The Arizona Daily Star of Sunday, June 25, 1916, ran two separate stories about the "Human Fly," who scaled buildings in Tucson. We present both:
‘HUMAN FLY’ PROMISES STUNT SATURDAY NIGHT
“Satan” Billy Weber, the “Human Fly,” didn’t get to the top of the court house flagpole yesterday evening as he had announced.
“Because I painted it this afternoon,” Billy announced from the top of the second story window on the north side, which was as far as he elected himself. He made a speech from this point to the big crowd assembled, stating that he was rather tired from his work of the afternoon, painting the pole, and would give the exhibition of going clear to the top Saturday evening at 7 o’clock. He also announced that he would climb any building in the city to be selected by a committee of three, on Sunday evening at 9 o’clock.
Weber pleased the crowd just the same with his clever work in getting as far as he did and demonstrated that he has the goods when it comes to imitating the difficult feats of the acrobatic but unpopular fly. He worked slowly but carefully, and tested every hold before he progressed.
He had his working clothes on yesterday evening, but tonight will be dressed in tights and give a regular exhibition. The flagpole was painted white and makes a better showing.
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And then there was this:
500 See ‘The Human Fly’ Climb Court House
“Satan Billy” Weber Will Repeat at 4 o’Clock This Afternoon
“Satan” Billy Weber, “The Human Fly,” climbed the Pima court house from the ground floor up to the base of the flagpole yesterday evening before a crowd of about 500 applauding spectators. He would have climbed the flagpole also, but he explained that it had just been painted by him Saturday and was not yet dry.
Weber’s hardest stunt was making the cornice at the roof, and it took him seem little time to negotiate this stunt, but he was rewarded by a big hand.
“That sounds good,” Weber yelled back, “but remember that it will be a little more substantial to drop something into my hat that my wife is holding.”
Weber hesitated a little at getting up the cupola, although it did not seem as tough a stunt as the cornice feat. When he did go he went so fast that hardly anybody in the crowd saw just how he did it. Never, however works very carefully and does not take any chances from rotten timbers or shaky concrete work, as he tests everything before starting. A false step or an insecure footing would mean death or a bad injury.
From the cupola Weber did a little advertising for The Star, and said some kind words for its hustle in furnishing the news.
He will repeat the courthouse stunt at 4 o’clock, and at 9 o’clock this evening will climb the Kress building, on Congress street, which he says is the hardest proposition in town.
