DARING FEATS OF WOMEN STEEPLEJACKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3345, 11 October 1911, Page 7

DARING FEATS OF WOMEN STEEPLEJACKS.

SENSATIONS IN MID-AIR, Lady Constance Foljambe, whose failure to put in an appearance at St, Peter’s, Eaton Square, where she was due to be married to the vicar of Whit-well-on-the-Hill, Yorkshire, _ created such a sensation, is an Intrepid steepleclimber. In September, 1909, she, accompanied by two lady friends, climbed the spire of Whit well Church, which was then undergoing repair. In order to take some unique photographs, the sale of which was for the benefit of the church funds, the daughter of a well-known Leicester steeplejack accomplished the hazardous feat of climbing the steeple at St. Mark s Church, which is 200 feet high. When at the top she daringly walked round the narrow unprotected staging whence she took some fine views. The steeple of All Saints’, Hereford, which rises to the height of 260 feet, was two years back the scene of a daring exploit on the part of the daughter of one of the church wardens. Accompanied by th© professional steeplejack, who was engaged upon some repairs, she ascended to the summit, the feat being watched by an immense crowd of townsfolk and farmers from the neighboring villages and farms, who had come to the town to attend the Wednesday market. . Equally daring was a Stoke Newington ladv, who, in February, IS7O, scaled the spire of St, Mary’s Church, the summit of which is 245 feet above the pavement- The last part of the Journey was especially dangerous, as it had to be accomplished bv means of a couple of unprotected ladders, leading directly to the weatlier-cock, which the ladv, to signalise the achievement of her task, sent spinning round. FREQUENTLY ACCOMPANIED HER HUSBAND. In 1781, shortly before it was re-, built, the spire of St. Mary s Church, Leicester, was ascended by a steeplejack named Wright, accompanied by his wife, as expert a climber as himself. The woman, dressed for the occasion in male attire, rendered hei husband efficient assistance in the repairs that lie had in hand, and so greatly wits her pluck admired tliat a liumbei of townsmen entertained her to supper at the principal inn, where she was presented with a purse containing five guineas. Two years later this same woman undertook, in the absence of her husband through illness, to ascend tile spire of Trinity Church, Coventry, which stood in need of slight repair. She accomplished her task to the entire satisfaction of her employers. In more recent years the wife of a Bradford steeplejack has not only frequently

accompanied her husband on his ascents, but at times has, unaided, completed work which he had in hand. She owed her ability to her father, who, himself a steeplejack, bad taught her to climb from early girlhood. GLIDING DOWN A ROPE. During the rebuilding of the spire of Wakefield Cathedral, in the early years of the eighteenth century, a woman disfigured in male attire ,vas among the most zealous of the workers, ascending to perilous heights and positions with the utmost intrepidity. Having met with an accident, her sex, until then unsuspected, was disclosed, and she was claimed by her relations, well-to-do people, whom, in the pure spriit of adventure, she had left in utter ignorance of.her whereabouts. Mine Saqui. the funambulist, whose performance at Yauxhall drew all the town, made, in 1812, an ascent of the church spire at Harfleur Her feat would seem to have partaken of the nature of “steeple-liy.net,' * for having successfully made her way to the summit, where she beat a >'rum and bn w a trumpet, which soe had taken ip until her, she descended by gliding down a rope to the street below. Previous to Mine. Saqui’s appearance, another woman athlete, named Rayner, had toured through England, alternating her performances on the tight-rope, with acrobatic displays on church steeples. Among other spires which she climbed was that of Lichfield Cathedral, in the ascent of which she was accompanied by a younger sister. On arriving at the summit the couple played on various instruments, drank a glass of wine to the health of the spectators below, and fired off a gun. They then made a safe descent amid considerable applause.