New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-07
A BROKEN BRIDGE.
| From Chambers Journal. !

reached the little Welsh town of Aber
NAV one boisterous afternoon in autumn al
about four o'clock, after long tramp Ovel
the mountains. Abermaw, as its name i'm
plies, is situated at the mouth OF the riveI
Nav, which here forms an estuary about 8
mile broad. The town itself faces the open
sea the harbor lies about half mile uI
the estuary; while between the town and
the harbor was the outline of huge bridge
then in course of construction. Abermaw
is. little bit of place, consisting of a
hotel, few shops, a church, chapel OF
ease, and half dozen lodging houses,
which are built on platform of sand, the
work of the sea and river in concert or in
confl C. The old fishing village is perched
upon the rocks above, tier upon tier, the
iDtelstOne OF one house looking down the
chimney of the house below, and ia reached
by rude rocky steps, where the children of
the village swarm up and down, and yet
rarely contrive to break their necks.
The further shore Of the estuary was q
triangular spit of sand, across which was a
track that joined the high road at point
where it commenced to mount the shoulder
of wave beaten cliff on the fence Of which
it was terraced; for on the further or south
ern side of the estuary the sea washed up
to the very base of the rocks that formed
the rugged fringe of this iron bound coast.
There was a ferry from the Abermaw side
to the spit of sand, and thence, by a detour
of several miles, you could make your way
along the southern bank of the river to the
town OF Dolbadarn. As the crow fles, Dol
tant from Abermaw, but it could not be
reached by any practicable track in less
than from ten to eleven miles; for the river
took q wide sweep to the north, and, in ad-
dition to the detOur thus caused, the first
bridge where the road crossed the river
was at point good way wide of DOlba-
darn, so that, altogether, the distance was
heightened to that above mentioned. On
the other hand, if you crossed the ferry,
and made your way across the sand to the
highway, the distance was much the same,
and this latter route was of course only
practicable to foot passengers.
Although had reached Abermaw in the
disguise of a free and independent pedes-
trian, yet my liberty was of restricted ma
ture. My wife and children had gone by
the regular coach route to Dolbadarn. and 1
had crossed the mountains by wild foot
track, promising to join them that night at
Dolbadarn in time for dinner; for 1 had in
tended to take the coach at Abermaw,
which would have brought me to the end of
my journey in good time. This coach, how
ever, had missed by just five minutes. Ny
walk that day had been long one. and 1
was rather tagged, and should probably
have hired conveyance for the remainder
of the distance; but the manner of the land
lord of the hotel was SO abrupt, and, as
thought offensive, in answer to nv inqui-
rles, that resolved, come what might, he
should not be slxpence the richer for me-
l walked on till l came to a little public
house at the further end of the town, close
to the rough quay that bordered the estu-
airy, and turned in there for glass of beer
and a crust of bread and cheese, as well as
Tor the purpose OF making few inquiries
as to my route.
well, indeed" said Evan Rowlands, the
landlord, there is no possible way to get
to Dolbadarn tonight. not unless you take
a car from Mr.. Jones'"
II shan't have car from Mr.. JONES'"
said. Can't hire one anywhere else9v
Evan shook his head. There was no
horse or car in Abermaw except the horses
and cars owned by Mr.. Jones.
very WELL then" said l, would walk.
mot possible" said Evan, "it's more
than ten miles"
Il wouldn't mind the distance, only I've
walked fve-and-twenty miles already, ;"
Dear me-" said Evan, you're very
strong
Cant l get boat part of the way"
Auggested
Evan put his head out at the door. s.No,"
he cried, 1.-THE tide has just turned; it is run
ming down very strong"
'Then there is nothing for II but walk |
ing" | said, Il must go round BY Liantair |
Bridge" But didn't like the idea of this !
ten miles walk through the mist and gath
ering gloom.
Stop said Evan. "Why shouldn't YOU
90 over the bridge-the railway bridget"
lis the bridge passable, them Can you
get acrossl"
20 dear, yes. The gentlemen from the
soil q u nAVtl e.
Hugh Pugh and David Morris did come over
rom the Dolbrith quarry"
And what distance will that save met"
"Four or five miles: yes, sure"
"Oh, 1t Is very strong and safe, indeed. or |
low should Hugh Pugh and David Morris
ome over, and the railway gentlemen, too:
res, sure"
"And the railway people won't object to
ny going over!'
lay, and there won't be a soul near the
ridge but yourself
Then, of course, I'll 90 over it,
But L found that there were certain diff
mites in the way. The railway bridge
rossed the estuary at point about a quar-
er OF mile from the little inn that formed |
ne extremity Of the town, at a spot where |
u channel was narrowed to distance Of
Dout three quarters of mile. The unfin.
shed bridge was constructed of piles firmly
rlven INTO the bed of the river, from which
Csc huge piers of timber to the height of
bout forty feet Along these were massive
AXIS aeStined to support the platform of ;
ne olluge, whist each pier was strength
ned ana supported, and strengthened and ,
Its neighbor, by an arrangement
cross beams ana ties
hen l reached the bank of the river c
lth my GUIDE, Evan Rowlands, found G
fh.ann