The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-10-09
PLAYS WITH DEATH
FEARFUL RISKS TAKEN BY
"STEEPLE JACK"
10 Height from the Ground Too
Great for Him to Attain in the
Pursuit of His Hazardous
Occupation.

If, in the pursuit of your life's vo-
alton. you had seen five men drop
ON your side at dizzy height to a
,rrible death below, would you con-
nue. in thai vocation? If YOU did
'ersist in it. would you have sufficient
onfidence in yourself to retain your
nerve" under all circumstances for
lirty-five years?
That has been brief part of the
any exciting experiences in the life
H. F. C'Risky') Evans, "Steeple
ack"
Risky" Evans is type of the dare
evils that are growing scarcer each
ear. The inventions of modern
mes have eliminated much of the
ecessity for risk which was run in
ecessary climbing of steeples and
gh buildings in the earlier days. He
imself has been one of the foremost
l making the business of those who
lust work at high attitudes as safe
Id easy as if they had solid ground
eneath their feet. But still, every
nee in a while Risky" finds it nee
;sary to go TO great height to car
up rope on which to swing a
caffold. or TO attach block and pull
" that his men, less versed in the
# of climbing, may perform their du
es with safety
There are plenty of men who work
t great heights as nonchalantly as
oes the average person on the
round. Carpenters, masons and 9TH
builders must have The same con-
ampt for the dizziness that affects
he average person who looks down
ON great height. But even the
'ork OF such men as these pales be-
)re the accomplishments of the few
Eft in the country of the caliber of
Risky Evans.
On a wager he once climbed at
light, without ropes, ladders, or any
Their paraphernala, the steeple of
It. Joseph's church. in Cincinnati,
TODD erect on the tOpmost part of the
ross surmounting the steepe, set
re 10 two newspapers he had carried
With him in his pocket, and dropped
hem blazing on either side of the
iteeple. 10 prove To the man with
Yhom he had made the wager that
re was al the top OF the steeple. The
fager was for $50, and the time alot-
ed him TO accomplish the feat was
salt an hour.
He is the same man who. a few
ears ago, slid twice daily from the
'oof garden of the Masonic Temple
1t Chicago down a rope the entire
wenty stories TO the ground, attract
ng at each performance crowds that
'ongested the streets, making them
mpassa pie
He Is one of the men who are often
cen painting flagpoles many feet
'bove the tops of the highest of down
own skyscrapers. He has climbed
practically every steeple of any prom
hence in Chicago, but he considers
'hicago steeples nothing, for in New
York he has gone with only the aid
II his hands, shoulders and toes, to
he top of old Trinity, a height of
.25 feet
Risky Evans first real expert
nee al any great height from the
'arth. was in the early '70s. He was
boy who loved all sorts of adven-
ures. A balloonist of then national
equation came TO the city which was
Risky's' home. He needed someone
o go with the balloon. in which he
vas taking up several passengers, to
70 down The rope on which was fast.
ned the anchor 10 make il fast when
landing swas made. This was TO
Risky's' liking He took the lob.
Nhen the professor wanted to land
Risky was hoisted over the side of
he car. Down the swinging rope he
I'D, legs gripped tight around it. hand
ver hand.
Nhen ! got to the end of the rome
nd sat down a-straddle of the anchor
felt pretty good" Evans said in tell.
hg the story. Then began TO
yatch Tor a tree top to grab the an
nor in. We went through one or
Wo' and had my clothes torn into
hreds and got all scratched up. But
hung on, and finally got the ancho,
round a limb, signaled to the pro
essor, and the landing was made