The New York herald., 1876-10-17
EAST RIVER BRIDGE.
fHE YrRsr CRADLE CABLE OK IT'S PASSAGE
ACROSS THE RIVER.

tzE YIRsr CRADLE CABLE on IT'S PASSAGE
ACROSS THE RIVER.
The work OF bringing the large "cradle' cabsa
tho river commenced yesterday morning about len
O'Clock, ana at hafpast Ave in the afternoon, when
york was stopped ON account OF the darkness about
1900 feet of suspended the carrier rope"
The end beng within 500 feet of the Brooklyn tower.
Early Ia she morning three gangs OF men were appor
Honei to the three different places where the principal
work was TO be done; the New York tower, one
On the Brooklyn tower and another at the Brooklyn
anchorage Mr. +. T. Harrington on the New
York tower all day and superntended the
Kork done there. Chief Engineer Martin
Eas at the Brooklyn in the early
part Of tho morning, but came over 10
Ibe New York side about ten O'Clock From nine 10
half-past ten the men on the New YORK side were
busy fastening the end OF the cable 20 the traveller
rope This was done by attaching two four ana naii
inch manila ropes about my feet in length. At half
past ten the slack drawn up from the pier below
thus relieving the strain the traveller At twenty
minutes to eleven tho engine At the Brooklyn anchor
age in notion anu in fe~ minutes subsequently
he big cable was started way across the river
When was run out about nfty feet was attached TO
Tho carrier by pair OF ssistcr hooks" These
hooks are securely fastened by means OF
manila rope to the 'crade" cable, and
wheel, TO which tho hooks are attached
then rests on the carrer rope These hooks are put
on about every y sixty feet, and the great delay
In bringing tho cable is IN making the attach
meutG Considerable delay was also caused yesterday
by the betting connected with the machinery at
the Brooklyn anchorage occasionally slipping. In tho
case OF two OF the sister hooks which attached
the wheels belonging to them slipped OF tho 'carrlcr"
rope utter the cable ont sixty seventy feet from
the tower, and one OF the workmen, Henry supple
laH sofn tka
on by the traveller He then stradded the rope and
renamed in that position for ten minutes or
more while he was fixing the hooks IN position
The work progressed in this manner all day, slowly
but surely with only occasional hitch In the draw
ing Of the cable rnc wheels seemed to roll smoothly
on the carrier and though that rope suffered denec-
ton OF about eighteen feet account OF the immense
weight Of the crade cable, IL swayed so little that
II was not percepblc from the top OF the tower The
signalling performed by means of red ags raising
tho flag beng signal 10 start The engine and lowering
IL a signal to stop Comm unicaton between tho top
and ioot OF the pier where immense reel OF cable
placed carried by the unaided power Of the
worKmen's lungs. Around tho reel of cable wasa ganR
p under Foreman Young, who aided the uncoiling
As as the engine was started Al hali-past four
pciock twenty pairs OF the hooks had been placed
tho carrer and about 1850 ieet ofthe cable had
been uncoiled. Three moro hooks were placed on the
scsrrer' before dusk. Secure fastenipgs were then
ma oo'n abs On s s nsna na Ss
Early this morning work will be resumed and the cable
viii be carried across the tower 10 the Brooklyn
anchorage After being secured there the other end
the reel will be taken to the New York anchorage
and secured. This work being completed Two men
will 60 the river in buggy and remove the
ron hooks and other fasteningx This probably will
not take place before Wednesday afternoon or Thurs
day morning. and 1t will DO the end of this week before
this nrmly fixed position at both anchorages.
Both Chief Engineer Martn and Mr.. Harrington
rcrc perfectly satisfied with the way the work pro-
PRESSED yesterday, and feel confident tnat the other
:ables, which are TO DO taken over IN similar man.
ner, Will be carried across IN much loss time as the
workmen will, alter this ID placed In position,
thoroughly understand the work that Is to be done.
Crowds OF people the docks a. both sides Of
he river nearly all day anxously watching the prog
Of the cable but they could get but faint idea
Of the work Of the men on top Of the tower, and in
act had little TO reward them for their watching
pxgeA