Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-05


yearn to repeat the experiment. Would
you like to hear about it?
Well, it came about in this way, Some years
ago. when I had more nerve that have now |
was in New York and struck up acquaintance
with steeplejack who, at the time, en-
gagged with couple of his assistants in gliding
the ball at the top of neghboring church steeple
nearly 800 feet high. I was much interested in
the yarn he told me about his risky calling, and
in foolish moment | said | should like to climb
a steeple, never dreaming that he would take
me at my word.
right you are" said he; "you come round to-
morrow morning, and Ill guarante you'll have an
experience you'll remember and boast about as
long as you live" What could l do? ] simply
hadn't the courage to back out of it; so with my
heart in my boots l answered: "All right I'll
be there never fear" though | would gladly have
given fve-dolar note to be let off.
Well, the next morning made my way to the
church, feeling a strong inclination to bolt at
every step; and looking up I saw, hundred
yards above me- two tiny white figures, one
swinging a few feet beneath the ball, and the
other standing against the side without any
apparent support. | made my way up the inside
of the tower to the bell-deck, and there en-
countered my friend, busily spreading out the
packets of gliding. Morning said he with a
grin. Didn't expect you; but glad you've come,
which was more than | could say for myself.
However, I was in for it, and determined at
any cost to go through One of the assistants
was called down from aloft; ! removed my coat
and hat; climbed through opening on to the
dizzy ledge outside, and was ready for the ven
ture. Ny friend dropped the swingnoose over
my head and then lashed me securely to the
seat and ropes.
"Now," he said, cheerfuly, eff you want to
throw yourself down You can't do it. just keep
this rope between your legs and work your hands
up along it as we lift you; and be careful TO
press your toes against the speeple-sde, or else
you'll bark your knees badly. Above ALL don't
look down; Just watch your ropes and you'll feel
as comfortable if you were sitting in your ar L
chair at home" Should l, though? | would
have given anything at that moment to be on
terra irma even without the armchair, and felt
pretty much if / were about to make a trip to
the gallows.
A moment later the ropes frightened, I was
raised off my feet, and all at once found myself
swinging in the air with good 100 feet or more
of space below me- "Shove off there with youI
toes" cried Jack "Take short steps. Put youl
legs wider apart-that's better. Don't pull al
the rope, just slide your hands along IT, NOW
you're Off And so I was; the steepleside wa,
slipping down in front Of me, the pulley blocks
were creaking above my head, and, with my fee
alternately pressed against the shingles, I wa
climbing heavenwards in what seemed to me
ridiculous method Of progression. How funn,
] must look from down below, / thought; and
involuntarily glancing down, l saw far, far be
meath me absurd little figures of men and We
hicles crawling along the street.
Thus / went up and up, the steepe-side mar
rowing / rose higher, until l heard voic
above my head, Come along; you're doing fine
and before ] realized it | had come to stop
and was dangling within a few feet of the ball
which swelled large above my head The re
naming Is feet so must be made with stir
rups and there was jackson, the assistant stand
ing in them up by the ball with his legs in
couple of nooses and not stick of staging to sur
port him.
Curiously enough, felt far more nervous no,
that had come to full stop than when wa
climbing l felt that at any moment the rop
would break under my weight and should dro
like stone TO the street far below; and / foun
myself unconseously holding my legs drawn uI
with muscles tense in the hope of making myse
lighter. To add to my alarm the steepe wa
visibly swaying in front Of me, as if it woul
break off at the top II was an unpleasant ser
sation, | can tell you, and one don't want {
repeat
However, ] managed to pull myself together
bit and, with fumbling fingers, tried to take
couple of photographs with my hand.camera
needless TO say, both were absolute failures, {
badly had l bungled in my fright At last, afte
what seemed an eternity, l heard the weeom
shout Lower away hang now" and fe
myself going down, down again into safet,
"We" said Jack when came TO an anchoraa
again on the belldeck "how did you like il
You look pale about the gills." "Oh, splendid!
said; never had such an experience in my lifel
The latter part was true enough; and / hope
never shall have again.