Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-13
CLIMBING CHIMNEY.
JOHN PHILLIPS, THE RooFER, NO"
NEARLY AT THE TOP.
How the Bolts src Fastened in the MASON
~ OF the J35-Foot
Chimney.
Gan Yors SUM-

Neryy John Phillips, the climney-cllmD-
er. oversight himself yesterday morn,hs.
and in his anxiety TO begin his task. AZ
Kearny he left his home in Newark Will
ont his breakfast, and reached the base OF
Clark's big chimney st 6 O'Clock de Il un-
der contract 10 extend line of ladders 70
the top, so as to permit masons 10 asce ~
and repair the damages recently maue "
two strokes OF lightning which occuIrsa.
during tho same storm. Ibe enn-
which he arrived would seem early TO the
generality of to;lers, but Phillips hoped to
have an hours work done by tnat tihe'
Twenty-Five ladders were in place tnen.
and the top Of the upper one seeineu 20 20
within five or six feet OF the ring or coliHl
under the Haring top. Above this hdoer
a stout spike was driven into the masonry,
and from it depended tackie-oiocA anu
rope.
After DOMINIC his overalls and working;
jacket. the climber put safety-oeit around
his waist. In the front of this belt IL .
stout hook, which he attaches 10 ruhg OF
the ladder while at work, thus giving sup
port TO his body and permitting HIM 10 use
both hands freely. When ready 10 20 up
the ladders yesterday morning, Phililps
fastened the end OF the pulloy-rope 10
the hook in his belt. and one OF hls Two
helpers took hold of the other end OF the
rope and gathered it in, hand over nand,
as the CLIMBER assembled, putting on strain
enough TO MAKE the climbing easy. but not
enough TO lift Phillipss whole weight;
When Phillips rested tho helpers stopped
pulnn1. and he rested several times before
reaching the dizzy height at which he was
to begin his days work. The wind was
blowing lightly from the eastward. and
thus Phillips was working in the shelter Of
the chimney. from whose top dense BLACK
smoke was pouring.
He examined the laehings Of the last lad
der and then signalled for another, which
was quickly sent up 10 him. II was ashoIt
one. but like the others he secured 1t with
six spikes and lashed nearly half OF It's
lenrth to the twenty-secondladder. Itpro-
iected above the collar few feet. and alter
securing il firmly Phillips mounted it, and
passing behind it stood for few minutes
on the broad ring OF brick-work which en-
circles the chimney, and which Is Clipped
off in two places BIZ the lightning. Now came
the BEGINNING OF the elm bcr'smOst difficult
work. Hollow drills, made ofcase-hardened
pipe with serrated ends were sent up TO
him. and he began drilling one-inch holes
in the masonry. in these holes be drove
pieces of steatn-pipe. On the inner END OF
each Of these pipe-bolts was tapeTlng
plug. and on the outer end a nut through
which q rod passed to the taper plug.
This rod terminated in ring. to which the
ladders were lashed. After the plpe-boits
were in place in the brick-work few turns
of the nut expanded the inner end OF the
pipe and made secure in the masonry.
Phillips put one Of these bolts in the
wall of the engine-roOm the other day. ana
twelve men on q rope could not pull it out.
II was a slow Job affixing the lower pair OF
these bolts, and Phillips did not get his