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Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Poetry and Incidents., Volume 1. (ed. Frank Moore), chapter 227 (search)
The vestry of Grace Church, in New York, were desirous that an American flag should wave from the very apex of the spire of the Church, at a height of 260 feet from the ground. Several persons offered to undertake the dangerous feat, but on mounting by the interior staircase to the highest window in the steeple, thought they would scarcely have nerve enough to undertake it. At last, William O'Donnell and Charles McLaughlin, two young painters in the employ of Richard B. Fosdick of Fifth avenue, decided to make the attempt. Getting out of the little diamond-shaped window about half way up, they climbed up the lightning-rod on the east side of the spire, to the top. Here one of the men fastened the pole securely to the cross, although quite a gale was blowing at the time. The flag thus secured, the daring young man mounted the cross, and, taking off his hat, bowed to the immense crowd which were watching his movements from Broadway. As the flag floated freely in the air, they bu