Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1902-05-03
CAUGHT
ALOFT

l Was apprenticed to decorative
| painter; but, being of a bold, dan
ger loving turn, l ran away to sea
before my time was out. After some
years I tired of a maritime life, and,
having married and determined to
stick to the shore, I got work with
builder whose peculiar line lay in
erecting tall chimneys. I had al
ways a very cool head and could
stand on elevations that made most
men dizzy, and SO I was soon a IA
vorite hand with my master.
We had on one occasion to fasten
a lightning conductor which had
sprung near the top of a very high
chimney, and Mr.. Staining chose
myself and one James Colly to do
it as the most daring of his men.
About half dozen of US went that
morning with handcart contain
ing the necessary ropes, blocks, the
kite and box or cradle. Having
flown the kite and dropped it's line
across the top of the chimney, we
soon drew up rope, at the end of
which was block, through which
ran the line whereby we we're to be
drawn up.
Colly had only been married
fortnight, and as we stepped into
the cradle the men banteringly ask
ed him if he hadn't last dying
speech to leave for his wife, and
then, Mr.. Staining having shaken
hands with us and bid us be cool
and steady, we we're drawn slowly
up. It was known all over the town
that the conductor was to be fixed,
and the streets were thronged with
starers. Colly was very quiet, and
when I waved my cap to the people
he said snappishly that this was no
time for such folly and that he
thought might think of better
things than how to amuse these
gaping fools, who, he dared say, de-
sired no better fun than to see us
meet with an accident.
l had come up in the best heart,
thinking indeed nothing about the
danger we incurred, but as we drew
nearer and nearer to the top and
had nothing, as it seemed, belong
ing to this world near to US but this
straining rope began to see the
peril of the undertaking. What
ColEy thought of it | don't know.
He sat at the bottom of the cradle,
never looking out, though | told
him he would do better to keep his
eyes about him, so that he might
grow used to the height.
Good heavens! What was this ?
Here we were within a yard of the
top projecting coping, and still they
were winding away without slack
ing speed in the least. ! guessed in
a moment that they mistook our
height and that with the great pur-
chase of that windlass the rope
would be broken when the cradle
came to the block. I sprang up
and, catching the rope, climbed |
hand over hand to the coping. Col
ly, too, sprang up and followed me.
He, too, got up safe. And still they
went on winding up till the rope
sung again with the strain.
Then it snapped, and cradle, haul
ing line and the main rope, with its
block, fell down. Thus we were
two poor men left in a most desper-
ate situation.
Poor Colly was completely dazed
with alright, and the moment he
got on the coping, which was only
foot and half broad, he called out:
",Where can / pray? Where can I
kneel and pray?" And so I said
very solemnly: est down, Jem.
God will hear us if we pray to him
sitting down"
The color Of his face was trans
parent blue, and it was distorted
and twitching as if he was in a fit.
His eyes were very wild and drawn
into a squint, and he couldn't sit
steady, but swayed his body back
ward and forward, so that felt GER
tain that he must topple over.
"Come, Jem, lad," I said, think
ing to take the fright off him. '1t's
bad enough, but it can't be mended.
Hitch up a bit and put your arm
around the rod, Maybe it will
steady you"
"Where are you, and where is this
rod?" he asked in a very hollow
voice, though he was looking
straight at me, and the rod was only
4 foot or two to his left. By this l
knew that he was gone blind with
he fright, and self preservation
said, Don't 60 near him" But
hen l remembered his new welded
wife and that, taking him all
II,