The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-08-10
ST. STEPHENS cnuRcH.
An Episode in CONNECTION witt, the Towe
of VIENNA. tsrandest Sanctuary.


of yienna's G5randeSt Sanctuary.
The street terminates at the Stephens
Platz. and here in the heart of all bfisi-
aess is the Church of ST Stephen. the
most important one in the city. TO
enumerate all its details would demand
too much time and space in this letter.
but few may interest the readnr4
Facing the piatz is the ..Riesenthor' or
Giants Door. which IS opened on great
occasions only. OF the stained glass
windows but two are real ancient ones
In front of the vestry steps is a stone
which closes the entrance to the old
burial vault of the sovereigns of Aus
tria- The pulpit is of 1912 and exc
cuted in stone. Extensive reparations
are still being carried on in the inte-
rior. The exterior is much blanched.
and is covered with sculptures. some
of which are in very bad condition.
The tower. which rises above every thing
else in the city, is 449 feet high. IL
was erected in 1904 in place of the old
one. which. owing To it, condition, had
to be taken down. The finest view
over the city is to be had from the top
of this tower
There is little episode in connec-
tion with this tower worth giving. It
illustrates bow Kaiser Joseph is thought
of by his subjects The evening pre-
ceding the Kings birthday a man
gained access to the tower room and
commenced to climb tor the top of the
tower This had 10 be done by ascend
ing from the outside, and rs he had
nothing 10 cling To one may well inn
agine his task. Fancy. reader. that
you see a man climbing heaven
ward upon the steeple of St
Peters. State street. Albany.
which weII illustrates that of
St. Stephens. The hour midnight.
fierce wind blowing, around his body
is wrapped a flag. For two long hours
he tolls upward. All below are uncon-
scious of the unusual proceeding which
is going on save . comrade. who
breathlessly awaits the result of his
companion venture. At this stage
+ the fire watchmen. who inhabit the
i tower in order to give alarm in case of
fire breaking out in the city. tliseer an
object above them and call out: WHO
I is there2" The climber. now near the
summit. hears and answers Only /.
am going to hang out a flag for the
Emperor's birthday" Upon this word
is telegraphed to police station that
man is climbing the tower. Police
men come upon the scene The wait
ing eomrade is seen with the climbers
boots and. asked who they belong to.
replies: ..0h. TO my companion. who
Is siaft." Meanwhile the climber has
reached the top. andIle manages to get
the flag from his body, and what Is
more. huge pole which he had car
ried over his back. and then at then ~
the height of 449 feet he elings with
one hand to his frail support. ties the
pole to the top of the tower and the
flag to it. After remaining there half
an hour he makes the descent in two
more hours. and is met BY a policeman.
who inquiries: .'Are these your boofs2'
Yes Then put them on. and he
is marched of TO the station. Upon
being questioned he stated that he
merely wished to gire his Emperor a
surprise, and he WAS immediatelE re-
leased And for over a week manY
persons could be seen standing gazing
up at che flag and pruphesying that is
would fall After THE the tower was
inelosed for way UP by boards, but
the feat was again attempted by a
youth. who. after going a short dis
tance. gave il up and returned 20 -four
teen DAYS" for his smartness Now
spikes may be seen in place of boards.
and the one who next attempts the as
cent will doubtless soon be IN need of
a tailor.-Cor. 4IJany N. !. Argsts.