The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-25
DARING WIRE TALKING.
A Greek Sailors TkrIiing Feat on n Buile-
Ing Derrick In Omahn.
From the Chicago Times.

From TIE 'htcu0o Times.
Recently Omaha people passing in the vicinity
OF where the new Federal building is being
erected. at sixteenth and Dodges;rect. have been
treated to AN exhibition OF ncrvs and daring
seldom witnessed in the sawdust arena.
From the half completed walls rise a dozen
tall derricks. which. with their network OF stays
and supports, resemble the rigging OF a monster
ship. a single steel wire binds the tops OF the
nearly 100 feet above the street. Occa-
si0ually "a man Of less than medium stature
has been seen 10 Chamber 10 the top Of one
uf the derriCks and sit for a moment on the
extreme end OF the vertical timber. Then he
would carefully put ono foot ont on the wire
that stretched away on a horizontal line. Draw
ing his foot rlOse upto his body he gathered him
self together. and with u single effort was bal
removing his shoes. Then slowly, hut without any
apparen! effort. he would walk the wire az that
dizzy height Ia the next derrick. where he would
climb down and gO To work rs though he had
not compassed IA feat from which the most dar-
ing gymnast would shrink In terror.
This was all done simply TO save the time which
II would require 10 climb from one derrick and
At first his fellow wurkmen watched his progress
along the uncertain pathway WIN much atpre;
hensiun, and II was remarked that ho would
take the chance once too often and b" precipi-
tatcd To a sudden death On the timhers below.
hnt the merry sy Ina In hS$s5 biz dariu NO tf fanE
and after awhile but little attention was paid TO
his aerial exploits. Finally, the matter was
brought to the attention Of The supervising
architect, who issued peremptory orders that
the performance should not he repeated,
The workman Whose daring has pcrasipned so
much ComInent Is "a t;recS sailor who has taken
10 the derrick business and l. employed ny tho
Denver contractors IL NsS'st in placing and re-
moving the big derriCks, as J., required by the
progress of the construction. None ~ the work
men know his last name, aud la" u only known
as Charley. lie i a LITTLE ginGrTy fellow, rather
slight in build. hut fun ~ vitality, He - never
known to tire. and his wolLtralncd muscles seem
To bear the strain ut his p%erllpus lrats without
fatigue. he does not regard hi reckless journey
on the vine a. murh "i a itht' hnI se,nis a. sufs
Of his footing On mat pC:il'us pain NJ though he
was walking "a plank "A fuot from the ground.
Mauy sturle- are ulG las the other wOrkmeno Of
the frtts wh,rh tho t'rcck has accomplished.
Brirrr hr went tu omaha be WAS employed on
the Hrw state House at uruNrr. ANA while there
hi- nerve ~ ts Tie means 81 saving a life that
Ind been dc-,1ir"d pf. The yuunE sOu Of Cone
tractor Srrry had climbed o. the tower OF the
partially completed state House 10 Get some
birds cgg- which had been deposited in
uHr uf tie cUh:y~urr~. He accomplished
the upward Journey ia safety, but as no
turned a. retreat Win his urtl@ hi, missed
his footing ard shot Guw ward. Ia some
miraculous manner Er caught un "a beam that
WAS suspended a'rts9 an ul' Iiug va the roof,
and hung there with 90 death grip. Wulle tha
see him lose ls Luld ana De dashed e. pieces
below, There Wa- mo- che Nhu dared O. attempt
tu r,.ru" him a. that diEZy height. a. they
fraTcl That IA his lright no would carry tie
rc-rlrr wstA him ia his fall.
~V!iCHly ~nWe me thought ~ the GrceS
sailor. IT. WA a' h'Gle slths time, and tha
br.UE l.m 90 TIC state House. The hoy man
a.vl tu retain ul, Inil Hl 'Hc beam until he
arrived, lie iuuk lu iLr situation 40 a glance,
AID without E moments ht-ri1tiur a-teguri
utullt tu The level 49, ABE |N.,W i.-v flsl wtS
Iu"IneutasiE eAprr;'i. tr wrtthrl uGt un the
h"am A. Though % wt- De gravel walk. aud, l.tt-
iug the tnS pa ilr arms, carried rl'a a. a place
ut sgtriy- Young ~r'Ey NA, NOT Injured beyond
aud his rssCusr was tie hero Of tbs hour, Thai
IL one reason Why ChaTlgy's sob y gsAsaAAeJ
Sold - IsRs 4 he WIRnh