The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-08-18

David Morris come over, and the rail.
way gentlemen, too ? yes, sure"
"And the railway people won'tobiect
TO my going oyer?" 81
"They'ye oil quit work for the day,
and there won't be soul near the
bridge but yourself"
"Then OF course III go over H."
But I found that there were certain
difficulties in the way. Tho railroad
bridge crossed tho estuary at a point
about q quarter OF n mile from the little
inn that formed the extremity OF the
town, at q spot where its channel was
narrowed 10 q distance OF about three.
quarters OF mile. The unfinished
bridge was constructed OF piles firmly
driven into the bed OF the river, from
which rose huge piers OF timber TO the
height OF about forty feet. Along these
were massive balks, destined TO support
the platform Of the bridge, whilst each
pier was strengthened and supported,
and strengthened and supported its
neighbor, by IN arrangement Of cross
beams and ties.
When reached the bank OF the river
with my guide, Evan Rowlands, I found
that there was q considerable hiatus be.
tween the shore and the nearest pier
about o hundred yards. Evan, how.
ever, was prepared with a plan for
reaching II. A friend Of his was the
master Of the littlesloop, the Ann Jones,
which was lying in the tiny creek above.
he and his mate were now on board
her, aud they had got their little dingy
with them. Evan would borrow the
boat, and drop down with the stream,
and deposit me at the foot Of the near.
est pier. .1tr
"Bnt why not ferry mo right Overthc
river2" asked.
qNot possible said Evan. There
were shadows and quicksands at the
other side which ut this time Of the tide
were very dangerous,
SO we made our way along tho road
which overlOoks tho estuary, till we
came TO the little harbor. Evan had no
difficulty in borrowing the dingy, and
We were soon a float, shooting quickly
down the stream.
II was almost dark now, for although
the sun was not yet down, the storm
that was gathering up on the horizon
obscured his light. Great volumes OF
cloud and yapor were driving mp be-
fore the wind, which howled and moan.
ed intermittently, as blast succeeded
blast, and died away again. The wind
and the tide In opposition made the
water pretty rough, and our boat danced
up and down in q very lively way.
Presently the black skeleton OF the
bridge loomed upon us through the
mist, and Evan dexterously brought up
his boat in tho little eddy that was
formed by tho abutments OF tho pier,
and then he called to me TO jump from
the stern Of the dingy on to q cross
piece that formed sort of platform o
foot or so from the waters edge.
jumped, and landed safely on the
balk, and then found that my way up
wards was by climbing the nearest pier,
across which were nailed rough, irregu-
lar slaves, which constituted what is
called workmnn's ladder. ] had no
intention OF undertaking any acrobatic
feats, and the idea OF climbing up to
that giddy height by such rough, IN.
reliable supports was dlstasteful enough.
wouldn't try It. would go back to
the boat to dry land once more. But
the boat had spun away on tho tide,
and was now far out OF earshot, or
indeed eyeshot either. There stood,
then, in the midst OF rushing, raging
sea, upon balk Of timber, embracing
huge black pier, the head Of which
was lost in the gloom and mist over
head. couldn't stay here; I must get
across the bridge ut oil hazards, and
my only way was upwards.
Up l went slowly, step by step, test.
ing each frail splintered staye ere l
trusted my weight to 1t. More than
one broke away in my hands, and fell
into the sea below. But when / reached
the top, thoughts then all this danger
would be over. / should find firm,
secure platform-a rail, or, at least,
q rope for the hand.
When I came TO the top Of the pier, l
saw stretched out before me o beam,
suspended, as it seemed, in mid-air,
narrow beam-more like q rope, i
seemed TO stretched over this wild
abyss Of raging wayes-that, and moth
| ing else. There were footprints in the
narrow ridge OF timber-it was not
mole than two feet wide at the broadest
and the sight OF them gave me
couraee. Men had passed over here
before me; Iwould pass too. And 80,
without giving myself moment more
to think, 1 stepped; and the moment
when letting go with my hands, | stood
upon that topmost round OF the ladder
and balanced myself for an instant, as l
placed my foot upon the plank-tha
moment in which ! seemed to quiytr,
and sway to and fro high up on this
giddy perch, beyond the ken OF any
human eye..that moment OF dizzy terror,
OF strange Willing thoughts, of instincts
10 cast myself headlong into the sea
was in sensation as any ordinary week
OF placid being and yet 1t came and
went like any other moment, and | stood
erect upon the beam, and began my
perilous way.
Iheard the wind afar of, believing
among the breakers on the bar | heard
Il screeching and bowling over the Hats.
| / felt a moments calm, the strange,
unnatural hush, and then the rush and
leap OF the storm, as II hurtled by me.
Dashing the salt spray into my eyes, 1t
came, seizing all the loose corners Of
nv apparel, and cracking them like
whip.lashes, carrying away my. feeble
breath in It's wild course, but leaving
me-yes, thank God-leaying me still
balanced on my plank.
The gust had cleared the mist for q
-. S,,d could now see before me,