The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-14
NEW YoRK,s CATHEDRAL.
The Spires OF st. Patrick's In Place-The
Building Completed.

Building Completed.
From the Commercial Advertiser
The spires Of st. Patrick's cathedral on
Fifth avenue were finished during the
present week with the placing in position
OF the final and cross on the northern
tower. The twin spires OF the cathedral
are each about three hundred and thirty
feet high, and cost about 500, 600 There
are the loitiest structures of the kind in
the western world. All that remains 10 be
done is TO attach the platinum-pointed
lightning conductors. five-eighths OF an
inch in diameter, which run down through
the towers and connect with the Croton
water main, aud then the work Of taking
down the two scaiIoldings, which hide
much OF the front Of the cathedral, will he
begun, and in ten or twelve days the COM
pleted structure may be seen in all its
beauty. The last stone was hoisted from the
ground Thursday, aud Peter Hamilton, the
master builder, who has watched the taper
ing towers grow under the hands OF his
wOrkmcn since September, 1885. when
work upon them was resumed, stood in
front Of the cathcdraland quietly surveyed
the finished front His engineer was taking
down the hosting apparatus at the base
OF the scalOlding, and away aloit on an
arm OF the white marble cruss was pcrched
q workman, putting a rod in place aud
looking like n mere black ileck on the sum-
init. Many passers-by paused on the oppo.
site side Of the avenue 10 gaze mp nj The
great clih-likc face Of the cathedral down
which poured, from the top OF each tall
spirc, a stream Of ornament, carving.
traccry, finals, gablcts, brackets aud gar
gOyies, increasing rs IL descended until IL
covered the whole face OF the structure.
The plans Of 81. Pairick's cathedral were
drawn In 1858 by James Rcnwick, nm
architect Of this city. The original Dc.
signs were reduced by taking OIL tho side
aisle around the apse, the apsidal chapel
and sacristics. \ plaster ceiling was sub
siituicd Tor the stone one provided for In
the original designs, and this change Of
plan did away with the flying buttr,sscs,
which were no longer needed 10 mpp0rt
the weight Of stone vauiting. Some
changes Ia the ground plan were made In
ur'cr 10 leave room On the lot Tor the arch.
bishops house. The modified plans have
been carried out, but the lady's chanel
still remains 90 be built.
The cathedral " Of the decorative and
gcumciric gothic style OF the thirteenth
and fourteenth centuries, OF which the
clthcdruls Of Rheims, Amicns and Co
luguc, on the continent, and those OF York
and Exeter, in England, are examples.
The corner stone Of the present cdifce
was laid ON August l5 lAjS, by the Right
Rev. John Hughes, first archbishop Of
New York, In tho presence OF nearly
100000 persons. The cathedral was drdi-
Gated twcnty-onc years later by Arch.
bishop, aitorward Cardinal McCloskey, as
sisted by arrhbfhops aud bishops Of the
church. The cathedral is332 icctincxtrcmc
length and IA feet In breadth. The in.
terror length is3 300 feet; the naycand choir.
exclusive 81 the chapcls, 500 feet, aud the
trlnscpt 10 feet. The central aisle Is Is
feet wide and ll2 feet high.
\ central gable h placed between the
two towers over the main entrance. In
the caves or deep rccCssCs % the lambs
OF the main portion are rcccssos which
IL Il intended 20 hll with statues
Of the twelve apostles Tho doom
aru nankcd by buiirCssos terminating
In pamllclcd pinnaclrs. Tho towers ON
each corner of tho front are square 10 the
hight Of 1870 feet, whore they change 10
octngonnl lanterns, over which, hlty-iour
feet higher, the iapyr.ng spires begin. Ia
the first story Of the towers are crockcicd
glblcts bearing traccry and shields, ON
which arr carved the arms OF the United
States and Of the State Of New York.
Clustered columns OF white marble thir-
iy-fiyc feet high support the groncd coli
ing Of the nave, and tho tfiiorium
aud clcfcstory are supported by
arches. Tho altar Of Italian marble
and the rrrcdos 81 Poiticrcs stone.
both richly carved, were the gifts Of Car.
dinal McCloskcy anl the clergy. The
cathedral has seventy windows, moro than
half Of which contain figures Of the saints
In stained glass. TWcnty Of them are In
In gcomctrical designs and the remainder
are Of clear glass 90 admit light The
iraccry consists u stuficd ttular windows,
the central one poriraying the coronation
OF 81 Patrick In heaven. Many OF the
windows were imported and placed In the |
cathedral Ny the late Cardinal McCloskcy. ]