The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-23
CATARACT House, J
A..-..-s 1910 ?

NIAGARA FALLS, August z, lS4S.
THE Suspension Bridge at N,agara-1he BOILING
Watrs-Romamtic Inc,dent, &c.
The wire suspension bridge over the Niagara
river, about which so much has been written, is in
reality wonderful structure; it has been built
over the river at point about one mile and three
quarters below the Falls, and directly over the
frightful rapids which commence at this point
The bridge is nearly eight hundred feet in length,
and it is suspended in mid air, two hundred and
sixty feet above the river. The waters directly
beneath it are very shallow, and they dash over
the sharp rocks at a velocity which is equalled
only by the rapids above the Falls. visited this
bridge to-day, in company with friend; you go
from the Cataract House by railway, and you are
set down Immediately in the vicinity of the bridge
Upon the very edge of the awful prccipce which
bounds each shore of the river, towers have been
built; they are about eighty feet In height, and at
point about one hundred feet In the rear of these
huge towers, the immense strands or ropes
of wire, which sustain the bridge in mid air,
are fmly fastened; these strands pass from
their fastenings Immediately over the top of the
tower upon either clifi-they pass thence across
the chasm and then over the top of the tower upon
the opposite shore, in the rear of which the ends
are fastened INTO the rocks, as above described.
The bridge is entirely supported by these power
full strands. OF wire, OF which there are two-one
at each side of the bridge At the bottom of the
tower, which Is constructed of heavy tmbers, you
must pass through gate before going upon the
bridge-at this gate every passenger must pay
twenty-five cents TO cross and twenty five cents to
return. Stepping upon the bridge, before you walk
twenty feet from the Shore you find yourself sus-
pended in the air several hundred feet, above a
mass OF Jagged and iilnly rocks, over and among
which the waters of Niagara plunge with terrific
velocity TO add to the sensations Of horror which
this frightp scene must inevitably produce at the
first glance, you find the bridge oscillating and
bending benea your weight in fearful manner;
this oscillation isvery like that which we see when
we are walking over a river or lake which is
frozen over with ice not more than two inches
IN thickness; there is, however, more elasticity
and strength in the bridge than in the ice il is, ii,
TACT perfect spring board, like that used by the
vaulting troop IN Howos circus my friend, a
venerable ex-senator, who wac several feet be-
hind me, suddenly stopped short and declared that
nc would not cross the bridge but he was never
.heess prevailed upon 10 cross and return again.
You may he sure that IT requires considerable
rerve 10 cross this aerial structure. and there are
few MFR who have firnessenough TO look over the
eide into the awful sun, even for n moment the
bridge IS about ten feet In width, and Temporary
railing Of wire and Stats OF wood has been con-
snucisd al each side; tie flooring Is composed
OF light planks they rest upon thin scsntng or
unbers, 10 which the wires are fastened Many
persons who have visited this bridge for the pur.
Tote OF crossing, have declined TO do 40 after In
erecting IL.
After cur return from The Canada shore We pro-
oceded in carriage 70 the little steamer called the
" Maid Of the Mist" which starts from point |
directly above the bridge and runs UP SO close 10
The Falls that her decks are washed by the spray
which fills the air IN the vicinity, and which is
foiced up Ny the falling torrent. On or OF these |
ttTs in The little stesrer, we approached too near
ths greet horse snoc ful our fragile vessel pitch
co and plunged among the waters So If she was |
rbou. 70 swamp; during the frgb, produced |