The Human Fly Visits Defiance

In the first quarter of the twentieth century, there were several men in the country known for their wild climbs up tall buildings, using no ropes or other apparatus.  The most famous of these was dubbed the "Human Fly" by President Grover Cleveland around 1905, after the President witnessed Harry C. Gardiner climb up the 159 foot flagpole at Grant's Tomb in New York.

Gardiner used his climbing stunts to raise money for charities and for the war effort in World War I.  And, yes, he visited Defiance to climb the courthouse, a minimal challenge for him.  The Defiance Democrat reported on October 9, 1919:

 "HUMAN FLY MAKES QUICK WORK OF COURT HOUSE

Thousands of people witnessed Harry C. Gardiner, the Human Fly, climb the face of the court house Saturday evening and were amazed at the remarkable control this man of 48 years has over himself.

Gardiner made the climb from the ground to the very top of the steel flag staff that surmounts the clock tower and down to the ground again in nineteen minutes.

He hung his hat on one of the ornamentations that projects from the building and almost forgot it.  He retraced a few steps and recovered the headpiece while the crowd below smiled.

The collection amounted to about $25.  The exhibition was one of the best of its kind that has ever taken place in Defiance and was greatly enjoyed by a big crowd.

It has been estimated that Gardiner climbed about 700 buildings in his career which lasted until he was at least 58.  An account of a climb he did in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, at the age of 58 gives a summary of his career.

In the Gettysburg Times, July 28, 1927:

"HUMAN FLY TO SCALE BUILDING.  Harry Gardiner Will Climb Up and Down Front of First National Bank Building.

Harry Gardiner, 58 year old defier of death, will practice his 'originator of heart attack tricks' in Gettysburg, Saturday evening at 7:30 o'clock when he will scale the front of the First National bank building, stand on his head atop the cornice and do various other stunts and then climb down again, all without the aid of outside assistance.

'He'll stub his toe some day.'

 Newspaper scribes the country over talk of nervous  temperment and others, many of whom are classified as 'I told you so folk' have uttered that statement for 30 years - 'He'll stub his toe someday.'

And Harry Gardiner, human fly of the first order, lives on, defies death, thrills millions, and has - well, he's taken out his own insurance policy because insurance firms are not too anxious to have his policy.  And every day he seeks new skyscrapers to scale and hungers for the throngs to thrill.

HAS FALLEN TWICE.

Gardiner has fallen on two occasions.  In Columbia, South Carolina, he dropped 50 feet, breaking a few ribs and lacerating his scalp.  On another occasion, he tumbled 45 feet and tore a hole in his forehead.  But he keeps on climbing his way to the top of skyscrapers.

In Detroit, he jammed Cadillac Square, while he scaled the wall of a large hotel.  In New York he pulled himself to the top of the McAlpin hotel and in Philadelphia, he climbed City Hall, reached the 37 foot statue of William Penn, climbed on one leg, reached the bronze vest buttons, slid to one side onto the bottom roll of the frock coat, up an arm to the shoulder and thence to the hat brim, where he stood on his head while thousands stood in amazement and fear..."

Philadelphia City Hall with William Penn at the top

 What a thrill for the folks of Defiance to witness this well-known stuntman! The Detroit News reported in one story that Gardiner, wearing sneakers and his bifocals, would cross himself, say a prayer and then refuse to speak after that until he had completed his climb.  After a few of the other men billed as "human flies" fell to their death, New York was the first state to make it illegal to climb the facades of public buildings.