The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-09-28

II, In the pursuit of your life's voca-
ton, you had seen five men drop from
your side at dizzy height to a terrible
death far below, would you continue in
that vocation? If you did persist In it,
would you have sufficient confidence In
yourself to retain your nerve" under
all circumstances for thirty-f1ve years
That has been brief part Of the
many exciting experiences in the life
Of H. r. ("Risky") Evans, one Of the
most daring Of the few famous "steeple-
Jacks" who risk death and like 1t.
Risky" Evans Is now 40 years old.
he has wife and a son and daughter
grown almost to manhood and woman
hood. He has profitable business
which he can pursue without the risks
to be run by steeple climbing. But
risks have been the essence of his life
since he was boy. He has climbed
steeples and buildings all over Ameri-
ca and has done some climbing in Eng
land as well. No better fun for
"Risky" than to be clinging. in a
boatswaln's chair, by sings or by his
bare hands and feet, high in the air,
with the blue sky reckoning to him,
with absolute confidence In himself and
his ability to hang on to the merest
projection.
Risky" Evans is type Of the dare
devils that are growing scarcer each
year. The inventions Of modern times
have eliminated much OF the necessity
for risk which was run In necessary
climbing of steeples and high buildings
In the earlier days He himself has
been one of the foremost In making the
business of those who must work at
high attitudes as safe and as easy as
II they had solid ground beneath their
feet But still, every once in a while,
"Risky" finds 1t necessary to 20 to
great height to carry up rope on
which to swing a scaffold or to attach
block and pulley, that his men. less
versed In the art of climbing, may per-
form their duties with safety. There
are plenty of men who work at great
heights as nonchalantly as does the av-
erage person on the ground. Practical
~ any painter must be cool-headed
enough to go hundreds of feet In the
air without tremor. Carpenters, ma
sons and other builders must have the
same contempt for the dizziness that
affects the average person who looks
down from great height. But even
the work Of such men as these pales
before the accomplishments of the few
left In the country of the caliber of
"Rlslky" Evans.
On wager he once climbed at night.
without ropes, ladders or any other
paraphernalia, the steeple of st. Jo-
seph's Church In Cincinnati, stood
erect on the topmost part Of the cross
surrounding the steeple. set fire to two
newspapers he had carried with him
In his pocket. and dropped them, blaz-
Ing. on either side of the steeple, to
prove to the man with whom he had
made the wager that he was at the
top of the steeple. The wager was for
$50 and the time allotted him to ac-
complish the feat was half an hour.
"Risky" Evans first real experience
at any great height from the earth was
In the early '70s He was boy who
loved all sorts of adventures A bal
loonist OF then national reputation
came to the city which was "Risky's"
home. He needed some one to go with
the balloon, In which he was taking up
several passengers, to go down the rope
on which was fastened the anchor to
make 1t fast when landing was made.
This was to "Risky's" liking. He took
the job. When the professor" wanted
to land risky" was hoisted over the
side of the car. Down the swinging