Harold Wilford, 54, steeplejack, saved Charles M. England, 67, steeplejack and contractor, from an impending fall from a radio tower, Santa Barbara, California, October 23, 1953. England and Wilford were three feet from the top of the metal tower, which rose 180 feet above the roof of a seven?story building, and were preparing to paint the framework. They sat facing each other in boatswain’s chairs hooked two feet apart. As he began painting, England moaned and slumped backward from his seat. Sliding forward in his chair, Wilford locked his legs around England, who was 30 pounds heavier than he. England fell farther backward with his upper body dangling limply, Wilford’s legs sliding to England’s ankles. Tightening his hold, which was all that prevented England from dropping to the roof below, Wilford got hold of the belt of England’s trousers. He repeatedly tugged upward but lacked the leverage to lift England. Maintaining his leg hold, Wilford left his seat and maneuvered himself to a position draped over a cable of his boatswain’s chair. The top of the tower swayed about three feet as Wilford reached farther downward and finally got hold of England’s shoulder. After repeated attempts he flipped England’s arm high enough to grasp him below the shoulder and worked his hold thence to the wrist. With extreme effort he drew England to an upright-seated position, regained his own seat, and pinioned England’s arms to a vertical standard. William D. Skeen, who was off duty, accompanied a day crew of eight other firemen to the roof of the building. Skeen, who never before had climbed higher than 80 feet, put on a safety belt and began ascending the tower with a 50-foot coil of rope over one shoulder. He felt a sickening sensation from the height when he was 100 feet above the roof but continued to the top of the tower. Apprised of the situation by Wilford, who had supported England for almost 15 minutes. Skeen hooked one leg over a diagonal brace and removed his safety belt, which he fastened to England. He hooked the straps of the belt to the framework and tied England’s wrists to the vertical standard. Releasing England, Wilford descended 80 feet to where he obtained a block and tackle and a 600-foot rope and retraced his course to his chair after hooking the stationary block to the framework. Skeen unfastened the straps of the safety belt and hooked them to the cables of England’s chair. England sagged alarmingly, and Skeen tied him securely to the chair with the 50-foot rope. They then untied England’s arms from the standard. Skeen, who stood astride a horizontal bar with his feet entwined about braces, leaned downward and grasped the hook of England’s chair as the tower swayed continually. With very great effort he lifted the chair free of the framework. Wilford quickly engaged the chair to the traveling block and grasped the tackle rope with both hands. He began feeding rope into the stationary block, lowering England slowly while Skeen descended the tower abreast of England and held him and the rope free of the framework. When Skeen was 100 feet from the roof, another safety belt was raised to him; and another fireman joined Skeen and helped him guide England to the roof. Wilford then descended the tower. England could not be revived and was pronounced dead of a heart attack. Wilford was extremely tired and suffered from shock but recovered. 43272-3936
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