Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-11-22
A curIous Business.

Do the boys who for fun have climb,
ed the highest trees they could find,
md whenever chances offered, all
kinds of poles and scaffoldings and
roofs and windmills (the higher the
better, know that there are men who
make u business of climbing? Very
few American boys, probably, have
seen any ofthese men; but in Europe,
especially; where there are so many
cathedrals with theirlofty domes and
spires, and great manufacturing
cities with their peak-like chimneys,
they are quite common.
These men are called 'steeple.
lacks" because larger part of their
/ business is to scale the steeples OF the
churches, and perhaps repair
weather-vane, rreset a broken slate,
or do some other small work which
would be very pensiye il scafiold-
inc had to be built up every time
such work needed to be done. Not
many men enter this business, for
the work is so dangerous that only
those with very clear heads and
strong nerves care to risk their life
hundreds OF feet above the earth on
very narrow footings. Sailors are
said to make the best men for this
work, being so used TO iurling sails
and running about on the tall masts
of their ships.
Once i'll a while we hear OF stee'
ple-inck in America, as we did the
other day at the time OF singular
accident in New Jersey. A factory
I there has n great chimney 800 feel
, high. the largest in the United States
; ana higher than Bunker Hill Monu
: ment. During q thunderstorm thu
} lightning twice struck the top o
this chimney, tearing of many wag
! on-loads Of bricks. No means hat
( been provided for reaching the tol
r Of the chimney, vet it was necessar.
: To reach and repair the break betor
: the work could go on. \ steeple
9 lack was called for, and man wa
q found in Newark who had once bee
}. engaged in this business in England
: Think OF what he had to do-to elm
4 i wall Of brick 335 feet high, withou
a il projection OF any kind TO take holt
oil
e lie did it in this way: taking Lar
= der. he fastened it to the side OF tn
It chimney by driving in long lro
IS hooks. which held it. Another lat
der was then passed up, which
r dashed to the top OF the first ladd'
is with ropes; and then went out
Ne drive in hooks and fasten this seeon
lie ladder firmly. Thus lie slowly crel
ir IN the side of the great Gimme
in adding ladder after ladder, al
q workiL : rs coolly when over BOOZE
ne from tile ground as when only thr
feet. 1t lid not seem to trouble M
NJ 10 look down from the dizzy he.g
H. or to venture up higher on his fra
Ill and only halffastened ladder. J
ie.i the top lie had to build out over t
MS projecting bell by which the chlmn
lit was crowned, and on the third d.
lis stood on the top and waved his b
OF to the people.
to Thousands OF people had gather
st to watch this daring climber.
ca hills around the city he was watch
ed with breathless anxiety, looking,
he was said. like a lily on the top Q
he broomstick As he hung over
TO edge OF the hell, between heaven a
The earth. lie was watched with tei
err and prayers and cries; and, when
eX- decended safely TO the ground,
My brave steeple.jack had achieved
iad deed and gained n name which P
wn pie viii not soon forget.-Seleeted