The Washington times., 1901-11-14
TO SCALE THE Big TOWER
Proposal TO Erect a Flagstaff on
the City Postoflice.
Sutherland. the "Human Fly" Mny
Change Time Ball From State,
War. and Navy BuiIding-To climb
I'm Outside with Suction shoes.

Change Time Ball From State,
War. and Navy BuiIding-To Climb
Up Outside with Suction shoes.
+. S. Southerland. tho champion climber
of the world who is known throughout
the United States and Europe as the
Human Fly" was in consultation yes
terday with Chief Clerk Taylor, of the
PustofIice Department and a number of
other Government officials. For some
time the question has been seriously con-
sidered of erecting fifty-foot iiagstaI
on the main tower of the Pcstoifice Build
ing, and transferring to this staff the
time bali that now falls at exactly noon
each day from the staff on the State, War
and Navy Building. announcing to the
country the official time by the meridian
at Washington.
The ball on the War Department STAFF
can be seen only a comparatively short
distance away. as the structure is not
particularly high, and has no central
tower We're the bah placed on the Post
office building. however. it would rest
over fUe feet from the ground and, being
cciitraI,,- located, could he seen from all
parts of the city, and even from the Sol
disrs Home Heights on the north and
the basin" or harbor of the Potomac, on
the ball on the Postoffice structure would
not only be d great convenience to the
citizens Of Washington, and as such ap-
prcciated, but would be of real benefit 10
shipping on the river. The contemplated
move is heartily endorsed by officials OF
the Naval Observatory, of the Weather
Bureau, and by Government officials in
Washington generally.
The erection of the staff and ball how
ever, appeared to be very difficult job,
and those "steepie-jacks'' who were con-
suited on the subject exp essed the opin-
ion that it would be necessary to erect a
scafoIding from the base of the tower
IO its apex, as the sides of the tower rise
almost perpendlcularly for seventy-fiye or
nunureu feet. The project had nearly
Deen abandoned because of the vast
amount of work and trouble entaiIed, ana
the comparative unImportance of the !
transfer of the Iime-baiI, when one of the
dniciais heard of Southeriand, and sent |
for him 10 ask his opinion as to the pr Ic- |
tlcaDtlITy OF the move. lie laughed when |
lo.d what was desired.
Easy, he said. why. it's not worth (,
while talking about. Ten me what you |
want me TO do, and when you want me |
10 do ii.
Mr.. Taylor asked the Human Fly
whether ne intended to use a sCafudIug /
or ropes, ana, II ropes, how he intended /
TO get them to the top OF the tower.
Switzerland, VINO is built like giGdia- !
iduSQeG IN q deep GnGSleQ DdSS. anu !
waved ms hand scornTully. Ropes; scAr- !
foidsi 1 dant use them. They are for /
aulateurs. L walk up. That is where 1 |
sot the name OF the Human Fly.
But, my dear man. said the chief clerk /
dsspaIriagiy, you might as wei Try to /
waiK up the wall OF this ROOM
hats easy, too, said The human fly. I
lie quickly opened q Valise, dOuned an I
odd locking pair of shoes. and a stlll /
more peculiar looking pair of gloves and :
stepping to i side OF the room. clear of /
the IlirltIre, calmly walked up the wall I
until his head touched the ceiling, with as 1
much case and facility as if ne were
climbing a ladder. When he came down
and had removed his suction shoes and
gloves, he was asked no more questions
sfs 10 how he proposed TO get the slender /
shaft and time-ball on the top of the
tower.
The chief clerk Will lay the matter of /
the erection Of the pole and baif before
the Postmaster General today, and South /
erland Will probably do his sensational (
t-.4r -a-= time in he near future.
HF nice hr t4 ID 81 1ington. Switzerland /
t-.- tHie fs'-- the proper authOri-
.- i. walk up the Wash /
Et.ai Ai3Hh- IN the ortside. AS the
e. Pr gh. ana i. sides are
theriand was laughed {
he mentioned the mat
fHr resented the Implied /
Il to blindfold Mr. Day-
son, the Postmaster Generals private sec
TetafY, equip him with the suction shoes
ahu st9Xes, am send him up the outside
or 50. ,'''''' i'i i'' iee'
You couldn't climb to the ton. he said
because zoe are not strong enough. and
are not 1iSeC to the work And yynftI1
nave 70 bii.idfoid you or You'd get ,Ijz
. but Jou couldn't fail II you tried /
.,-r l1;,S son, however hastily declined the
The Human Fly" is perbans as y,ell
I not better known in Europe than in mis-
country. He has made forty-eigbt Of the
jlspest climbs In the world n Was bo
md g,~I
raised the American flag on the EfGeI
LoEer IN Paris. worked on the sniraS 90
NC Satnedral in Cologne Germany. and
SanlSed up the outside of the CheuicaI
stack in Glasgow one Of the taiisef
80 esufnLeys IN the world. He has ascended
le, lhe .Steepies Of st. Patricks Cathedral
g3uls in London climbed the Nafionsi
Liberty Pole on the Highlands of Nave
siak, s.i3la-,-,.: y: J.. climbed the star on the
Itall OF PHILADELPHIA the co1irtboiiss
towers at San Bernardin and Los An
eeies. Cal. Siegei-CoOper's poles and
80 ,,5SN7 ~ chleasS. ana numberiess other
.ofty spires. shafts. ana steeples in all
parts of the country besides having
and climbed any number of Gov
coast ~
southerland was formerly a sailor IN
me United States Navy and in climbing,
through the shrouds of the oId-stKIs
frigates and sailing shIps acorired tbS
absolutely iron nerve and lack OF .'nervey''
,ilat makes II possible for him to r,IfrsI1.
ms perilous vocation. He says he doesn't
expect 20 die natural death but intends
70 keep on climbing anything in sfght
unti his time comes. He said yesterd',N,
inat ne has had many falls and that o1rc
ne cropped distance Of over 209 feet
Mr. Taylor up asAeu
on ! was out in a couple Of DAYS
sald the Human Fly"
, Southerland's business card. which gives
ms permanent address in care Of Z, n
Letter. Chicago, contains the signfficant
statement. Il assume all risks