Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-10-06
y DANGEROUS BUSINESS.


= DAA0kROUS BUSINESS
| 4 stsspl -Clin.ber Tsils How ns Reca,n,
AccUstomed 70 His Work.
With bated breath and upturnei
faces large crowd stood watching
man who was slowly ascending tn,
steeple OF an uptown church. HI
seemed to 60 over the delicate scaffold
ing like o snail. The crowd below
we're expecting every moment TO SEE
him fall. When he reached the end oi
the scaffolding, and stood upon piece
| OF framework that looked in the distance
as IL was about q foot square, he
leaned far over and shouted something
to another workman about half way
down. The spectators shuddercd, BIZ.
could not take their eyes from the little
climber, who had left the scaffoldinp
and was still going mp the steeple.
When he reached the top he remained
for few minutes, examined the steeple
on every side, and then retraced his
steps. When he got safely back to the
scafiold he waved his hand to the peo-
pie, and smiled. He went to the top OF
the steeple several times in the course
OF an hour, and every time q crowd
| gathered.
"You think it hazardous?" said the
steeple- climber to reporter when he
came down to the ground. Though he
looked so small when in the cir, he was
considerably above the average height,
slim and wiry, all bone and muscle,
with u clear, steady eye and hand, and
| perfect confidence in himself. His
| eyes sparkled as if he was in love with
the work, as he continued: people
| who are not used to being at great
heights, and who feel dizzy when a few
feet from the ground, naturally look
with wonder upon man working high
up in the mir, and think that he must
feel as they would. / probably go on
more steeples and other elevated places
to adjust ornamental designs, than any
other man in the business, and l feel
just as much ut home standing ON a
narrow board 500 feet from the ground
as would on rock. feel a perfect
sense Of safety, and never think of fall
ing.
But was not always without fear.
When / first began the business
always started up the scatfolding with
trembling legs and a quaking heart,
and many times | have not gone to the
top, but returned with some excuse for
not going up just then. An old man
who had been a climber in his day saw
me on one of these occasions when my
heart was weak, and gave me bit Of
advice that cured my faintheartedness
IN time. He said when starting up
always to fix your mind intentIy on the
work you are going to do, and keep
every thought of fear, or that something
sgoing to happen, out of your mind.
This was just the thing, and l have
found from experience that it is think
ing about fear that makes man afraid.
and over-caution has given many poor
fellow tumble, where boldness and
seeming recklessness would have car
ried him through all right. There are
only few expert climbers Hundreds
quit the business in q short time, be-
cause they cannot overcome their nerv-
Gus dread. l have seen stout-hearted
fellows who would march up to a can
mons mouth without culver, when
they got to the place where the scaffold-
ing ends, and from which point they
would have to shin to the top, try to
step up, but a ton of lead had been
hooked to their foot and it would not
60 up an inch.
Il have known men who, when they
got into ticklish spot, would have
black specA come before their eyes
which would move up and down in a
circle, and they would fall down and
hug plank like long-lost brother.
Their heads would seem to be in
whirl. This is where man gets
ratified, and it requires the greatest
exercise Of the will to overcome this
feeling. / have felt this way many
times, and even now sometimes have
a sudden desire when on the pinnacle Of
a steeple to jump off, but always laugh
at the idea and it goes away as quickly
as it comes. A man who drinks stimu-
lants is ont Of place on steeple, where
q false step will send him headlong
hundred feet below. So also is the
fat man, for climber must be light,
agile, and muscular. Dark haired men
with swarthy faces usually make the
best climbers.
"Does it prevent dizziness when going
to great height to keep the eyes turned
upward?"
"This is popular notion, but there
is nothing in it except that the attention
is turned from the idea Of falling, and
this will keep man from tumbling.
But the place for the eyes is upon the
road to be travelled, to see that everv-
thing is in position. A high wind some
times renders scailolding unsafe, and if
a man had his eye on the sky he would
never see it.
did you ever fall?
Il have had many narrow escapes,
but only one good fall. This was about
seventy feet. / had sick child home,
and was thinking about her and was
absent-minded. started off sideways
between the scaffold and the steeple, and
in two or three seconds ] was at the
bottom. l thought would be killed,
and in second my whole life flashed
through my mind and also tho future
of my family, and how they would all
look after the children were full grown.
knew that l was humping against the
timbers of the scaifold, but there was
no pain, and was overcome apparently
by u soothing influence and never had
q more pleasant journey in my life. 1t
seemed as if was falling for hours. / |
knew when struck the bottom and
felt shock at the sudden stop, but it |
was not disagree, able. / had enough |
pain afterwar,l, though, and it took
about six months to patch up my body.
Both arms and one leg was broken. |
made up my mind to give up the bust |
ness when ! got well, but in little |
while the old fascination came back |
and ! went to climbing again.--N. y
Tribune.