Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-04-19
MnMIsBuRe, April l5th, 1853.

ing incidents in connection with the demolisl
ment Of our Miami bridge yesterday, pleas
bear with me for the space may occupy, a
the details may enlighten the world in genera
and the scientific portion in particular.
You have already announced that ne,
structure is to be placed upon the old site. |
became necessary, therefore, for the Bridg
Company, as its last official act ere It should b
dissolved iuto airy nolhngness, to remove tn
old structure, for the county, through its on
tractor 10 commence operations. This wa
accomplished at auction to the highest bidde
for $500, subject to the purchaser removing
same. Propositions were at once made las
Monday for snugly securing so rich prize ir
old lumber. All the flooring aud about one
fourth Of the rafters were secured by Thursday
The flood coming on, however, raising To,
waters to within five or six feet Of the bridge
a council botween the purchaser and engineo,
was called, to take into consideration the pro
prieiy of making the elements accomplish what
would otherwise have TO be brought about by
Paysical force, zz "human hand power" Tbs
results of this council Of war were soon made
manifest by the principal afor said investing in
two immense cables Of | y inch sea grass, 6fty
yards long. This was master stroke of policy
The cables were securely fastened TO each
shore end reapecti, y, the East end having
natural snubbing posts in number of locust
trees. The happy thought was made apparent
that by them cutting the middle assunder, each
halfwould naturally foat. round to shore. where
1t could be securely anchored until such time
as the waters might subside and be then se
cured on terra 61ma. This was good. How 10
cut the middle, however, without etdanperiny
life, now became another knotty probleml-
Engineers are never long at deciding all such
small fry questiens. The word fire" was
family heard, and caught up by the now already
excited crowd, who were gathering in from all
quarters to witness this sublime spectacle O,
modern mind over matterl Fire" il was, sure
enough, applied at the vulnerable point. thus
adding another wreaihe to the brow of the En-
gineer's skill.
Whilst the fire is doing its work, let me give
dimensions. The bridge was the old fo9y
single lattice plan, 10 feet wide, l6 feet hi0b.
and 3l5 feet long, and estimated by the En-,
gineers to contain originally $50 cords of wood.
The roof and sides had been removed some
years ago.
by this time tho crowd had become der
anxious for the final catastrophe; every availa
BILE Point-windows, house tops, trees. DC,
from which good view could be had, was
monopolized for the occasion. From the West
side Of the river the view was likened unto n
Western or Southern pigeon roost--a dense
swarm, swaying to and fro being the centre
of attraction. The ERE had now become quite
extensive, the breeze from the South west had
chopped round " ths- Vest aud NORTH, and il
was feared that the old saw, of getting more
than bargaining for, would be realized. For
tuGe faYors the brave, however; as the wind as
sumed its original point, the dry pine quickly
gave way in the freshning breeze, and the lurid
flames soon told the story. An extra cable was
now fastened to the East upper end for the
crowd to assist in heaving it over A rolicking
son of Bachus now entered the West end of the
bridge, and, as IL determined 10 defy all the
elements combined. absolutely performed the
feat Of passing on the floor beams and their |
braces, to the East side of the bridge, and again
to the West end, before il fell. This was about
five minutes before the 6nal plunge. thous |
and and one arguments pro and con, with the |
bets, and almost fights, as 10 the sufficiency of
the cables to "hold," were now to be DECIDED |
The guy rope was brought To bear by willing
hands--a few rocks - aud fro-a crash of tim |
bers--a plurge--a roaring and surging of the
mighty element below-a shouting of men and
boys--a bowling of dogs-a laughing of the
fair, who were the best philosophers In this
Casa crying Of few old ladies, dear bless
them-iold that the work Of destruction was
complete the echoes of III, distant hills singing
the funeral dirgel
Contrary to general expectation the work was
not as great as anticipated, full two thirds of
the West half hOated off maiesGically. and near.
ly same of East end, without breaking uni
The spectacle was now grand, river over bank
full, at distance Of hall mile the wreck had
the appearance Of two immense chicken coops
bound on voyage Of discovery for the sunny
SOUTH Oh, on il went. A boat was now seen
to follow, containing the Engineer, as il to give
The floating mass parting kissl The ropesl
The rOpes and the crowd swayed aud followed
quickly along The shore. Alasl the experiment
Of holding one hundred and fifty cords wood,
current six miles per hour, had failedl Prinsi
pal Engineer got his hands burnt from friction
and all hands let yol The West end fAred
better. single Hercules sworr he could hold
hat half himself without nubbing post This
was kind, for the wreck (eit no compunctions
1t parting. Omit went, aud after few crashes
Along the shores. reducing its Dimensions At
zach encounter, it was soon lost to view
Peace to its memory This was the last Of the
'MohicSns" Of this pattern Of bridges 10 this
Islley. 1t did good SERVICE whilst with us,
md although abused and vilifed by part of
'ur community, yet it is supposed that nOD
hat it is gone. the ex-council might be induced
o get up an ex.officio meeting. for the purpose !
{ passing resolutions to erect monument 10 !
Is memory
The Engineer has left for the South, whilst
he principal is afraid Of hearing bad news Of
'rsck of bridges below, caused by the failure
fhis experiment in natural philosophy
Yours, &c., OBSERVER