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Famous Steeplejack.
Cleverness or skill in doing some particular
thing has been noticed to recur in
families, and steeple climbing Is one example.
At Nottingham there was a family
named W'ootton, members of which had
for centuries the reputation of being daring
steeple-climbers, not for adventure, but in the
way of business.
One of these Wootton-, in the time of'
("George III., was famous for, repairing a
steeples and spires- without using scaffold
and; he did his work. by the -help of ladders,
hooks', and ropes When 'he repaired
St. Peter's. Opie, Nottingham, in ITfiD, having
finished his work, he beat a team at its
top, thousands of people looking on.
Another of the Wootton undertook the
perilous task of ascending the spire of St.
Mary's, Manchester, which was very lofty.
By a tremendous wind the ball and cross
had been bent down, and looked dangerous..
This steeple climber raised ladders one
after, the other, assisted by blocks and
ropes, and secured each in succession to
the stonework with crimes. . When he got
near the top of the spire the work became
more difficult, and the spectators anxiously
watched him as he fixed the last ladder.
Udvinjr accomplished this feat, Wootton
stepped from the ladder on to the crown
or pinnacle of the steeple, and stood quite
upright, with his InmcU free. Then he
raised a cheer, which -was responded to by
the ' crowds below. More _ extraordinary
still, one of these steeple-climbers is said
to have performed the feat of' standing
upon his head on a steeple top, but there
is some doubt about the story.
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