THE BELLRINGERS OF THE GIRALDA

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 299, 16 December 1911, Page 16

THE BELLRINGERS OF THE GIRALDA

The ringing of a .bell is not, as a r«k a performance particularly trying to w» nerves, but there is one set ot *** ringers the members of which must Ja»» no fear, for the moment of tremor *** in all probability be for bhem thejM' meat of death. They are the bellniig«» of the Giralda, in Seville. When the ««J is to make merry on feast-days, the nnp ers climb to the belfry, and Uw|j» the aid of a rope and steps cut Ui «• wall of the tower, each mounts to «• bell he 13 to ring, and stands astride*" shoulders of the brazen monster. JW he presses the bell with his feet, h* ing on to the cross-piece on which **» mass of meUl is swung. Gradually -the great ibell sways to tM movement of the man astride it, UJW it acquires a momentum that swings W hammer, first gently, and then wiUi * creasing force, as the sweep of the b* widens, until the air is trembling IW" the giant blows that strike the m *?v sides of the monster. The mere t** tion of the atmosphere, as the huge WJJ ring out, would be enough to unpractised ringer turn dizzy and *M from his perch. But this is JW *j2} for many bells are ringing in tie beWf at the same time in obedience to W movements of their riders, and the do ■ deafening. , . Notwithstanding all this, the rWeit bend and rise and fall with the acM» of the bella, now appearing to the oW£ ver from below to be in a noritool* position as the bell reaches the limit « its srwing, and again riding grtcefai? to an upright position as the moMW swavs backward with ano&er thaw*"* ing "note. The most extraordinary m of the daring performance is the «>fw of a beHrijiger calmly swaying ***.■*• while it hangs far out of the belfrf™ ttie city; for the outward swin? »«■" the counterpoise with the rin|W'' a , space beyond the oreh.