John Meighan 1897 New York Times
STEEPLE INSPECTION AT DUSK
Meighan's Lonely Climb on Thritieth Street
Hundreds of people blocked Thirtieth
Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues,
just before dark last night. They were
looking at the steeple of the Church of
St. John the Baptist, where a strange-appearing
figure climbed skyward. Without ropes
or anything, save the steeple brackets,
the figure went on, up, up to the gilt
ball at the top. Then it began the downward
climb. The crowd wondered, talked, cheered
and questioned.
After an interval of expectancy a man
left the church. He was John Meighan, the
steeple climber, and he had been inspecting
the steeple to see if it was in good condition.
The steeple is 215 feet in height.
-- New York TimesJul 10, 1897