On an apparent lark, possibly fueled by beer, Gerard Corrar climbed Tramway Tower #1 on the Island around 9:00 a.m. on May 22.  Tramway employees reported that he was carrying a six-pack of beer in one hand, using only the other hand to climb the tower ladder.

When he dropped the beer part way up, it exploded on impact, briefly suggesting a white powder.  Nobody was sure of the nature of his misadventure at that point.

When a Public Safety Officer (PSO) demanded that Corrar come down, he refused, saying something about “just a few minutes,” then climbed to a higher level in the tower structure.

Meanwhile, on the ground, Tram employees and PSOs discussed the situation and awaited the arrival of NYPD and other rescue personnel.
 
Eventually, official action involved a helicopter, over a dozen vehicles, and three police boats – the boats arrayed in the northward direction of tidal current, just in case Corrar jumped into the river and needed to be picked up.
 
While rescuers gathered and worked out their plan, Corrar orated into the wind and occasionally spread his arms as though to suggest he was about to try an experiment in unassisted human flight.
 
At about 10:20, Tramway employees and rescue personnel took a slow Tram ride up to the tower, and Corrar was persuaded to join them for a trip back to terra firma.  

Corrar was arrested and charged with trespassing.