The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-06-17
A PERILOIJS HOUR.

was apprenticed to a decorative
painter, but being of bold, danger low
ing turn, I ran away to sea before my
time was out. After some years tired
of a maritime life, and having married
and determined to stick to the shore,
got work with a bulldog whose peculiar
line layin erecting tall cRimneys. had
always very cool head, and could stand
on elevations that made most men dizzy.
and so was soon favorite hand with
my master.
We had on one occasion to fasten a
lightning conductor which had sprung
near the top of a very high chimney, and
Mr.. Staining chose myself and one
James Colly to do it as the most daring
Of his men. About half dozen of us
went that morning with hand cart con-
tanning the necessary ropes, blocks, the
kite and a box or cradle. Having flown
the kite and dropped it's line across the
top of the chimney, we soon drew up a
rope, at the end of which was a block,
through which ran the line whereby we
were to be drawn up.
Colly had only been married a fort
night, and as we stepped into the cradle,
the men banteringiy asked him if he
hadn'ta last dying speech to leave for
his wife; and then, Mr.. Staining having
shaken hands with us, and bid us be
cool and steady, we were drawn slowly
up. 1t was known all over the town that
the conductor was to be fixed, and the
streets were thronged with starers.
Colly was very quiet, and when I waved
my cap to the people he said snappishly
that this was no time for such folly, and
that he thought I might think of better
things than how to amuse these gaping
fools, who, fe dared say, desired no bet
ter fun than to see us meet with an acct
dent.
had come up in the best heart, think
ing indeed nothing about the danger we
incurred, but as we drew nearer and
nearer to the top, and had nothing, as it
seemed, belonging to this world near to
us but this straining rope, l began to see
the peril of the undertaking. What
Colly thought of it I don't know. He
sat at the bottom Of the cradle, never
looking out, though told him he would
do better to keep his eyes about him, so
that he might grow used to the height.
Good heaven! what was this? Here
we were within a yard of. the top pro-
jectip" coping, and still they. were wind
-1g away, without Stacking speed in the
least; guessed in a moment that they
mistook our height, and that with the
great purchase Of that windlass the rope
would be broken when the cradle came
to the block. sprang up, and catch
ing the rope, climbed hand over hand
to the coping. Colly, too, sprang UP
and followed me. He, too, got up safe;
and still they went on winding up, till
the rope sung again with the strain.
Then it snapped, and cradle, hauling
line, and the main rope with its block,
fell down. Thus we were two poor
men left in most desperate situation.
Poor Colly was completely dazed with
alright, and the moment he got ON the
coping, which was only foot and half
broad, he called out, 'Where can I
pray? where can I kneel and pray?"
And SO said very solemnly, '.Sit down,
Jem; God will hear US if we pray to him
sitting down"
The color of his face was transparent
blue, and it was distorted and twitching
as if he was in a fit. His eyes were very
wild and drawn into squint, and he
couldn't sit steady, but swayed his body
backward and forward so that I felt
certain that he must topple over.
Come, Jem, lad," said, thinking to
take the fright off him; It'll bad enough,
but it can't be mended. Hitch up bit
and put your arm around the rod-may-
be it will steady you"
''Wkere are you? and where is this
rod?" he asked, in a very hollow voice,
though he was looking straight at me,
and the rod was only foot Or two to
his left. By this I knew that he was
gone blind with the fright; and self
preservation said, Don't go near him;
but then remembered his new welded
wife, and that taking him all through
he was always very decent fellow; and
I thought how should have liked him
to have done if had been in his case;
SO l determined to run bit of risk in
his favor. Of course burst not get on
my feet; but working myself on by my
hands, 1 got to him, and putting my
arm around his waist, and telling him
as cheerily as I could to keep cool, got
him with his arm around the rod. 1t
had, however, sprung the stapling for
five yards down, and was so loose that
it swaycd with him, and I expected any
minute to see him falling head and heels
down and the rod tearing away with
him.
There was great hustle down below;
people were running around the yard
and pushing to get in, but as yet there
were but some score of men at the foot
of the chimney and nv close looking