Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-05-22

s''e"ue Vi NO ~ wire. When 1t broke IT gyraled
around in almost every Imaginable Objection. and
The huge thing is now cotled aud tTissed, and
'ooks much like serpent grown stir IN the act Of
striking mortal blow.
Ne slated yesterday. that as near as we could
perceive nj any one time The position or lie oor-
ing when the whole body of the wood work and
saspenders was leaping and Iunaings in the air.
there was once OF twice q fioist along the wbole
span. and tina. part OF tie flooring was turned
bottom upwari- We discover That 81 ci, was real
ly the case. The whole body Of the iocrine and
railing was broken into three sections before 4
fell he section at The west end is abont oso
feel long, ana fell with the bottom down. Tle
seciion i the east end was about $50 feet long
and also fell with the bottom dow but The rn;,,,l
section. where the twist occurred, iel with the bot
tom ~.
THIS bridge was commenced by authority OF the act
of 1s47, incorporating the wirrrLISa AND BrLnoSr
BniooE GonrANr, was erected under the p,anaFe-
mentof thatdistinguished civil engineer. c,..n,.xs
EILEF, il, and completed in Novemer ls49. The
lengthof the span was greater than that Of any
other suspension bridge in the world.
The span was 1910 feel between The SUBMITS
Of the towers. leaving the entire width Of the river
unobssructed for the passage Of vessels beneath.
The towers on the Wheeling side were 1884 feet
above low water level of the river The Western
towers on Zane's Island. were 1929 feet high.
The flooring and side ratings were suspended
on - iron cables extending from the towers ON
eachside Of the river. There were ten cables, each
composed Of 50strands Of No 10 Divine. and Two
smaller cables composed of i40 strands OF wire.
The cables were anchored in strong walls OF
stone ceniented around them on each side OF the
riyer They were 1850 feet long from anchor 10
anchor. The flooring was attached to The cables
bywire suspenders three iourths Of an inch in i-
ameief The highest elevation OF the 40 ring was
over the channel OF The river. 2I2
feet fromthe Wheeling shore. where Tie top Of
the iooring vas 90 feet above low water.
The strength Of the bridge as computed by Mr..
ket was sufficient to sustain 297 tons, or 80 laden
road wsgons, III horses and 800 people, weigh,
equal 10 1000 men.
The result Of the proceedings against this bridge
on account Of its alleged obstruction tothe fee
navigation Of the Ohio river. is well known 10 the
public. II never materially ebstructed the nayi-
getion, and the slight obstruction which il did
cause to the largest vessels was during unusually
high water, Which lasted but for . few hours. OF
day. While the suit against it, instituted and
by citizens IF Pittsburgh alone. was
pending in The United States Supreme Court. The
Legislature Of Virginia legalized the structure and
Com tess declared 1t portion Of post route, and
the suit was withdrawn by The plaintiffs The eff
for, to destroy work continuing SO largely 10 the
neces:iies Of lie public and soeminently national
in tie purpose whichit spbseryed. was an utter
failure. Alamenlable accident has accomplished
that which the ,nemies Of this great work could
not accomplish. but The same imperative wants
which demanded this structure. and The same pub
lie spirit and enterprise which erecied ii. will. we
are assured replace The shortest possible space
of tire.
The whole cost OF the bridge was about TIC, COO.
II Is estimated that the damage cannot exceed
100000
An IssuLT AND IRIS EErkc7s.-we mentioned
on Friday that the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati
packet Pennsylvania. in passing up The river,
lowered her cLininies at that portion OF the river
recently SPAWNED by our Suspens on Bridge. This
was done in desision. and exultalion ever tile de-
struction OF this noble structure. and though but
a silly and contemplate act was highly insulting
and providing 10 our people, fol it touched them
on q subject which has awakened the deepest
feelings in our midst We had hoped the matter
would have ended here, and that the captain ofthe
Pennsylvania would certainly not repeat the in
suit. But as he came dossn on Saturday evening
lust at dusk. he had the chimnies ii his boat again
lowered 10 the deck as he passed the wreck OF the
bridge. This was adding insult to insult, and ex-
aspeTating an already indignant crowd Which lad
collected on the wharf, hui we regret that any de-
demonstrations of violence 10 The boat were made.
though the off ers richly deserved severe rebuke.
Il seems that the boys throughout town had been
discussing the FIST insult ever since the boat went
up. and at tue sound of her whistle ON Saturday
evening they started up in all parts of The city.
like the hsst Of Rhoderrk Dhus and fiocked toihe
wllnrf. The captain, as if conscious of his guilt
stole 10 the outside of the steamer City OF Wheel
ing which was lying at the wharf The boys
commenced peltine her with stones, but owing TO
the protection aiIordedb by the City of Wheeling,
could not get far sweep al her, and did not,
we believe. do much damage. The Mayornotiiied
the Captain that. the excited slate Of the crowd,
It would be prudent for him 10 leave as soon as
possible. which prudent advice he took and put
out. Captain NJ Lure. with a ma gnanimity which
we think viii never be reciprocaled. put The City
OF Wheeling out at the same time and kept on the
inside OF the fenhS9lyanias linus Snteluing her
from the assaults Of the boys until she got beyond
the reach OF their missiles.
We say that we regret any violence to properly
under such circumstances, ior we oppose every
species Of mobocracy, but the officers of this boat
noted in most contempible, insulting and soul-
less manner. in rejoicing over a great public ca-
1amity right before The eyes of our lamentng citi
zens. and in our own territory, and lly our own
hresidess as it were, moeking and hunting Us -
We advise The ofe els OF The Pennsylvania and all
other PERSONS not to attempt anything Of this kind
again, for our people won't stand il. The same
feeling which would have rallied every man, Voc.
MIN an, child in our midst 10 fght fol that bridge