Of feet below
makes an inconsiderable increase to the pro
portions Of the towering cross-piece, and in-
cites universal amazement and admiration.
SO high indeed does the figure stand that doz-
en- feet away 1t II easily counted portion OF
the church architecture, and even when III
rectly at the base Of the tapering steepie
glance upwards reveals little else than
diminutiye object standing on the circular
apex Of the main tower. At first II has but
the appearance Of a long narrow piece OF
timber-anything in fact, save human
6gure and the closest scrutiny can discern
not the slightest evidence Of animation. Yet
a human figure IL Is, working way up almost
into the clouds, with virtually nothing to
support him save an eighteen inch platform
under his feet and the embrace Of the wealth
er vane, while the faded figures, which tell
the curious how the wind blows, are given
new life under brilliant and plentiful coats
Of golden paint
Charles Aabin, the daring climber. or
"Steeple Jack" as he Is familiarity called,
Is the sole partaker Of the beauties and the
from sunrise aud before until darkness pre-
cludes a continuance Of his lab0rs he works
at his chosen profession, Indifferent to the
human panorama below him and the dangers
which his reckless height invites.
In appearance Charles Aubin Is a remark
able looking man not over 50 years old, short
Of stature and 1.-the Of limb. He face bronzed
by the wind, Is burnt or shriyelled by the sum-
and the small face set on by a heavy dark
mustache, looks peculiarly odd under the old
slOuch cap, which makes q feeble apology TO
ward OF the heat or cold.
He Is a French Canadian by birth, but left
his home In Canada some twenty-six years
ago, and has since been resident Of the
States, with no special section being claimed
as home. AS mason and r00fer he early
achieved a fOndness for climbing, and as
years passed his inventive genius prompted
the desire TO make such improvements In
steeple-climbing as the times demanded
The entire secret of his success In this line
lies entirely In this direction. Anyone could
mount steeple, however high with solid
footing under him and groundwork to
build his structure. but how few there are
who would attempt 10 reach the top Of a
spire 20 OF more feet above the ground, with
no way OF getting up there 10 lay his lines or
to build footing. Indeed, suchis the nature
VI huC AAlNNHblOn budl bIt DhAuttt AWAY gG-
gins his work at dark. or daylight, o'clock
In the morning being the favOflte hour, and
when the busy world beneath Is pouring out
its throngs, Steeple Jack has the tower In
terlaced with rope, the pulley blocks are
ready, and arrangements for work begun.
Yet II Is not so secret. for with great courtesy
the writer was told how simply, yet how in
geniously, these preparations are made.
Taking advantage Of the greatest attitude
which permanent platform admits, he en-
twines the tower with immense coils Of rope
In three rounds In q most mysterious manner
the two ends being fastened A second rope
Is then taken and wound once around the
spire, these ends also being fastened, while
attached to II Is a belt bound around the
climbers body 10 prevent his falling back
ward. Grasping the lower coil of the triple
rope In one hand and the higher with the
other he walks along the centre coil, As he
rope to grasp the higher, keeping in position
by the rope attached TO his waist. The high
er he goes the looser the support rope be-
comes, and this defect Is remedled BY draw
ing IL taut by buckles attached TO the waist
belt. When sufficiently high he drops the
rope, grasps the steeple with both arms and
chambers 70 the top. Once here, By means OF
a clothes line he attaches TO solid facing
small claw hammer, which supports In turn
a block and tackle. The descent Is then
made the swinging seat larranged to the
ropes and the climber Is ready for work.
Mr.. Aubin made his first steeple ascent
some four years ago on the ROlist0n Baptist
Church, Vicksburg, Miss, the ascent being
245 feet, the greatest altitude ever attained
by him since he became a climber. lie al
ways engages a tender, Charles A. Ciauss
being the young man who serves With him
now and who, also has done work upon the
steeple at its apex. There are but few men
who are successful in this work, but four
being known to the class and they are Bohe-
mians most OF them. MIR. Aubln feels no
sensation working at immense heights save
a hearty appetite the clear, braelng air gives
him. and equipped with meals for day he
could work from sunrise to sunset without
the slightest Inconvenience. Sc thoroughly
used Is he to this work that the dangers OF
IL are never considered, and never has he
sustained any personal injury while engaged
in this work. He has done similar work on
the South Baptist Church. South Boston, and
on various edifces in the Western and
Soufharn States