94 FLAGSTONE ROOF. 



in the wall were deeraed insecure; and the country work* 

 men trembled at the idea of being perched so high from 



■uiniounted. the ground without any apparent protection, I constructed 

 eight light ladders, each six feet long; these were wider at 

 one end than at the other, so as to permit them to be 

 joined together by small bolts passing through the ends of 

 both ladders. The ladders, thugjoined, applied themselves 

 commodiously to the circular roof, they were hung across 

 the top and fastened by ropes, passing over the ridge ofthe 

 rooftotheironbarsofthe windows of the upper cells on the op- 

 positeside ofthe gaol,which happened tobeempty. On these 

 ladders movable cripples were placed wherever a scaffold was 

 wanting : on these cripples, which extended six feet from the 

 roof, strong planks were laid, with ledges to prevent their 

 slipping sideways; round this Ecaffold a coarse substantial 

 handrail was tied. The passage to this scaffold was through 

 a large opening in the top ofthe roof whence the workmen 

 descended down the ladders to the lower platform, and 

 thence to any part of the roof. 



Expense. The scaffolding of this work cost but fifteen pounds, and 



the repair of the roof, exclusive of some other work that was 

 carried on at the same time, came within one hundred and 

 forty pounds. 



As I may not have an opportunity of mentioning it in 

 another place, I hope that you will excuse me for inserting 

 a circumstance relative to this gaol, which is certainly not 

 connected with the immediate subject of this letter ; but as 



*The moment the scaffold was finished, I went upon it myself, and 

 from that time no objections were made. Notwithstanding all the pre* 

 cautions that had been taken, a fatal accident threatened the lives of the 

 workmen. It has been said already, that the repes which held the lad- 

 ders were tied to the bars ofthe upper cells of the gaol. One morning, 

 towards the close of the business, the principal workman found the lad- 

 ders, and the scaffold that was attached to them, giving way. He had 

 sufficient presence of mind to throw himself off the scaffold on the roof; 

 as he was near the top, the slope of the roof was not sudden. He could 

 therefore stick there till his companions relieved hiro. 



The cause of this sudden failure it was impossible to foresee. A mad 

 woman had been accidentally put for a single night into one of the upper 

 cells; there by moonlight, with that mischievous alacrity whick is ofteri 

 r> the accompaniment of insanity, she untied the cords, »nd left the scaf- 



fold without support. 



it 



