The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-13
Men Engaged IN Task that Be-
gins Tomorrow Morning
viii Work on Scafolding
Nearly 800 Feet Above
Ground.
by RALPH w. BENTON.


Perched on a frail framework OF scan-
folding nearly 800 feet above the erouha.
three tiny human figures may De ho'ieeu
tomorrow morning at the UP Top vi
the Capitol Building engaged IN aoiiiih-
istering a triennial bath to the PROUD
Goddess Of Freedom who surmounts the
mighty dome.
They will be so high above the city
streets that the curious spectator VINO
cranes his neck upward will be able 10
see nothing more than three moving
specks of black. passing among tne
timbers of the scanoid tnat surrounos
the lofty goddess
and riesers has been busy preparing for
the securing ceremony, and now that all
is in readiness, the sacred tormahties
vii, commence bright and early tomor-
row morning 1t is a gigantic task-the
washing this bronge goddess.
1t is not like giving a bath to an ordi-
nary human being. This is goddess,
and one of Herculean proportions. She
stands nineteen feet six inches 1t was
a considerable job erecting the frame
work upon which the scourers will rest
while presiding over the having process.
There is no elevator running up into
the dome and all Of the timber en-
Moved in the construction of the scaffold-
ing had to be hauled up from the out
side of the building. Joseph w. Austin,
foreman of the carpenter shop al the
Capitol Building, undertook the task OF
erecting the framework around the god
dess. assisted by Tom CIatterbuck and
Charles Atkinson. 1t was the first time
Austin had worked so high in the air.
but he seemed not the least disturbed by
the elevation.
Stand. Upright on bonnet.
The framework was completed Friday
afternoon, and Austin celebrated the
event by standing upright on the bonnet
of the goddess and calmly smoking big,
black, scent cigar.
They thought because / had never
worked that high in the air that would
have trouble in putting up the Frame
work" said Austin. Just to show them
that / had nerve and plenty of it. / de-
cided to stand on the top of the statue
/ guess that proved to the rest OF the
workers that 1 was full-fedged steepie-
jack
Austin discovered that the lightning had
pierced hole in the bronze bonnet of the
goddess and that the hornets had made
a nest therein. The foreman did not give
further consideration to the cavity, Tor
it is not an especially joyous sport play
ing tag with hornets 81 feet and SIX
inches up in the air.
The goddess is adorned with jewels |
more costly than many that are seen at
the most brilliant balls of Washington's !
society circles. But these jewels are there
not for an aesthetic, but utilitarian. /
purpose. They serve as lightning rods
There are seven of them-seven alumni !
mum prongs about six inches long, each |
pointed with an inch-and-a-half tip of
platinum. one of the most expensive met
ais. costing far more than gold. Austin
found several of these platinum tips
fused by the lightning.
4 peculiar thing is that the goddess is
tagged. But few persons know that.
When Austin made an inspection of her
Friday he discovered that there was at
tached to her right hand by two wire
tags. one bearing the name of Al Ports.
who formerly rugged up the scaffolding.
and the other containing the name of
Representative William J. Browning of
New Jersey. who for sixteen years was
chief clerk of the Capitol Building. !
In the past Al Ports played a part in
the triennial baths of the goddess but
a little more than a year ago he died
and Austin has taken his place.
Elliott Woods. superintendent of the
Capitol. who has general charge of the
l'ath'ng Of the goddess. wants it dis
tinctly understood that she is not to be