The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-27
THE BIG BRIDGE.
PxRILoUs WORK PERFORMED YESTERDAY DY
INTREPID MEN.

PxRILous WORK PERFORMED YESTERDAY DY
INTREPID MEN.
Yesterday the excitement created by the perous
transit OF the East River by Mr. Harrington upon the
slender endless wire rope or traveller" was kept
alive by the appearance OF two swinging from the
same wire out the middle of the river and far
as could DO from the level OF the street. holding
on only by their hands to the almost invisible rope
above The appearance OF these men was caused by
the stretching across Of The first wire for a second
traveller to be erected on the towers opposite the
one now 10 use and to be precisely similar to that
AT eight O'Clock yesterday morning tho workmen
the Brooklyn anchorage rolled into position mighty
reel with 300 feet OF wire rope seven-eighths OF
inch thick, coied upon It, one end of the wire was
then dashed to the traveller, and, the latter being
set in motion, gradually unwound the cable from the
reel ana bore the end OF It out the river. When
fifty feet had run out the part OF the cable the
reel was fastened by stout lashng to tho working
rope, and similar fnstenngs made at intervals of
fifty feet along the whole length of the wire.
When the end of the rope had passed over the
New York tower and reached the anchorage, It was
fastened at either end IN sort Of monster vice. 1t
now hung in mighty loop across the river dashed fast
to the revolving rope. These iashings had to be
cut 1t was intended TO have this work done by men
swung in "bugges or light platforms suspended from
the wire by shackIc roller. that 1t would slide
easily Owing TO tho illness Of tho company's
blacksmith, however these contrvances were
ready, and 1t decided to have the lashngs by
men swung out in ''boaswains chairs :" Accordingly
ut halfpas two expert riggcrs swung themselves
from either tower simultaneously toward the anchor
ages. From tho New York tower Henry Supple,
foreman rgger and sailor twenty six years Of age
native of Newfoundland, and who has been in the
ploy Of the company for lvo years, the
lected to perform
THE PxRIIOus work.
piece Of board similar to that on which Mr. Far
ringon made his passage on Friday and known among
riHeers n boatswans chair was fastened to iron
ring shackle to the traveller wire Seating himself
upon this and taking two hall bitches around tho wire
with short piece OF rope held In his hand and by
which he was to check his when he should find
himself moving 100 fast. the intrepid fellow swung
the verge OF the tower and sind with lightning like
velocity down The incline until he reaches the first
lashng when lie checked himself by tightening his
rope The ashing severed with couple OF slashes
with keen edged knife, and the wire 10 which tho
operator attached losing the support OF the other
fell down into loop, causing tie cable to vibrate
forcib along its entire length. Ldosenng the of
his rope around the traveller, " supple slid with great
speed TO the next ashing, severed II and passed
without epcounterng any obstruction until the two
wires wcro separated from the tower to the anchor
age, distance OF geo feet the entire work occupying
but ten minutes This performance was watched by
anxious crowd from the streets and wharves the
safely he was the recipient af rouslne cheers. Stimuli
taneously with Supplies leaving the tower William
Koenhncr, anoiher riegcr, IN obedience to signal
from the New York tower, started from the Brooklyn
tower to cut the lashngs between that structure and
the anchorage adjoining. he was not so apt his
fellow and occupied forty minutes in performing the
work. Thomas Carroll and Patrick limbs
then detailed TO start in similar manner
over the river They were to meet in the middle and
then fastening themselves together to the 'raveller
to BIO hauled up to the Brooklyn tower The
Ilrnn tvn npn Sl IN NV rf
shackle, and, making good progress cut his way TO
the middle of the river in short time and began
catching hold of the wires. Carroll however slid out
from the New York tower with his ''cbar' attached
to very large snatch block, which passed over
the wire. He got along swlmmnely to the first lash
ing. cut 1t and proceeded toward the next When
within about feet OF the latter his weight deprcss
ing wire below the other about loot the block
became damned between the two and he could neither
reach the flashing nor free himself in any other way.
At this juncure Supple came to his rescue Swinging
out over
HEIGHT,
hand hand the latter made his to Carroll 100
feet distant, freed him. and came back he went.
The episode caused those who witnessed II to hold
their breath with fear for the life OF daring young
man. II became evident that C1rrolPs block |
great hindrance, for IL became damned q similar
manner at every lashng so that, although N all the
other cases he freed himself, he succeeded in cutting
but five ashings out OF the entire thrtyfve, when he
was joined by Timbs from the Brooklyn side. Now a
difficulty arose. IL was found impossible to pull
the men ashore by the traveller for that rope was
twisted twice around the rope which had just been
free from 1t Accordingly 1t was determined TO pull
the up the incline by means of rope passed out
10 them ring was passed over the wire 10 which
they we're swinging heavy weight was attached to
II, and long rope beng fastened TO the latter,
IL hoped that the contrvance would slide down
the detection to the men, But II would slide
than 100 feet, While the men about $50
beyond Supple again the rescue; sitting on a |
loop of the rope thrown over the wre he worked his
way the two orkmen, who seemed very cool and
unconccrned. limbs, indeed, swinging in his lofty
perch with his folded arms resting upon the upper
wire, seemed about to 20 asleep When Supple reached
them tho end OF the rope he carried out fastened
Carros chair. and supple, seating himself in IL With
him, the two pulled up to the tower leaving
Timbs alone in the middle A signal made to
the people the Brooklyn tower and of the
Ia the wire having pissed to til New York side. the
engine started cautiously ard limbs, fastening
himself to the traveller, safe the Brook
Ign tower
This ended yesterdays work. Tomorrow another
wire will be passed over in a similar manner, and the
two being spced, will form the second ravellcr"
pair of working ropes. With their help seven tenn
porary cables will then DO stretched across the river
and them will he built foot bridge from to
tower, for The use OF rkmen. There will also bo
fastened to them at regular intervals tho
live cradles platforms to hold tools materiais
and to serve as resting places Tor the workmen. one
Of these temporary cables will be 2ss inches dame
four OF them VIII be 29 inches and the last
will be respectively Ia inches and u inches The
cutting of the lashlnrs OF these catlcs will be per-
formed by in the 'buggics' spoken OF, which
will soon be finished Although of these cables
will enter into the composition of the permanent cables
they will trusses. ties and other parts OF the
work. The permanent cables will DO tour in number,
and each Will be made OF nineteen separate wire
ropes laid straight together Each cable will
of no less than 900 finely tempered steel wires The
temporary cables Will probably all be stretched in
three weeks.