A ROYAL BIRTHDAY FEAT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2230, 23 October 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

A ROYAL BIRTHDAY FEAT.

In honour of the birthday of the Emperor of Austria, who completed hia 56th year in August, a journeyman gilder, named Joseph Pircher, performed a feat of almost unparalleled foolhardiuesfl. He had made a bet that he would climb, unassisted, to the gilded pinnacle of St. Stephen's steeple, and plant an Imperial flag there with a garland of flowers. The height from the ground to the gilt ball and cross is 4.32 German feet. At 11 on Tuesday night, Pircher arrived on the Stefans J'latz with a party of friends, tied his nhoes round his neck, and began his perilous ascent by means of the lightning conductor. Swarming up the metal rod with the agility of an ape, and resting his feet on every projecting piece of stonework, he took 35 minutes to reach the platform of the tower. From this point until within 12 feet of the pinnacle the ascent w*3 comparatively easy, as the fretted sides of the steeple form a perpendicular staircase. The last 12 feet offered a sheer smooth surface, which had to be swarmed up. Long before Pircher had finished his ascent a large crowd had assembled, and the guardian of the tower, becoming aware that something was happening, left his bpd and came out on to the Plat-/,. Horrified by what he heard, the poor man bawled to Pircher to ask what he was doing, but waa answered by a mocking laugh. The guardians then despatched messengers right and left for police and firemen, and soon after midnight a company of iiremen encircircled the tower with mattresses and canvas stretched out to catch the hardy climber m case he should fall. The night was clear, and Pircher's movements could be distinctly seen from below. Reaching the gilt ball, Pircher took a small yellow and black flag with a crown of flowers from his pocket, tied both to the cross, gave three " Hochs " for the Kmperor, and then begaii ccoly to descend. Finding his shoes inconvenient, he left them on the stone under the ball, and on reaching the ground he good-humoured ly suggested that one of the policemen should go up and fetch thim. Pirceher decended, as he had c'iinbed, by the lighting -conductor and his /eat occupied altogether two hours and 3.3 minute?. He was a little tired at the rhiish, and his hands were somewhat grazed, but he jumped gaily on to the pavement amid the enthusiastic cheers of the spectators. After tins, however, he w,ii led oft to the police-station. It is said that he has aheady climbed 130 steeples. His latest exploit, however, surpasses any feat of steeple-clunbing on recoul.