DARING FEATS OF WOMEN STEEPLEJACKS.

Northern Advocate, 19 October 1911, Page 3

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 Oue to be married tq 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 Whitwell 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 rcund 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 the professional steeplejack, she ascended to the summit, the feat being watched b: an immense crowd of townsfolk and farmers from the neighboring v-illages and farms, who had come to the town to attend the Wednesday market.

Equally daring was a Stoke New iiigton lady, Aftho, in February, 1870, 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 by means of a couple of unprotected ladders, leading directly 4to the weather-cock, which the lady to signalise the achievement of her task, sent spinning round. FREQUENTLY ACCOMPANIED HER HUSBAND. In 1871, shortly before it was rebuilt, 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 her husband efficient assistance in the re* pairs that he had in hand, and so greatly was her pluck admired that a number 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 the 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 < f a Bradford steeplejatcl;. lias '.not "V-'rily frequently accompanied her husband on his ascents, but at times has, unaided, completed wovk which he had in hand. ; She owed her ability to her father, who, himself a steeplejack, had taught her to climb ircm 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 was 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 spirit of adventure, she had left in utter ignorance of her whereabouts.

Mme. Saqui, the funambulist, whose performance at Vauxhall drew all the town, made, in 1812, an ascent of the nature of "steeple-flying ; " for having successfully made her way tc the summit, where she beat a drum and blew a trumpet, which she had taken up with her, she descended by gliding down a rope to the street below.

Previous to Mme. Saqui's appearance, another woman athlete, named Rayner, had trured through England, alternating her performances on the t<ght-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 or. 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.