The morning call., 1892-01-01
OVER CLIFFS.
Wonderful Darings and Dangers
of Scottish Bird. CatcherS.
One Who Was Novice Tries How 1t Feels to
Be Suspended in Midair With Only
Rope Between Him and Death

solved at length TO pay visit to that rocky
shore and see if there was one human being
on the face of the earth that would dare
more than !, writes a contributor to the
New Y Ork Ledger.
When the proper time came for me to go,
| went. and we'll do l remember the secret
delight which the first sight of the beetling
cliffs and crags of that rocky island gave
me. and if to be lowered over their dizzy
heights, and downward 1000 feet, with the
roaring ocean foamiGg over frightful rocks
beneath, and there and thus, suspended only
by a frail rope around the body, to swing in
midair far under the oyerhanging cliff. into
the dark assures and cavernS, and explore
recesseS tenanted only by the wild sea-fowl,
aud which mortal man could reach in no
other manner-lf this indeed was the occu-
patton OF many Of the natives, | believed
that there al least might find daily amuse-
ment suited TO my W Id desires.
landed on the island an unknown stranger
aEd found a hOspitable reception among the
rough but simple minded Scotchmen who
inhabit it. But when told them why [ had
come among them. and that | was resolved
to dare with them and share their dangers.
Tor no other reason than the mere love OF the
Wild sport, they stared at me in amaZement,
and believe regarded me as one whose wits
were wandering
With the first party going ont. however, |
readily obtained leave to number myself,
and easily procured an additional rope to
try my venture also.
But YOU will quail when your eyes come
TO look upon the danger, said one to me, liz
the peculiar idIom of the country, to which
l give free and clear translation.
That Is doubtless your opinion" WAS my
answer; but l will either prove the con-
trary to be true or pay handsome forfeit
uTe for the benefit of all concerned"
| do not know that the place selected
that day was especially on my account,
but 81 do know it is safe to say that ST.
kida, with all its div heights and dan
gerous depths, had nothing more wild and
terrible.
Up we tailed and struggled and tumbled,
over rocks upon rocks, till at last we
reached eraggy point that nyerhung
THE BOILING SURF
At a height of nearly 1000 feet, and to even
look down which would Of have made most
mems brains swim. From this awful eleya-
tion the huge waves of the rolling ocean ap-
peared like mere rTppleS, and It's laundering
roar came up like the faint murmur of
distant brook.
Dare you stand beside me tere?" said
the kiltrd Scotchman. as he took his posi-
ton upon the extreme verge OF The oCetlng
crag from which single error OF balance
would have sent him to eternity.
1 stepped to his side, aud slightly bending
over the awful abyss, looked as calmly
down as if gazing upon a stu pond al the
depth Of twenty feet.
Silently and keenly the rough, bold island
eTS eyed me for a few moments, and then,
exchanging glanceS AMI slightly nOdding
their heads, they mETnured their apprOha-
ton.
They then asked me if | was still DESTROYS
of making the perilous descent. / replied
in the affirmative, but added that as | was
wholly unaCQuaInted with their m0duS
operandi, l would like one of their party to
20 first and LIT me follow, or If a rope could
be found strong enough to hold two, and
there was one of their number disposed to
risk himself with me, we would 90 down
together.
This answer seemed to please the bold
Scotchmen, and forthwith ole of the
younger and smaller of the party volun-
Ieered 10 be my cOmpan on, both 70 descend
with strand some twenty feet long connect
ING the two IN such manner, within reach
of our hands, that we could draw ourselves
together at our pleasure.
In few minutes everything was pre-
pared: the ropes attached TO our bodies we
stood upon the verge of the cliff. | confess,
as l looked down from the fearful height
and considered my own nexperience,
thought the chances much against my ever
returning alive; vet even this, so far from
deterring me. only seemed TO add new zest
TO my venture.
We were TO be lowered over the cliff by
the ropes already mentioned, which were
to be held, let out and drawn in by the
party remaining on the height for the pur-
pose, and who, being used % the business,
could readily understandable signals Of my
companion, on whom, OF course, depended
to direct me and telegraph for both.
AT fast We lay down on the edge of the
projecting rock and let ourselves over as
carefully as we could. till the whole weight
of each rested on his individual rope, which
was then allowed t0 run out as fast as our
safety would warrant; and thus, dangling
in midair, with black, caveruouS rocks on
one hand, nothing on the other, and roar
ing surf with screaming sea-f0wl far be-
meath, we went down, down, down. till the
breakers sounded like heavy thunder. and
the stout rope above me seemed TO dwindle
away till the eye could no longer distiu
guish it.
AS THE CLIFF AT ITS SUMMIT
Projected far over Its base, we of course
lost sight of the party above at once, and
were now suspended far out from the pre-
cipitous rocks, which we could reach only
by swinging ourselves in To them. or bein 2
swung thither by the breeze, which now
played about US, as l have seen spiders
when hanging from tall forest tree by a
mere thread.
'How do you like it?" shouted my COM
panion, when we had descended nearly 1000
feet, 10 where the high waves could be seen
dashing in fury below ms, and the roar of
ocean rolled ND so heavily, with its reyer-
berations among the hollow rocks, that the
loudest human voice was little more than a
whisper.
1T is gloriousr' | shouted back
lie then, by signs, inquirer if would like
to enter huge cavern opposite our position.
whose black mouth looked as if it might
open into the b0ttOmleSS pit
Of Course, there was but one answer for
me To such question, and the next minute
we were swinging toward the point by an
oscillatory motion which he knew how to
communicate 10 the rope. Backward and
forward we swung swiftly through the
breezy air, each pendulOus vibration send
ing us farther out from and bringing us
nearer in toward the dark opening.
flock of wild sea-fowls, which this at
tempt bad disturbed, now darling swiftly
around us and screaming out their anger
at this intrusion upon their natural domain.
Now, then, have carep exclaimed the
Scotchman IN his peculiar dialect. I'VE are
about TO reach the cave. Look out for the
rocks! Look out for your fo0thJldP'
One more swing that sent US far out over
the sea, and back we came, clear up to the
mouth OF the cave. My companion grasped
the rock and held on. / attempted to do so,
but my hands seized a loose, crumbling
stone and detached it.
IL fell, struck the strand which connected
our ropes, severed it as if it were a thread
and then went down laundering into the
foaming waters. With the loss Of my bold
i again swung outward and went whirling
around like top Till l became so dizzy and
confused that / lost all power of sight and
guidance and for the time give myself UP as
lost.
The Scotchman shouted to me, but the
roaring Of tie breakers below drowned bis
voice so that | could not distinguish single
word. l still went swinging to and fro,
winding up and unwinding. till | grew
weak and sick and began TO vomit / now
for the first time wished myself safely on
the height above. but never expected to
reach it again.
Thus L swung for at least half an hour.
the vibrations growing less and less every
minute, till at last the rope became COM
paratively still. On again
LOOKING FOR MY COMPANION
\ oould unyyhaFa him hDt a his rnUe