The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-12

daring feat was performed yesterday
by Thomas Mclaughlin in replacing a
pulley at the top of the Flagstaff of
No. 10 school building on Jackson
street. A large crowd, many of them
shuddering and almost afraid to look
upward through fear for McLaugh-
Inns safety, saw him do his work
The old pulley at the top of the pole
became broken and how to replace 1t
was a problem. The work would have
been comparatively easy If the pulley
could have been removed and a new
one put in its place in the space of
few seconds. But the work could not
be done that speedily. The pulley was
fastened by ring to another ring in
a piece of iron, which was bolted
through the top of the pole
Mclaughlin knew his business, how
ever. A 40-foot ladder gave him a
good start toward the total height of
| So feet. In stocking feet he "shinnied"
up the remaining AZ feet. A flag rope
was fastened about his waist and dan
gled far beneath him to the ground.
Another rope, shorter than the other,
| but tough and strong was tied about
| him, the free end hanging maybe or
| 10 feet. A hammer, cold chisel
and the new pulley comprised other
extra weight that he had to carry.
THE CLIMB UPWARD.
AS he progressed upward in his
climb the pole swayed from side to
| side. 1t made some of the watchers
| feel queer at the stomach" but while
they were alternately looking skyward
| or stood with eyes closed Mclaughlin
| continued to climb. The top of the pole
was swaying through an arc of be-
| tween four and five feet when he
| reached it. The pole is but "a inches
| in diameter at that point. When Nc
| Laughlin reached it he looked like a
pigmy to the watchers below.
Mclaughlin wasted none of his
| strength, much of which had already
been spent. in delay. Clasping the
| pole with his legs and left hand he
| made use of the shorter rope, one end
| of which was tied about his waist and
which, as it hung below him, was be-
| ing whipped by the wind into all kinds
of fantastic shapes. He grasped it with
| his right hand and used it in quickly
| lashing himself to the pole. Then he
| rested.
With both arms free, Mclaughlin
| soon began to work. Eighty-two feet
| above the gaping crowd he inserted the
| steel chisel in the ring of the pole
| staple and pounded it open. The old
| pulley was then easily removed and
the new one put in it's place, the bolte1
| staple being closed by a reverse pro-
cess Of hammering. The work of un-
| lashing himself after running the flag
rope through the new pulley and slid
| ing to the top of the ladder was no
| easy task, but it was accomplished sue
| cessfully.
School Controller Benson f. Davis,
of the Fourth ward, warmly congratu-
lated the daring climber, as did others
who witnessed his feat.
PROFESSIONAL "RIGGER."
| Mclaughlin is an iron worker and Is
| employed as trigger" by Contractor
| Conrad Schroeder when delicate bits OF
climbing are required about the hoist
| ing apparatus used on high structures
He formerly lived in Dunmore but re-
sides now on Bloom avenue, near Mar.
ket street, in the North End. He is a
| modest and quiet young man. but is
bold and daring when it comes to work
high above the ground.
When asked If he wasn't afraid he
said. mo: but that's nothing to my
credit, as l never think of fear after
begin to climb. Whatever nervousness
have about my work is when / an
getting ready and making sure thai
everything is secure; after / am salts
fled that nothing is going to break and
I-well, / just begin work. that's all.
He concluded as though he wondered
why one should think his hazardou.
profession was anything but common
place.
Mclaughlin smiled when asked If hi!
work paid him well. 1T depends OF
the job" he said; Sometimes it /!
worth much and sometimes little.
never make a price until 1 know ius
what kind of material l am going t.
work on and work with" He accented
the "on' and concluded. "show me tn,
job and I'll tell you the price"