The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-26
A PERIL0US RIDE ON 4 WIRE
CROSSING the EAST RIVER ON ONE
OF THE SMALL CABLES.
A Journey through the Air 276 Feet from the
Wntcr-Ilo, the In ring Feat wns success
fully Performed by Engineer FsrrinRtop.


Wntcr-ilo the Dnr ring Feat wns success
fully Performed by Engineer FsrrinstoD.
The man daring enough to be the first to
cross the East River on the wire stretched from
New York to Brooklyn was Edwin Il. Earring
ton. He Is a master mechanic, and, 1t Ia said,
has no peer In the putting together OF the wire
work of suspension bridges. lie gained repu-
tation at Niagara and Cincinnati In the con-
struction of bridges. He is about nifty years OF
age, and Is as brave as lion.
An ind escribable and most distressing feel
ing generally takes possession Of the person
who for the FIRST time finds himself on the top Of
one OF the bridge towers. He Is 27e feet above
the river, and he imsRines, II bo steps back
ward, that he has taken his last step, and when
he goes forward and becomes dazed by the ex-
traordinary amount OF land and water within
his vision, he fears that he Is about to trip into
some hole or suddenly slide into space. Every
thing seems to bo upon the edge. A single
plank is thrown across the gulches or crevices
where the saddles are, and should the visitor be
Of trembling limb aud fall, death is certain
The view from the pier Is superb. Nearly the
full length of Manhattan Island is discerniOle.
Governors Island resembles pretty garden
with an ugly great cheese box at one end.
BROOKLYN was bright and fresh with its beauti-
ful trees, and all the principal buildings OF the
Island and the Brooklyn Navy Yard seemed
within stones throw, and Jersey CITY lio-
DOken, ana Its suDurhs were plainly IN slght.
" thought We might see them thinR at Coney
Island or Rnckaway,' SAID one. " I9u might ON
a clear day" was the answer.
The crowds on the steamboat piers increased
until fully ten thousand persons watched. Per-
sons camored for admission To tho yards on
both aides OF the fiVer. at the anchorages, and
the p.ers. AT the anchorages workmen were
busy putting ON the belts that connect the shaft
ing with the gear wheels OF tue pulleys. When
tho belts were in position II was necessary to
tighten them again. A belt tighteneT as placed
In the boz, and at IL o'clock the great pulley
Rturted tho lfOpklNu auruDraua "A
stick was tied to the wire, and II served to show
the twist in the wire. The twist seemed TO have
disappeared when the stick reached the tower.
The working rope Is endless, ana Is 6,cO) feet In
length. 1t Is the longest single belt connecting
machinery in the world. The rOIe was reyolved
for nearly two hours aud In that time many
written messages nd sticks were sent from
brooklyn to New York and return. The FIRST
message was sent by Brooklyn Argus reporter,
who asked for three scnoOners Of beer and six
ham sandwiches. Tue reply was, Send the
money ana we will send the beer"
About o'clock there was AN unusual stir
among the workmen on the tower. man with
a red hlg had arrived, and he was to signal to
the engineers at the anchorage when to start or
to stop their engine. rge American ndg
was raised to the top OF derrick. aud at tho
same time lag was unfurled on the New YORK
side. senator Henry L. Murphy. with Has
Wheeler and several others. clanlored 10 the ton
OF the tower. They were terribly fatigucd,
and Mr.. Murphy narrowly escaped destruction
by being wrapped in tue folds Of the American
nag. The banner furled Itself about bin, snd
he held fast to the derrick. Several women
were on the New YORK tower.
Doatswain's chair" not unlike an ordinary 1T
tie swing used by children, was attached to the
wire. Tho board seat Is about two feet long and
eight inches wide, and the ropes we're less than
four feet long and Joined close together around
the wire at TIE top. Mr. Harrington wore tight
hitting buckskin gloves, ana when ne took his
scat his grip on the caols was nrm. hen he
folded his arms around the ropes and the red
were waved, and the wire began az In to re-
y9ye' ya,s s,as gun S ar'd r,,SIos,aD sSe Ne.
ON his perious ride to the brooklyn tower
from the anchorage. The people Ia the streets
iIstily cheered. ana Mr. Harrington swung his
bat and waved kisses to the ladies. He took
his watch and noted the time. Five minutes
was standing In his seat. THIS Mr.. Martin, who
was experimenting the engine explained was
the only point attended with peril, and he felt
some anxiety about the working OF the engine,
for In Case II went too rapid. the chair might bo
thrown out. He watched the signal man anx.
iously, and when lie learned that the chair was
gine. Then he ordered Il To work very slowly,
and 10 stop again as the chair touched the
tower His caution led TO most perfect result.
Mr. harrington was touching the granite pier
when the engine stopped. He was pale, aud nis
liDs quivered. He held tight 10 the cable.
Daring workmen reached for him. and he was
drawn upon the pier. lie trembled somewhat,
but said that he Was not nervous. lie shook
hands with Senator Murphy, and then spoke TO
the bystanders, one Of whom encouragingly
said, " Well, old boy, YOU carry your NE IN your
the trip for a million dollars
The little swing or Doatswain's chair was
made Fast TO the caole on the river side OF the
pier. Mr.. FarrinRton said that no was ready TO
start. He stroked his short gray beard, and
looked curiously al those about HIM, and then
swung over the side OF the tower and clutched
the ropes OF his chair. He waved his hand.
ana cheered, the red flags were held oloft, and
the journey across the rlver was begun. sena-
tor MuIphy and others shouted TO him, "Good
All the ferry boats, tug boats, and steamers in
the river set up a screening. Every pilot seem
ed simultaneously to have seen Mr. Harrington
on the wire. Some OF the ferry DO It's were stop
ped IN the middle Oi the river, anu the ladies'
the boats, on the piers, and on the housetops
iranticsllv shook their handkerchiefs. Men and
BOYS shouted and swung their hats, aud Mr..
frringion. seemlneiy en- ,yng rs ride. held
ntre Of the crossing lie clapped his hands, aud
seemed Immensely pleased. While nearing the
the trip was almost Ierpendicular, and
Mr. Farrngson stood In bis seat, and WAS
thus safely carried to the TOD, and the first
man who crossed the great bridge was greeted
with terrific chcer,. Ihe tnp flOm pier to pier
was made IN SIX minutes and forty -nve seconds.
The ride from the New \ ORR pier to the anchor
aye was accomplished in iolr minutes. MI Far
rlnrton said be ID IA delightful ride lie re-
turned to brooklyn Ia Fulton ferry boat and
everywhere congratulated. Many persons
applied at the bridge complny's Oiice tor per
mission to cross IN the same chair used 10y MIR.
Fairngton. His trip was merely to satisfy the
public that the wire Is secure. lie vAs the first
70 cross the Cincinnati bridge and also the
kiagara one
lhis IL tie only unbusiness venture In the
work Of the bridge. and the other trips to
be made for useful purposes. The nrst thing
this morning, new working rope Is TO be
las he'd to The upper cable and pulled across, rs
was the bOatswain's chair yesterday. After IL
Ia stretched from anch orage to anchorage, two
buggies, one from New York, the other from
the Brooklyn tower, are to be started down the
rope To the anchorages. Each will descend
by It's own weight, and as II goes the workmen
inside Of II will cut the lashings thus freeing
the working wire. This done, the buggies are
TO be returaed to the two towers, and ad jusled
to tue cables in the same way They will de-
scend to the middle OF the stream, from op-
posits directions, by their own weight, and the
lashings will be cut as they go. They Will meet
IN the centre OF the riyer-it Is hoped without
violent collision, as there Will be nothing re-
strain them In their course. The men In Tue
buggies are to lash them together, and then
tie them firmly to the endless cable. They are
then To swing the new wire free, and are to be
pulled to the brooklyn tower by working tho
endless rope.
h. In