MARRIED ON A CHIMNEY.

Lake County Press, Issue 2138, 4 October 1906, Page 7

MARRIED ON A CHIMNEY.

BRIDE DRAWN UP BY A ROPE. In sight of more than 10,000 people, with the streets and alleys jammed for five blocks in all directions, and with housetops and roofs dotled with men and women as far as the eye could distinguish. George P. Lenfcrs and Miss Ora D. Williams were married on fhe top of the gas company's new giant smokestack, 12212 ft. from the ground. The event brought out many more spectators than had been anticipated, and an hour before t lie time set for the ceremony a special squad of police was sent to clear the wa\ for traffic.

The I lev. ('. .1. Arme.'itraut, pastor of Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, was the first to enter I lie cramped entrance at, the base of the stack. Thomas Englehart, the builder of the huge pile of concrete and steel,

stood ready to put the belt about the girl's waist, when the bridegroom ask'CHl to have a look up through the stack. There was a moment's delay, when he reappeared from the interior of lire slack and looked at the gill as though he wauled to back out of the task of climbing the wooden ladders to the perilous height BRIBE SHOWS lIRII NERVE. Here the girl showed her nerve. Before he could open his lips to question her, she said ; "Never you fear for me. ] am not worth the risk ?" Engleharl then clasped the belt about, her waist and tied the rope into a ring in tin; bell. The other end of the rope he tied about his own waist and proceeded with the girl up the ladder. The groom followed. The girl tired of the laborious climb before the first 100 ft. was passed and had to rest. Fifteen minutes was consumed in the climb. When the girl appeared on top of the stack ami waved her handkerchief at the thousands below a tremendous shout went up. Tie' ceremony was hastily performed. No sooner had the minister pronounced them man and wife than th.' groom took the girl in his arms and with the remark, "Let's lake a high one," pressed a fervent, kiss on her lips. The great crowd below saw the incident and sent up another el r. Immediately ike flocked into a narrow alle.vwny at the base of the stack to greet the couple when they descended. The crush was so great that the assemblage became a. frantic mob. Men trampled on woman and all of them fought for good positions. The policemen used their clubs to keep the alleyway clear, but had to give up the attempt and were finally forced to gather in a group at. the stack entrance. The descent of the bridal party was slow and the jam increased every minute. To make matters worse hundreds of men and boys climbed upon the fragile'-'scaffolding over the heads of the crowds and their weight caused it to give way with a crash that created a small panic. Fully 50 of the climbers were precipitated on to the heads of the crowd below. The fall "as short or man) might have been injured, as ii was several women and children were badly, bruised. The crowd went wild when the bride and bridegroom, covered with cement dust, came out of the stack. Women broke through the police guard and threw their arms about the girl. She was. kissed 50 times in as many seconds, and had her jacket, torn from her shoulders. Her hair fell down, and her hat fell off. A policeman picked the girl up in his arms and carried her to the cab. Then the driver whipped up his horses and escaped through a side street. A bridal supper was given the couple at the Acme Hotel They will receive presents worth £UO from the gas company.