The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-06-17
FALL OF 80 FEET
CURED DRINK HABIT
Steeplejack, Intoxicated at Time Of
Accident, Is Completely Cured
Saw Man Fall to Death.

TOPEKA, June 1.-THE fact that he
once fell 80 feet and that on another
occasion the man who was working by
his side fell 80 feet TO his death
does not deter Il. II. Bjokman from
continuing his occupation as a steeple-
climber and repairer. He Is busy Just
now fixing UP spires In Topeka.
Bjokman was a sailor once, and Is OF
| the opinion that there Is nothing better
I for the young man than term on the
water. His work in Kansas OF painting
and repairing steeples reminds him In
a way OF the ocean. Perched from $50
TO 200 feet above the earth, the great
green wheat fields that sway under
the winds remind him of the waves
and the sea. As he looks out over this
expanse OF waving green from the top
OF a tall church spire IL makes him
want to be back on the water.
Bjokman's home is at Canton, o. AT
the age oS nine he went to sea. His
training as a steeplejack has been
strenuous. Of and on hickman has
worked at the trade for years. In his
later ocean trips he was employed as
cook Two years ago he left the
sea. but expects some day TO return to
1t if he does not meet the fate OF his
predecessors In their antics on high.
The Work Pays Well.
BJokman is making good money In
his Kansas steeple climbing. He gets
big wages for the risky work. and or
ders are coming TO him from towns
that have tall church spires needing
paint and repairs which local work
men refuse to undertake.
II did not learn the trade by fol-
lowing the sea" Bjokman said. "for
man cannot learn to work on steeples
by climbing the masts OF the large
vessels. On board the ships and In
climbing the masts all that is taught
you Is the art OF tying knots. There
is much more than that TO the trade
which I am following. and all that Is
in it can only be learned by actual
experience"
with a noted steeple climber, Billy
Edwards, Bjokman began his career in
steeple work Its first job was in
Youngstown, o., where he worked
when in his teens. From the tower OF
Trinity church he saw the man who
taught him his trade fall 80 feet TO
UP Afelelss, with few unbroken bones
in his body. The fall came as the re-
suit OF sunstroke received while he
was working at midday in the sum
mer.
Hours Of Emp, yment.
81 have profted by that experience
said Bjokman, and have made 1t
rule never to work more than five
hours day, and that always in the
morning. If | should work too early
| would freeze up there and be unable
to handle the ropes, while II / work In
the heat OF the day there Is the pos
siblIity that I would suffer sunstroke.
One IS as DANCE rous as the other"
The nearest hickman ever came to
losing his life was while working on
high tower In Salem, Ore. He admits
that be was slightly intoxicated and
hts scaffUfdtug distance OF
so feet. 20 the fat roof surrounding
the tower. His hands were badly lac
Grated and he was injured internally.
but when he recovered he went to his
work again His half-intoxicated con-
dition, he thinks, saved his life but
the experience cured him OF the liquor
habit
While working on the steeple Of the
Baptist church OF his home town. Can
Ton. he ran into a nest OF hornets.
which proceeded to make things live
ly for him He was stung half a
dozen times before he was able TO
make a descent He smoked them our
and proceeded with his work.
The city OF ottawa is contemplating
an addition TO the water works stand
pipe. and hickman has been engaged
10 paint H. IL will reach a height
practically the same as the highest
steeple that he has ever worked on,
That was a church in Mansfield, O..
where from the groundrup the steeple
reached a height of 264 feet, while
the steeple Itself was 100 feet from
lcornice 10 peak.