Clarence James Murray

“ He has work that must be done, and has an admiration for the man with nerve enough to accomplish what he would not undertake himself.
Steeple-Jacks are always in demand. When I speak of Steeple-Jacks, I refer to men who comprehend that a certain thing up in the air needs attention, whether it is the reaving of halyards on a flagpole, the adjustment of a cross on a steeple, the replacing of a guy wire on a stack, the repairing of the hands of a clock on a tower, or the mere painting of any of [10] these lofty objects which ordinary workmen are not courageous enough to attempt. ”

“ Showing Falls Caught in Guy Wire
[29]
High wind is the Steeple-Jack’s greatest enemy. It is only a fool who would attempt to rig a smokestack when the wind is blowing a gale; in fact, it is almost impossible to work in a high wind. More work can be accomplished in one-fifth of the time on a calm day. “Time is money,” but always take time when your life is at stake. ”

“ From my past experiences I have come to the conclusion that “time is money,” and therefore my advice to any man who entertains the idea of going into the great game of a Steeple-Jack is to always bear that slogan in mind and never perform for the audience which you will undoubtedly have watching you from the street. ”

“ When tying up your riggings for the night, and it might be calm at the close of the day. Weather changes in a very few minutes at times. To safeguard against the rope from wearing against the stack and guy wires, walk out about fifteen feet from the stack, taking a piece of extra sling. Tie the sling to some object that is solid, throw two half-hitches with your fall line around the riggings just above the single block. When this is done, pass the sling which you have tied to some object through the hook of the block, making it fastened to the block. ”

“ At any time you are working on a flagpole and the work consists of replacing a truck, ball or spindle, the only thing to do is to make sure of the pole being solid enough for a little swaying. If so, take a sling, lash yourself to the pole under the arms as a back brace, then reach up and pull yourself up and stand in the chair. Avoid shaking the pole as much as you possibly can. ”

“ HOW TO CHANGE THE RIGGINGS
When completing one side of a stack and in order to get the tackle to another position on the stack, twist the rope, making it all in one; then leave a little slack to make a snake whip movement towards the top, and you will have the satisfaction of seeing your rigging move around on the top. If the wind is blowing hard, perhaps you will have to do several of the switching movements before getting the hook to start to move. Then take the line around the guy wire and you are ready for the next set. ”

“ You are your own boss and may come and go when you please. However, I would not advise any man who is following this work to assume too great an air of independence. We all concede that it helps to be a little independent at times, but always bear in mind that it is the privilege of the “other fellow” to assume an air of independence also, and, after all, YOU are dependent upon his work. ”

“ People will gather in crowds on the street to watch a Steeple-Jack at his perilous duty. I use the word “perilous” because that is what it would look like to the man on the sidewalk, but to one in the air it is just a trick to the trade, and he would not exchange places with the man who is so eagerly watching every move he makes for fear that he may make a wrong move. ”

“ Once up, the job is half done.
After you reach the top of the stack, the first thing to be done is to cut away the string that holds the stack hook to the board. You then lower the board to the ground. Still tied by the wire to the board for further use in case you want [23] to trip off with it when the job is finished.
There is still an easier way, which I will explain later. Now we will say the work you are to do is paint. For your information I will say that oil paint is preferred by Steeple-Jacks for several reasons, some of which are: It is easy to apply in all kinds of weather ”

“ Make sure when lifting the riggings away from the wire that they don’t fall, leaving you up there in a great predicament. If this should happen, you will agree with me on that point.
Experience is a great teacher. I have had this experience: On lifting the block away from the wire, place it in the eye of the band; also draw yourself up close to the band. Untie the sling, tying it closer to the hook, then draw up a long pole—the size you figure you will need to reach the top with. Tie the stack hook to the pole; put the block and falls in the hook; push it to the top. ”

“ The cleat is for the purpose of tying the halyard to a few feet from the base of the pole. The majority of poles have iron braces for support connected about six (6) feet up from the base of the pole.
From experience I find the steel pole the most dangerous. In my opinion it is [81] more dangerous than the wooden pole for the reason that rust forms inside of the steel pole and around the bands where it is connected, and in the winter time it is easily broken by the cold weather if any weight is put on it, whereas the wooden pole can be tested by sounding it as to its condition. ”

“ Another important factor of this work is always to endeavor to please the man whose work you are doing and never to do cheap or skimpy work, for I have been convinced that cheap and skimpy workmanship gains nothing for you. ”

“ If the wooden pole has the dead sound it is in all probability dry rot, and with a pole of this kind I would advise you to be extremely careful. Never sway such a pole any more than you absolutely must, and take plenty of time in climbing it. A pole in this condition gives no warning before it breaks, but a pole with plenty of sap gives a cracking sound before it gives way, which gives the man working on it a chance to slide to a more secure position.
[82]
Climbing Flagstaff With Slings
A boatswain chair and two slings are the only tools necessary to work on a flagpole. ”

“ As stated before, stacks that are supported by guy wires have from one to three sets, and generally four wires to a set. A 1⁄2-inch galvanized wire is sufficient for any stack, although some people prefer a larger size wire for double safety.
[58]
KNOTS
Knots are a very important factor in the Steeple-Jack’s life. Only knots that have been properly tested should be used. Many a terrible disaster has been caused by the use of a knot which was quickly invented by a man and never tested. Avoid such accidents by learning to tie knots in the proper fashion. ”

“ After getting into the boatswain chair, you place the fall line of your riggings—that is, the line with which you draw yourself up—between your legs. This enables you and your helper to pull more steadily together, and you get to the top much quicker.
I have noticed that the majority of stack men regard this as the most difficult part of the job—drawing to the top. ”

“ For the majority of church jobs an extension ladder is the handiest article. After drawing the extension ladder up to what is known to the Jack as the pigeon hole window in the church spire, build your platform from the window with 3×4 lumber, extending it out some six feet; lower a line down on both sides of the window, having your helper tie the two ends together around the lower section of the spire. Then by drawing it to the window you will have your first loop around the steeple. Place the extension ladder on the platform ”

“ I have learned from my own personal experience that the answer which will in [24] nine cases out of ten take with the man with whom you are dealing is something on this order: “If you want tar, all right, but it will cost you more money.” ”

“ The work of a Steeple-Jack has a great many assets besides that of being able to earn a great amount of money. With the exception of the money question, here are two that will appeal to every man: First, it is healthful work, because you are always in the open air. ”

“ You will notice that as a general rule steel stacks commence to weaken at the first half-dozen sections from the top downward, or at the band. The rain hitting the in- and outside from the top, and lying around the band, is causing the rust to form more quickly than on any other part of the stack. ”

“ It is a poor Steeple-Jack who cannot make at least $25 a day. If you have the ability, the appearance, and can approach a business man, you need not worry about getting his work.
He is aware of the chances you are taking. ”

“ Attach the riggings at the top of each stiff leg to the platform while working down the leg supports.
It takes considerable time and plenty of patience when working on a water tower.
A water tower one hundred and fifty (150) feet high with four stiff legs and the tank proper about twelve (12) feet in diameter by twenty (20) feet in height will require in the neighborhood of twenty-five (25) gallons of oil paint. It will take one man approximately four days and a half (41⁄2) . It should not be difficult for you to secure about Three Hundred and Fifty ($350.00) Dollars for a job of this kind. ”

“ These ladders after a few years become very rusty and the bolts where connected from the inside are sometimes eaten away by the gas from the coal, and just a little weight on them might cause the handles to give way. So always remember to be very careful when climbing a smokestack that has a ladder connected to it. ”

“ As before stated, I have had considerable experience in the line about which I write, and I therefore feel safe in saying that no man is worthy of the title of Steeple-Jack unless he can make at least $20 a day in days when he chooses to work less than the customary two to four hours. ”

“ A more efficient knot than the bow-line knot was never known. This knot is used more than any five knots put together in the Steeple Jack’s work.
The bow-line knot is mostly favored in climbing a flagstaff, when making the stirrup to climb, and in many ways for the smokestack.
In making the bow-line knot follow the illustrations according to numbers. In No. 1 the rope is formed in a bight; pass No. ”