Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-22
TRIUMPH OF GENIUS.

The remarkable inventive powers of REMINGTON
have heretofore caused his name to be extensively
known, and the signal practical triumph which has
just crowned his ingenious efforts at the South will
secure for him worldwide celebrity. The Incl
dent to which we refer is thus narrated in the Mont
gomery (Alabama) Gazette of the 18th instant:
The Remington Bridge-Hs Triumphant Successive
witnessed Saturday, in company with immense con.
course Of the citizens of Montgomery, the removal of the
frame work and supporters upon which Mr. Remington had
constructed his expense, Of his celebrated bridges
The city council had granted him permission to build across
deep avlne, nercepng the thoroughfae directly between
the city and its wharf, and the railroad depot and the ferry
Its span is, understand, four hundred and hutysir feet
from abutmen abument the longest ,ooode pa perhaps
IN the world Without pretending to give any thing like
description Of this wonderful specimen Of architectural
ton and skill would simply remark that the supporters
Of this immense structures except at and the abutments
nothing than layers Of inch inch and quar-
ter ordinary pine plank eight ten inches wide, and egh
teen twenty feet long, securely fastened together by
of certain glue (aso the invention Of Mr.. Remington)
and sheet iron firmly nailed where the e1emites
These pieces, thus fastened together extended Longitude
nay from abutment the other to each Of which it
firmly and securely attached by Of large iron bolts
Side by side these long longitudinal supporters laid until
they form platform eight ten feet wide which
plank is to be laid for the doorway upon which travel
The abuments Of course constructed Of the stoutest
materia skuly put together. The longitudinal supporters
at the abuments four FIVE inches thick gradually
diminishing in thickness until they reach the distance of
forty fifty feet from the abutmens where they the
thickness OF inch plank, as before mentioned.
Such the apparent a structure that every
anxious and curious to il suspended in the air. without
prop support sustain it. Notice had been given through
the city papers, and great crowd had gathered about ten
o'clock to witness the novel; unred, and ncreduous expert
ment, as we believe may safely call to the moment
OF its final triumph All were anxious-more than anxious,
that should succeed but the great majority than
doubted and numefous remarks made evincing total
faCfrt Of onIa
tue, Of such unheard of distance would support ITSELF
much less the weight OF cart or wagon and horses We
doubt whether five men out Of the many hundreds present.
would have rsked dime upon its success.
But there whose confidence was great and unsha
KEN After walking through the crowd and hearing these
numeons remsrk all casting doubt uncertainty upon the
enterprise causing incautousy and against
warm Wishes to paake of their appehensous ncredu
y we voluntarily placed ourselves by the side of the great
inventor to watch his and compexionwe noticed his
ace his hands and his every finger but symptom of fear
apprehension could be dscovered-the color was all there
in the face the hand unshaken-eyen the finger
steady dial not unstrung least TO all
pearances We remarked friend that however others might
doubt, that Remington at least certan-that no man.
without the utmost faith, could evnce such extraordinary cool
ness under such circumstances. Prop after prop cut
and knocked away and the few last were by one
being removed the crowd gathered closer and closer
around the bridge; the intensely interesting.
As the span gradually wdened disparagng remarks
edthe doubling began to speak if the thing would do;
Tue increduou stood aghas Finally the last prop was cut
from under, and with long vibration il remained suspended
in the air. The unbeievers approached something after
the manner Of the frogs in the fable Of King Log hods
its own weight but will admit Of any other was soon
tested one and then another and another in quick
followed, and soon the whole crowd passing 10 and
fro; giving perhaps test in the way Of weight
II will ever be subjected to- 10 few horse was
on IL and Mr.. Calvin Sayre the fearless rider who first
crossed the Remington Bridge horseback II really
daring eat for the bridge than eight nine feet
hDtffr1 bnUis
yawning chasm beneath made the head dizzy behold The
young gentleman subsequently drove horse and
buggy TIE show wound up with three hearty cheers fol
Remington, and all retired amazed and grai6ed.