The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-02-23
DARING Or Some WORKERS.
Housssmiths Brave Death Daily ami
Think Nothing Of IL


H~ousssmiths Brave Death Daily and
Think Nothing of IL.
They had been watching a maj
ascend 10 the tenth story Of the
framework OF a new bank building by
the simple expedient OF standing on q
large beam and holding on 10 the hoist
ing rope.
the contractor, but they will do H.
You can't stop 'em. II is just as quick
for a fellow 10 go up by the ladders
as 10 risk his life In that way. and
mighty little more trouble, but famil-
iarity with danger breeds contempt OF
IL. That's why there are very few big
buildings put up In this town with
out az least one man being killed In
each.
only the special providence which
watches over the reckless as well as
over babies and drunkands prevents a
whole lot more deaths among these
hOusesmiths. The Insurance companies
hate 10 Jake them as risks at any
price. and l don't blame them. There's
a hairbreadth escape a day. al least.
on n OF these tall buildings.
Some OF tile things I've seen myself
I'd hardly have believed II anyone had
told me about them. IN tell you just
one, and though don't expect you 20
credit IL. my reputation az a truth
full and sober man may be good
enough 10 carry H. | was an eye
witness.
I'VE were putting up a big hotel.
The Framework had just reached the
eighth story and the masonry and the
flooring OF "a or two Of the interren-
ing stories were already IN. / was
up on the top with a gang OF house
smiths. and they were boisfing up 4
big girder. The foreman was kneeling
on the edge OF the frame. shouting
directions down 10 the street. and the
glnder had just reached the top.
-As they We're swinging IL into
place the men let 20 Of IL for = mo
ment and the end swung around upon
the foreman. hitting him behind as he
and sweeping him yer the edge
into the street, 10 feet or 80 below.
There seemed 10 be no possible
chance for his life. Somehow. though
be fell against the slack guy rope
WAS dangling from the beam.
His leg and arm got ungied IN Il
stories below. and be stuck 90
he rope. More than that. the slack
'ope actually swung him into a win. ,
Ia the NTH story. That happened
be one Of the few IN which The ,
hsd been pat IN. and the rope ,
him on the floor. unhurt !,
"He had been working for our drm ,
or years. and I knew him and liked /
lin as 4 good foncmsn. when be !
vent over the edge OF the framework 4,
was borrOr=struck. /,
III was q minute or two before I re 4
my self possession. Then ! 1,
down. expecting 90 nnd his /,
tangled body IN the street 4
AS ] went down the ladder ! met a
I'm coming an. bruised. but unhurt. +,
all be was thinking OF was how s
G could best tell the men who lc, 4
be beam alp what sort OF = bianked ,
e Of biansev blank shifsiess good =
pr nothings they were. |
-He did. Though be has as mar
ow an escape from death - ! can |
OF a mans undergoing. he
en-; right back 10 work and bosscd
10 gang for the afternoon. after nring
le mar who he believed was rcspon-
bic for the accident
Some folks were surprised 20 read
the bridgcmen and housesmifhs who
iiy thought OF being paid for their
when they went back with
hremen up the tower OF the East
yer bridge and fought the IRE.
on the burning bridge while
cy hacked away the timbers. I
asn't know the kind they arc. and
r sheer reckless daring they're hard
beat"-Ncw York Sun.