New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-08-26
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
cposs1NG THE TRAVELLER ROPE.


.,rv FIRST TRIP OVER THE EAST RIVER BETWEEN
THE BRIDGE TOWERS.
ru. ubarves and bulkheads in the neighbOr-
=, q, the towers Of the East River bridge were
.nonged early yesterday morning with people eager 10
,t,ess the first passage OF human BONG from brooA-
,n % Ney-York by the new route. Some pecahee A-
hns,ed or lost patience and went away Dut TWO
ANA the place of every that departed ana by li2
a,,oot the spectators were almost innumerable the
b,rves were black with people. and the rigging OF all
w. sses WAS led with sailors and persons who gained
.,o,on n occupy lofty and advantageous posts OF
fs,votion To correctly estimate the number who saw
Az, massage made would be impossible, but at least
o 600 spectators crowded the roofs OF buildings the
n,vcs decks of vessels, and other convenient places
o., watching the ropes stretched from tower 10 tower
Tonsb the morning they stood patiently waiting the
.orance Of the daring who was to make The trip
TN sbout O, tester, Here he comes" often caused
M on,nc Of necks and impatient EXPLANATIONS OF dis
appointment. ,,o,o.o, -, ,,s
prooklvn tower and few minutes later another was
.,,a,,od from the tower upon the New-York side OF
r,er In the mean time everything was put in read
,ress on the and piers for the attempt ana at
Master Mechanic L. F. Harrington, the person VINO
- % make the trip took his scat In the boatsWahs
81, which was made fast to the the "traveer rope
u,o chair was board two feet long by ten nches "oe
=, zoe bolowed in the middle so rs TO make peIoer
and
,ltpch rope four feet long passed upward Knots on
- "a. 81 these four ropes kept them from slipping
,,orgh the holes and supported the board The ropes
80 tied together at their upper ends, and were MADE
Fast to the "traveer rope" The start was mace from
prooklyn When the boatswan's chair had Deeh prop
,v nlaeed Mr. harrington climbed TO his sea' ana the
80, WAS given TO start Chief Assistant Engineer
Martin standing near the front and on the topoI INC
anchorage pier controlled the running OF the engine IN
On, ,orI below by signals with red flag which he hed
In his hand He REGULATED his ssnals 20 tnS ,n tho
sharre OF the engine by those which ne received to
to~pTs and NewYork anchorage made by men stau"aeu
or them for the purpose . .,,r IL o,c,not
and i'm another second Mr. Harrington was sWlnslng
over the tops of the houses between the anchor ca
b Ss while handkerchiefs were waved by ladies' IN
windows aud upon the housetops When about nan Wy My
between onI raised himself from sitting standing
position chair and taking on ms nat rahcI
The tower the speed of the engine was essene, H. va
until he able to step upon the ,oTer sn of two Of
The workmen The first part OF his Journey tonk t,ee
and one-half minutes, and was conc, s'
was announced by the firing OF u gun on the M 49,
bukhead Mr. burlington was o. adiration
Henry C. Murphy, President OF the B0ar Oh d , ,e
The Bridge who with several fr ends a,l einbeu 70
top of the the feat presseu anu 'o
Graduated him heartily. , -. =. .,o r,,-or +r,nt
of the tower, and when it was again III reaSiies h
harrington embarked once more ANY ies f o1
asked as the rope set in notion and aLio te sOou
wishes ana haDdcappng of those on the tower ~ was
launched INTO the space between the piers over t rfel
His appearance was tho signal for everything IN Tue
shaoe OF a steamboat make all the noise III us loWo
Tp shricks Of the whistles and shOnts OF the stctts
wer dpafening even ut tEe great ist % te
snmmits of the towers, and Dir. Harrington waved MS
baI AGAIN and again i'm reply tO them The Trip between
fhe sewers occupied six aud oneh&i minutes anu lie
recentiop of the courageous traveller upon the NcNf
toyyrr Was more enthusiastic, II possible thah on tc
Brooklyn tower while the people upon Ie %ni :, =
toined i'm the yocieroas welcoming Ihefe "eIc s'N-
erai ladies on the New-York tower. In, Ia .
taw secDr1s the third stage OF the Journey
from the NcNv-York tower to the aneh"r-lioil
Vas bcpnn This occupied about the same tinc % iie
hrst stage and equally success'ul cOheInais nm l
reneved cheers and the no.se oil factory Whistles INC
eonle ON the wharves and in Front-st rushed up 20 tc
enclor ler 10 see the landing, following ana Che'll
Mr harrington through the streets as nc ihauc MS WY
back to the tower . r. -. IN
AZ cscs st0upjne-point Mr.. Darlington counenahee
was carefully studied by the spectators 10 sec IL II h'Ne
The gIcst si of fear nervousness, buJ NC Was IL
cool and collected as II he bad walked across ON thV
bridge winch lis hazardous Tip viii forward ~ mary
WAYS Although practically certain tnat tle up
yoald support "a much greater straii us u must 81 ~
wouIn be iiseess II necessary that some or,
go out on H. and the master ElechGnle thonalt IL
that III should prove himself wiling 10 90 lhiG "hCh
he will soon cali upon his 70 40. Ills trip gives coui
az 10 the men, proving to them that 1t Is WITHOUT ANY
hoal