Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1884 — A “Close Call” for the Chimney Sweep. [ARTICLE]

A “Close Call” for the Chimney Sweep.

“Yes, sah,” he' said, “I was de last man to sweep a chimbley in Boston, shoah’s yer born. De fust one I swep’ was in Philedelphy, ’bout fifty year ago, an’ de last one was de Tremont House chimbley, in dis city, just thirty-nine years ago.” “Was there much danger in entering a chimney ?” “De danger was mostly from de smoke-jacks, what folks used ter do der cookin’ on. Dey was built inter de fireplaces, stoppin’ ’em up. Den we had to go up one chimbley, cross over an’ go down inter de chimbley with de jack in it, or start from de roof, go down to de jack, clean de chimbly and den go out de way we come in. I used ter use a short-handle brush in one hand and a scraper (like a small hoe) in de odder When I was small I could walk up a chimbley with my knees an’ elbows, using de brush an’ scraper at de same time as easy as a fly kin walk on de ceilin’. I’d start from a fireplace an’ take two sides a goin’ up an’ two cornin’ down, gettin’ out ’casionally as much as two barrels er soot. I come nigh gettin’ my head broke one time. I had a chimbley to clean, wid a cap to it, shaped like a tent, an’ had jest pulled myself under de cap when it gave way an’ fell on me, jammin’ me inter de chimbley. My boss come roun’ artei awhile an’ got me out all right, but it were a close case fur dis chicken, you hear me.” — Boston Glob p .