The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-01-08
A PERILOUs JOB.
Steeple Jacks at Work at the Presby-
terian Church Spire-A Novel and
Dangerous Climb.

For lo1g time past noticeable
disagreement has existed between the
weather vanes of the Methodist and Pres
byterian churches, located respectively
on corners of Church and 10th and
Church and 11th streets. Sometimes their
differences have reached most bewil-
dering point, one insisting that the
course OF the wind was due south, while
the other would be equally positive that
it was in the west or some other point
of the compass. The Presbyterian
weathercock finally becoming recognized
as the most obstinate in these conten-
tions the trustees of the church have
taken q hand in the matter, and on
Monday last sent Steeple Jack up the
tall spire to investigate, and If possible
bring the neighboring wind indicators
into harmonious relations.
Al. Huyck and Son, daring steeple-
climbers, from Deposit, N. Y, have
been entrusted with the perilous under
taking, and they appear to be making
satisfactory progress. The tip-top of the
spire was reached by an ingenious plan.
Climbing the inside of the tall structure
to the uppermost window, about thirty
feet from the top, long light pole to the
tip of which hook and slender cord
were attached, was 30 skillfully manipu-
lated through the opening by the experts
that loop of the twine was passed
around the pedestal supporting the vane,
and the free end drawn back again to
the window. By means of this slender
string larger cord was drawn up, and
by this, a five-eighth inch rope, rove
through pulley blocks, all eventually be-
ing so securely fastened and arranged,
that the father, standing inside the win
dow, was enabled to hoist the son, seat
ed in sling, to the top of the spire.
The younger Mr.. Huyck, is anything but
a slender man, as he tips the scales be-
yond the 200 pound notch, but his pro-
portions dwindle greatly whenhe reaches
his lofty perch. Besides repairing the
weather-vane, which was found to have
suffered much from rust and buffeting
by the elements generally, Messrs. Huyck
and son, will put ice and snow guards
on the church and chapel roofs, and do
such gliding, painting and metaling as
may be found necessary. The contract
price for the steeple job is said to be in
the neighborhood of $3.50, which must
be regarded as very reasonable when the
risks involved are taken into considera-
ton.
Some years ago the Methodist church
gave a similar job to local employing
painter. He made bargain with Johr
Reside, one of his men, to do the work,
the compensation to be 500. Reside,
who is still living, tackled the contract
in his own way. He went from the
roof of the main building to the top Of
the spire by means flight ladders which
he himself lashed with ropes to the out.
side of the steeple, tapping them one af
ter another, and securing them in place
while standing on the slender rungs
until he was thus enabled to climb tc
the topmost point of the pinnacle
When his work at the vane was finished
he painted the corners of the spire as he
descended, taking down the ladders one
after the other, after they had served
their purpose. The whole operation
seemed good deal like lifting ones
self over fence by his boot straps, but
it was most satisfactorily accomplished
and added much to Resides reputation
for cool-headed courage. The wors
feature of the transaction was the fac
that while the boss collected the pay fol
the perilous work, the man who actual
ly did it never received dollar.
The Methodist church spire is said tC
be 1876 feet in height, and the Presby
terian steeple few feet less.