The evening times., 1896-03-24
THEIR Work IN MD-llR
Completing the Towers Of the
New Postoffice Building.
MECHANICS FACE DEATH
Number of Them Have Already Been
Killed During the Const ruction of
This Building Trained and Expert
Riggers Have Been Engaged to Add
the Finishing Touches.

Wells OF rope and wire in m.d-llr along the
front and s.dcs OF the new city postoffce
building and on the tower, attract the at
teution of many curious pedestrians on the
Avenue Knots OF men, women and boys
gather along the curbing to gaze at the
fearless workmcn as they sit in their boat
swans chairs against the pinnacles or
towers and are swung laZily to and Iro
nv the March brcczes, or at some daring
fellow as he piroucttes on fraii section Or
scatfold.ng urd r tie caves or the massive
eight stories OF gray stone.
The sight is a thrilling one. The work
men appear as tiny specks outlined against
the sky, and the oniCokers say no wOEder
the beautiful structure. though incomplete.
has already been chrisiened with human
blood. Several unfortunate toiers have
whirled downw ard I'd their deaths from the
dizzy -hsight,d cdiiice during its coDstruc-
ton. Til. superintendent hopes the work
may he completed without additional IA
talities.
Those killed thus far fell through the
Interior of tie building from the iron
girders or scant scafroiding upon which
they were working, and We're buffeted
from side 10 side and mangied by the
nlttHt lOtSts VI lUt ltOOEs ds tutl
bodies went tumbling downward
AT HOME IN MID-AIR.
Danger from interior sources has been
1verted in Il great measure, the contractors
claim ami iT any other workers are dashed
10 their deaths it viii be from the towers
which are now going up, or while putting
Oh the finishing touches along the caves,
cornices, OF roof
The uen who are giving the public free
aerial eIhihiiions along the post office caves
and arches are nearly all trained and expe-
rienced riEgerS or sailors. who feel just
as secure on their lofty perchcs as the
average ciiiIcn with his big bump of eau
lion does while pursuing his daily avoca-
lion in shop or office. They are fear
ess lot, those iron workers, fiDishers, and
-iggers, ami long experience has made
them In a manner careless
> representative or The Evening Times
had a talk with one OF them about the
dangerous nature OF their calling. He is a
steeple climber and has worked upon some
1f the tallest spires in this country.
"Oh. it's rothng after you get used to it,
he said. ITO people on the ground the
work may appear to be more dangerous
has to swing himself off high building or
.tecple in a boatswain's chair. with two
or three hundred feet of air between him
and the earth. you can bet big money he
is going to see to it that there are no
flaws in the ropes OF boards on which he
Is going to work. That is one thing he has
to look out for himself.
THEIR LIFE IN THEIR HANDS.
The average contractor does not care
fig about the lives and limbs OF his EN-
ployes. He simply wants the work done
as expeditiously as possible and at the
minimum or expense. II would hurt his
feelings great deal morr 10 have an orna-
mented cornerstone drop TO the earth
and be broken than IL would should one Of
the workmen tumble down and kill or
MAIN himself.
The ornamental stone represents So
much money TO him. and you ca n touch some
mems feelings more quickly and effectually
through their purses than by any other
means. That ishunlan nature in many cases
am sorry to say. There are plenty Of idle
men to take the places of those hurt or
killed without any expense being incurred.
That is the situation as ] have found IL.
There is no question but that insecure
scaffolding and flooring are provided by
government contractors. but what can the
workingmen do? II they complain they are
given their time and compelled to seek en-
ployment elsewhere. know several expert
nid-air workers who have quit work on the
new pcstoffioe because they did not care
to longer risk their lives on narrow slippery
beams or scant scafrolding. Some of the
'front.' and tower work being done now is
quite perilous. and sone of the men you see
away up there carry their tools in one hand
and their life in the other
Some expert spider work will be neces-
sary before the main tower on the Penn
sylvania avenue front is completed. 1t will
be 3OS feet from the ground TO its highest
pinnacle.