The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-09-22
A Remarkable Feat.

but we doubt if they ever have heard
of feat more daring than the one we
are about to relate. You know, per-
| haps, that the most noted church in
st. Petersburg, as well as the Hottest
! spire, is that of st. Peter and st. Paul.
This spire rises so lofty and light and
small as TO look like mere point in the
sky. But in reality it is terminated
by globe of considerable dimensions,
on which an angel stands supporting
large cross.
1t happened some years ago that the
angel was out of repair, and it became
pretty evident that it would soon visit
the earth if steps were not taken to pre-
vent it, Everybody living in the neigh
borhood was very uneasy, and the
government of st. Petersburg was much
perplexed. But what could be done
about it? To raise scaffolding to such
height would cost mint of money,
and on meditating fruitlessly on this
quite little time was suffered to
elapse.
Among the gazers below who as
sembed at respectful distance each
day, turning their thoughts as well as
their eyes to the lettering angel, was
mujik called Telouchkine. This man
was a roofer of houses. If he had
lived in a country where states were
used he would have been called slater.
While the rest were wondering and
conjecturing upon what could be done,
his speculations were assuming far
more practical character The spire
was entirely covered with gilded copper,
and showed a surface as smooth as if it
bod hna, IF hnr ha1 cold D,,tT Il
ouchkine felt sure that the sheets of
copper were not even uniformly closed
upon each other, and, above all, that
them, which probably projected from
the side of the spire. Day by day he
thought upon all these probabilities
until his mind was made up. Then he
went to the government and offered to
repair the angel at proper remunera-
ton. Every one thought he was crazy
and that he never would come down
alive. Besides he had promised to do
it without scaffolding of any sort, which,
of course, seemed impossible. His
offer, however, was accepted 1t must
be done if possible and he might see
what he could do.
The day fixed for the adventure
arrived, all st. Petersburg assembled
to see the feat. Telouchkine, with
only coil of rope, assembled the spire
from within until he had reached the
last window. Then looking down at
the vast concourse of people below and
up at the glittering needle far above
his head, he stepped bravely out upon
the window to set about his task. Not
a sound was heard from that vast as
sembage as they looked solemnly on,
believing that the mujik was only going
to his death, and yet proud that st.
Petersburg could boast of man of such
wOndrous courage.
He first cut portion of the cord in
the form of two large stirrups with a
loop at each end. The upper loops he
fastened upon two of the projecting
nails above his head, while placing his
feet in the others. Then, digging one
hand into the interstices of the sheets
of copper, he raised with the other one
of the stirrups, so as to make it catch a
nail higher up. The same operation
was performed on behalf of the other
leg, and so on alternately. Thus he
climbed, nail by nail, step by step and
J. stirrup by strrup, until his starting
point was undistinguished from the
golden surface, and the spire dwndled
q at each step of progress until he could
clasp it in his embrace.
|, This was all very WELL but now came
J. the tug of war. He had reached the
" ball. smooth globe of some ten feet
in circumference, and above this ball
was the angel, the object of his visit,
and of course concealed entirely from
view by the round and glittering ex-
panse. Who would not have thought
that this defied the daring and intrep-
idity of man? But Telouchkine was not
dismayed. He was prepared for this
difficulty. For weeks he had studied
it out before attempting it at all, and
the means he used for its accomplish
ment, even at this particular point
showed the same remarkable simplicity
as the rest of the feat.
Suspending himself in his strrups in
mid-air, he girded the needle with q
cord, the ends of which he fastened
around his waist, and, so supported, he
leaned gradually back until the soles of
his feet were placed against the spire.
In this position he threw by strong
effort a coil of rope over the ball, and
so deliberately and accurately was the
aim taken that at the first trial it fell
in the direction required, and he saw
the end hang down upon the other side.
Toget once more into position, to fasten
the cord firmly around the globe and,
with the assistance of an auxiliary, to
: climb to the summit, was now an easy
task, and in few moments more
Telouchkine stood by the side of the
angel and listened TO the plaudits of
the crowds below, that sounded like
far-dstant peals of thunder, or like a
faint and hollow murmur on his ear.
The descent was even accomplished
with more facility than the ascent; and
the next day he tried it again, taking
with him ladder of ropes, by means
of which he effected the necessary re-
pairs.
This is an occurrence connected with
the Church of st. Peter and st. Paul
that may not be known out of Russia
but it is none the less true or worthy
of telling. OF course Telouchkine was
well paid for his intrepidity and daring,
as he certainly should have been. Very
few men would have attempted, much
less succeeded in, so reckless feat
= Mrs G.. Hal.