Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-11-28
A MIDAIR FIGHT.

The true and full details OF the ndvCn-
ture l am about to relate have never
appeared in print Nobody but myself
could possibly give faithful account
of the matter, and have only recently
recovered from nervous proStration
that followed the event write this
account now, not because it gives me
any pleasure 10 do SON the contrary
the task is II very unpleasant and pain
full one-but So many untruthful YER
sions of the story have got abroad that
l feel it due to myself to state plainly
what actually occurred.
1t was in August, and | was taking
a pleasant walking tour i'll the south of
England, During the second week
had left Surrey behind mo and was
wandering among the fields, the wooded
dells and the winding lanes uf West
Sussex.
carried with mo little guidebook
10 the county, merely for the sake of
the brief information it gave me about
old churches and other points of inter
est. l employed no itinerary, but let
my route work itself ont from day to
day without any prearrauEcd plans.
Yet the fact remains that hut for that
little book my terrible adventure would
in all probability never have happened.
Brcakfasting one morning at the lit
tie inn at B. | determined that nv
day walk should I've to p. and
worked out my route on the map.
noticed, however, that little village
called W lay about two miles out
of my way. and turning up the place
in my guide read, The tourist should
not miss the church. which is early
English and exhibits some very inter
eSting features. | thereupOn resolved
to alter my route little in order to in
Clude the village in my day 5 progress.
\ description of the place, its charm
ing green and pretty cottages, is not
necessary to my story. The little church
stands upon a knoll and is II prominent
detail in the landscape for miles around.
Looking up ut its graceful spire,
once noticed that just beneath the
weathercock some slight scaffolding had
been erected, and that ropes depended
from il to the surface of the tower he
meath. Some repairs were evidently in
operation.
Arc YOU repairing the spire?"
asked of three men who We're seated ON
fiat tomb eating their frugal midday
meal.
No, - was the somewhat surly reply
of the man VIII" appeared to mo to he
the foreman.
Only the weatherCoCk -
YES
The fellow now eyed me closely, as
if there wero something in my appear
auce that interested him. He was a
rather tall and powerfully built man,
with Il full black beard and rather Gu
rious, deep set eyes. There was some
thing about the eyes that fascinated
me. Surely had seen them before
But where? l had no recollection Of
having ever previously made the &c
quaintance of = stoeplClack.
His manner suddenly changed toward
me. He rose from his seat and seemed
anxious to converse.
Pretty country around here, sir.
l agreed with him.
Lovely view from the top" He
pointed with his thumb to the steeple.
Won get what they call birdseye
view for miles around, and believe /
saw the sea this morning through that
break yonder in the South Downs"
How do You go up" asked.
In sort of cage. l am Just going
now, sir. Will you go with me? You
may never get the opportunity again. -
thought he was probably right, and
| that it was a pity to miss such an ex-
perience.
But is 1t quite safe?" inquired.
Bless you, yes, sir. III take care
of you right enough" And he laughed
in u way that WAS certainly not pleas
ant, but it struck me as being only a
| peculiar mannerism.
| consented to make the ascent, and
we all mounted the belfry stairs and
got ont on the belfry leads.
"I'd better go first" he said, land
then can see you safely landed. The
cage will only hold one at a time"
He was soon hauled to the top, ant
when he had disembarked the cage wa
let down again for my reception.
got in and proceeded to ascend up thu
side of the steeple. l had not riser
many yards before began to feel verI
nervous My life was absolutely a
the mercy of the two men who wer,
pulling me up. Suppose by some acct
dent they should let go? What If tn
rope should break, or the pulley at tn
top give way?
As the height to which I was being
lifted increased, so my terror increases
also. l dared not look downward. On
glance made me turn sick and faint
The palms of my hands were moist
and perspiration stood in beads ON IN.
forehead What fool had been t
consent to go up!
The ascent could not have taken man!
minutes, but it seemed as il it wer'
never going to reach the top. Ono
there, the steeplejack helped me to &c
ON to the little platform, where
crouched down and chung to the stand
ard of the weathercock, trembling Il
every limb.
My guide signaled to his assistant
10 LET down the cage, and turning 3