Careers of Danger and Daring

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Moffett Cleveland. Careers of Danger and Daring

THE STEEPLE-CLIMBER

I. IN WHICH WE MAKE THE ACQUAINTANCE OF "STEEPLE BOB"

II. HOW THEY BLEW OFF THE TOP OF A STEEPLE WITH DYNAMITE

III. THE GREATEST DANGER TO A STEEPLE-CLIMBER LIES IN BEING STARTLED

IV. EXPERIENCE OF AN AMATEUR CLIMBING TO A STEEPLE-TOP

THE DEEP-SEA DIVER

I. SOME FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MEN WHO GO DOWN UNDER THE SEA

II. A VISIT TO THE BURYING-GROUND OF WRECKS

III. AN AFTERNOON OF STORY-TELLING ON THE STEAM-PUMP "DUNDERBERG"

IV. WHEREIN WE MEET SHARKS, ALLIGATORS, AND A VERY TOUGH PROBLEM IN WRECKING

V. IN WHICH THE AUTHOR PUTS ON A DIVING-SUIT AND GOES DOWN TO A WRECK

THE BALLOONIST

I. HERE WE VISIT A BALLOON FARM AND TALK, WITH THE MAN WHO RUNS IT

II. WHICH TREATS OF EXPERIMENTS IN STEERING BALLOONS

III. SOMETHING ABOUT EXPLOSIVE BALLOONS AND THE WONDERS OF HYDROGEN

IV. THE STORY OF A BOY WHO RAN AWAY IN A BIG BALLOON

THE PILOT

I. SOME STIRRING TALES OF THE SEA HEARD AT THE PILOTS' CLUB

II. WHICH SHOWS HOW PILOTS ON THE ST. LAWRENCE FIGHT THE ICE-FLOES

III. NOW WE WATCH THE MEN WHO SHOOT THE FURIOUS RAPIDS AT LACHINE

IV. WHAT CANADIAN PILOTS DID IN THE CATARACTS OF THE NILE

THE BRIDGE-BUILDER

I. IN WHICH WE VISIT A PLACE OF UNUSUAL FEARS AND PERILS

II. THE EXPERIENCE OF TWO NOVICES IN BALANCING ALONG NARROW GIRDERS AND WATCHING THE "TRAVELER" GANG

III. WHICH TELLS OF MEN WHO HAVE FALLEN FROM GREAT HEIGHTS

THE FIREMAN

I. WHEREIN WE SEE A SLEEPING VILLAGE SWEPT BY A RIVER OF FIRE AND THE BURNING OF A FAMOUS HOTEL

II. WHAT BILL BROWN DID IN THE GREAT TARRANT FIRE

III. HERE WE VISIT AN ENGINE-HOUSE AT NIGHT AND CHAT WITH THE DRIVER

IV. FAMOUS RESCUES BY NEW YORK FIRE-BOATS FROM RED-HOT OCEAN LINERS

THE AËRIAL ACROBAT

I. SHOWING THAT IT TAKES MORE THAN MUSCLE AND SKILL TO WORK ON THE HIGH BARS

II. ABOUT DOUBLE AND TRIPLE SOMERSAULTS AND THE DANGER OF LOSING HEART

III. IN WHICH THE AUTHOR TRIES HIS HAND WITH PROFESSIONAL TRAPEZE PERFORMERS

IV. SOME REMARKABLE FALLS AND NARROW ESCAPES OF FAMOUS ATHLETES

THE WILD-BEAST TAMER

I. WE VISIT A QUEER RESORT FOR CIRCUS PEOPLE AND TALK WITH A TRAINER OF ELEPHANTS

II. METHODS OF LION-TAMERS AND THE STORY OF BRUTUS'S ATTACK ON MR. BOSTOCK

III. BONAVITA DESCRIBES HIS FIGHT WITH SEVEN LIONS AND GEORGE ARSTINGSTALL TELLS HOW HE CONQUERED A MAD ELEPHANT

IV. WE SEE MR. BOSTOCK MATCHED AGAINST A WILD LION AND HEAR ABOUT THE TIGER RAJAH

V. WE SPEND A NIGHT AMONG WILD BEASTS AND SEE THE DANGEROUS LION BLACK PRINCE

THE DYNAMITE WORKER

I. THE STORY OF SOME MILLIONAIRE HEROES AND THE WORLD'S GREATEST POWDER EXPLOSION

II. WE VISIT A DYNAMITE-FACTORY AND MEET A MAN WHO THINKS COURAGE IS AN ACCIDENT

III. HOW JOSHUA PLUMSTEAD STUCK TO HIS NITROGLYCERIN-VAT IN AN EXPLOSION AND SAVED THE WORKS

THE LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER

I. HOW IT FEELS TO RIDE AT NIGHT ON A LOCOMOTIVE GOING NINETY MILES AN HOUR

II. WE PICK UP SOME ENGINE LORE AND HEAR ABOUT THE DEATH OF GIDDINGS

III. SOME MEMORIES OF THE GREAT RECORD-BREAKING RUN FROM CHICAGO TO BUFFALO

IV. WE HEAR SOME THRILLING STORIES AT A ROUNDHOUSE AND REACH THE END OF THE BOOK

Отрывок из книги

DURING the summer months of 1900 – what blazing hot months, to be sure! – people on lower Broadway were constantly coming upon other people with chins in the air, staring up and exclaiming: "Dear me, isn't it wonderful!" or "There's that fellow again; I'm sure he'll break his neck!" Then they would pass on and give place to other wonderers.

That is what he was called in large black letters at the head of columns – "Steeple Bob"; but I came to know him at his modest quarters on Lexington Avenue, where he was plain Mr. Merrill, a serious-mannered and an unpretentious young man, very fond of his wife and his dog, very fond of spending evenings over books of adventure, and quite indifferent to his day-time notoriety. I call him a young man, yet in years of service, not in age, he is the oldest steeple-climber in the business, ever since his teacher, "Steeple Charlie," fell from his swing some years ago in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and died the steeple-climber's death.

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WHEN there is difficult diving to be done in the East River, or in any river where the tide runs strong, you will see the wrecking-boats swing idly at anchor for hours waiting for slack water, the only time when divers dare go down. And often there is half a day's waiting for half an hour's work, and often a week goes by on a two hours' job, say, in full midstream, where not even the most venturesome beginner will stay down more than twenty minutes at the turn, lest he be swept away, ponderous suit and all, by the rush of the river. It's start your patch and leave it to be ripped open by the beating sea; it's get your chain fast nine weary times, and have it nine times torn away over night by some foolish, bumping tug-boat; in fact, it's worry and aggravation until the thing is over.

Also, this is the time of times, if you can get aboard, to make acquaintance with the wreckers, to pick up lore of the diving-suit and tales of the divers.

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