The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-01-17
SHIPRIGGERS'PERII.S
A BUSINESS THAT DEMANDS GREAT
SKILL AND COURAGE.

- 8QSiNEoo tFNt t~WN<sS
SKILL AND COURAGE.
fw~.sy r~r Ceat of the Nes hegs-
laray reiiswt.g rAts Caiiiag Are
nat~ea Every Year - How They
a<srn the DaaEeress Trade.
A skillful ship rigger never strikes
Come good times or had. the supply OF
volunteers for this most desperate or
sccupstions never falls below the de
nznd. The ship riggers are to be seen
along the water fronts OF all great
ports perched high In air. like great
spiders busted with their strange archi.
lecture. They work In all sorts OF
weather, both by day and night. No
sther calling demands such combina'
fion Of skin and courage and the aoil-
fty to work quickly In the face often
sf appalling danger.
There Is no exarEeration In the state
ncnt that the rigging Of ships cspe-
eiaiiy those requiring repairs after
bag service. Is the most dangerous OF
occupations.
According to reliable statistics. fully
% per cent Of all regularly emplcyed
hip rigxers are MANNED. often Sers
ssrsously, every year. The proportion
Il risyeu serioqsly injured In ffe-
dine ID about 30 per cent. The greater
number Of accidents are caused BY
fsIls from alcft or By being struck By
faIiing objects. such ~ blocks or spars
q pieces Of heavy rigging. falling
nom great heishts. Serious knife
wounds come next In order. The rec
seds Of such accidents. as Evidenced
~ the books Of any hospital In a great
seaport, are long and Erewsome.
A rigser must be steeple climber.
q sailor. 4 tight rope walker, something
Il trapese artist and an experienced
shipbuilder rolled into one. He must
b literally a jack Of all trades and a
master at least Of several OF them.
The ironworker who balances himself
On steel girders on great bridge or
skyscrsper. the trapeze artist In the
circus or the 'tsteeplejack' actually
works In far less danger OF his life.
The danger to the latter class OF
workers is more familiar and has been
the more widely advertised. But ship
rigger must keep perfectly cool head
In the face of dangers which might
stagger a Nelson or a Dewey. Your
-steeplejack" may be perfectly self
possessed at high attitudes, but then
he works with the assurance that his
support at least Is stable. The struc-
tural iron worker feels that he can de-
pend upon the solldlty Of the steel
beams beneath him, while the most
daring trspeze performer never ven
twes on ropes which have not been
thoroughly tested and rarely without 4
net beneath him.
But the rigger knows no such safety
in his support. The fact that his serv-
Ices are required aloft means. OF course,
that the complicated rigging Is faulty.
The masts or spars may be rotten to
the breaking point. the ropes may part
1t any instant. II Is just this uncer-
sxinty which renders the rigger's life
extra hazardous. He must mount with
tIbe agility Of a cat and work quickly
IN q network OF rigging which may
part at any instant. II would be DIFF
fefent II he could even choose his own
time and weather. but the rush insep-
arabic from such work allows him no
choice. Rain or snow or Ice greatly
Increases the danger by rendering the
spars or ropes treacherous to the hand
and foot Then. again. when the work
goes forward by night the binding
rays Of the searchlight to a man dell.
eately balanced on ley ropes make II
extremely difficult TO judge distances
and positions.
The most experienced sailor. no mat.
ter how much at home he may feel In
the rigging in any weather, viii often
baIk at the work of the rigger. The
sailor is at least reasonably sure Of the
strength Of his rigging IL his ship be
seaworthy. Then. again. II a sailor
slips or falls the rolling Of his ship is
likely TO throw him overheard into the
water. where his fall is partly broken.
II Is different with the rigger. who II
be falls must come down on the bare
boards. The ship rlgger must, besides,
eften work with the masts and spars
practically deuuded Of their rigging
without the safety which a fun rugged
ship lends 10 an experienced sailor
The wages Of the skilled ship rlgger
may seem high In comparison with
those Of the ordinary sailor or even a
ships officer Considering the acci-
dents which every rigger meets In his
daily life. the work IL OF course one
for which no amount Of money can
really compensate. A first class rigger
commonly receives 81 for a days work.
For all extra time the rate Is double.
Much Of the work Is Of course done
znder the usual pressure Of time.
When an accident occurs to a mer-
chant ship. for example, which Is due
perhaps with a perlshable cargo at
some distant port, every hour econo-
mized in making repairs counts against
serious loss. A great part Of the work
Of rigging is therefore done at night.