MARRIED ON A CINMNEY.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 22, 8 January 1907, Page 2

MARRIED ON A CINMNEY.

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 dotted with men and women as far as the eye could distinguish, George P. Lenfers and Miss Ora D. Williams were married on the top of the gas company's new giant smokestack, 222 ft. from the ground. The event brought out many more spectators than had been anticipated, and an hour before the time set for the ceremony, a special squad of police was sent to clear the way for traffic. The Rev, 0. J. Armentraut, pastor of Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, was the first to enter the cramped entrance at the base of the stack. Thomas Englehart, theg builder of the huge pile of concrete and steel, stood ready to put the belt about the girl's waist, when the bridegroom asked to have a look up through the stack. There was a moment’s delay, when he reappeared from the interior of the stack and looked at the girl as though he wanted to back out of the task of climbing the wooden ladders to the perilous height BRIDE SHOWS HER NERVE.

Here the girl showed her nerve. Before he could open his lips to question her, she said : “Never you fear for me. I am not worth the risk?" Englehart then clasped the belt about her waist and tied the rope into a ring in the belt. 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 luujL. was passed' and* had to rest. Fifteen minutes was consumed in the climb. When the girl appeared oiujop of the stack and waved her chief at the thousands below a tremendous shout went up. The ceremony was hastily* performed. No sooner had the minister pronounced them man and- wife than the groom took the girl in his arms and with the remark, “Let's take a high one," pressed a fervent kiss on her lips. The great crowd below saw the incident and sent up another cheer.

Immediately»the people flocked into a narrow <®eyway 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 4ip 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 was short or many might have been injured, as it 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 tho 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 £3O from the gas company.