New Britain herald., 1929-11-30
S7EEPLE REPA|RERS
 GIVEN ID FATALISM
Expect Breaking Rope or Plank
 Will Bring Death

Outlined against the fast darken- Ing sky, swaying idly in a swing like rigging, yet clutching the sides of the steeple, John Hackett steeple lack and sumter surveyed the city, It's gleaming lights, and it's scurry- ,ng humanity. Groups had gathered to watch him ascend to the topmost point of the Center church tower spectators marveled at his nerve, then clutching their coats tighter about them, scurried to their homes. t was cold, bitterly cold. The fig nre outlined against tower me 'ed, . tracking his hands together. kick ,ng his feet-yet, he worked, and at lines stopped long enough to peer sbout him.
 T am always on the go,' he said later. "Why do travel? I must live. Jobs are scarce and l travel here and there in an attempt to obtain food and living. There is something tn the occupation that finally gets rou," he said. "The dizzy heights. the nerve wracking strain some iake to drink, others work on pure grit. But it is almost always an end less journey, for work in any one locality is scarce. Steeple jacks fol- lew the climate. Cold is a great in convenience. Cramped hands are dangerous and falls often occur in told weather. The jack is usually gone with the summer months and takes up his wandering role.
 How does one get to be a steeple Jack? Of all the trades why pick 5n that one? "Oh," with a shrug, just happened to fall in it. There IS some excitement in it. The dan ger elements appeal. It isn't long be- fore the would be jacks find them- selves unfit tor the job, and are Needed out"
 A steeple jack is a jack of all | trades. He must be able to paint, wash windows, and juggle bricks. He must be familiar with carpen- ters' tools. and have some knowledge of a linesman's job. At times he is called on 10 emulate the fly and must crawl up steep walls, or pos sIbly look into the heart of a fur- hace from the top of a tall chm- hey. When, and only when he is fla miliar with all of these, then per- hanps he can get a job dangling rom city's tallest steeples, or planting ribbons on 800 foot chm- leys.
 There are no rigorous eXamina- lions before one is hired for jop. man applies for work. He claims ne has had experience, 20 or 8 !, ars, he modestly admits. He can
 anything from standing on his lead on the cornice of a siyscrapor 0 taking the place of a weather zane while the original is being painted. Yes, sounds all right-bul. 1as he a broken arm, a leg. even a . flb will do. What has that to do with being a good jack? Merely some assurance that the man has aad experience. for a good jack is recognized by the number of close eScapes he has had, and if he claims ne has worked 30 years there should at least be a mark on ms body, a broken rib or something ike that"
 Steeple jacks and Gtuntors are q 'ataiistic group. It is d matter of slmc with them. All that scparat ss hem and the earth is plank and rope.
 If l slip I will get killed" he ;easons. A shrug of the shoulders. dackett has been in the profession t. incc he was , years old. He has 'een bricklayer. painter and car center He too has the fatalism of - :he group.
 Il am putting it off as long as 3ossible,' he said, but I feel that iomehow, sometime, I may overlook something. Then, who knows-but Intil then, do not slip"