The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-30
another Wire Rope Stretched Across
the East River.
A PERILOUS VOYAGE.
Messrs. Arnold and O'Neil Sus-
pended on the Wrong Gables.
FROM TOWER TO TOWER.

Another wire rope added to the East River
Bridge yesterday. Early in the morning large reel,
on which was wound s. 700 feet OF wire rope.
hoisted the top of the New York anchorage, on the
Cherry street side and placed IN cradle so that 1t
would revoive easily About ten A. NJ thefree end OF
tho rope, which is composed Of six strands, each
strapd being made OF seven wires firmly twisted to-
gcher, attached to the ''traveiler," or
endless wire rope passing over the New
York and Brooklyn towers and through sheaves
on the anchorages. The red signal flags on the
anchorage and the towers displayed, the great
engine the Brooklyn side set in motion, and
the wire moved along seeming TO creep out over
the other, bat really moving with it. When fifty feet
had been reeled out hemp lashiDg was passed
around the two wires to keep the new one from
sagging.
As the end of. the wire moved the housctops
the news spread tn rough tho city, and in few min
utes the streets and wharves along the shore we're
crowded with interested spectators Every time that
fifty feet sezing put on the engines were stopped
by the dropping OF the red flags. AT noon
the work was finished and arrangements were made to
send men over the wires to cut them apart.
The time fixed half past two 2 NJ Mr.. f. +. Far
rington was to pass down the wire from the top OF
the Brooklyn tower to the anchorage, Fred Arnold
to cut the ashng from that tower to the middle Of
tnc between Two clues, James " Nell was &C.
tailed to go from the top OF the New York and
meet Arnold, and william Miller from the New York
tower to the anchorage this side of the From
the top of each tower TO the anchorage the
distance is 1000 feet From tower TO tower,
LOGO feet. 1t arranged that the four
men should start simultaneously. The excitement
created by the daring acts Of the men who cut the
lashngs from the wires last Saturday had grown
intense, that yesterday the hour for the start
approached the throngs the streets and piers on
both sides of the river seriously impcded traffic On
the New York anchorage the masons busly at
work, the superintendent watching for the signal
nag on the tower, and few privileged visitors
walking about inspecting the massive iron and stone
work On the top OF the tower dozen men, including
O'NeiI and Miller and the workmen, had gathered.
The ascent OF the tower by thirty flights of is
by no means pleasant to any one with delicate nerves
or liable to vertigo The city sink away, the
river looks narrower and of deeper buc the boats
move slower and the birds closer TO ones head
The hands take rmcr hold tho trail side rail- and
there is almost irresistible tendency to make flying
leap into the clear air AT last the summit is reached
and the visitor walks to the solid masonry by passing
over narrow plank with slack rope for his hand rail-
II he has not the courage to walk the plank he crecps
over it The summit gained, the view al around the
horizon is superb Tho city beneath, with its broad
and the view reaches far up the East and Hudson
and over the bnvs and the neighboring cities.
NKw YORK TOWER
Al last, after delay OF little more than an hour
tho Brooklyn side the signal given to make ready
"Boatswans' chairs'' had been hung by single iron
shaekle to the wires each side of tho tower and the
men stood ready to 60. The red flag raised, and
O'Neil and Miller ped their dangerous seats
Each had rope about $50 feet long attached to him.
held by the men on the tower to prevent him from
rushing too fast down the steep incline at the start
Al seventeen minutes to Jour T. NJ the crowds the
they comet and then were strangely silent
The red nags were then waved again,
and the dark bodies OF the were
shooting through the air. Suddenly they stop.
The Hash OF knife Is seen In the sunlight and the men
tecn TO ia about six feet give slight rebound and
then slip along the wire again. Watching Miller with
glass, he was seen to cut three lashings and then
east of his gauntlet, as the stay rope Is called He
moved with frightiul rapidly urging his iraii chair
Along with both hands unt he reached ashing, when
he would stop snatch knife from his pocket cut the
selnng with one slash OF the blade drop the kuiie
back TO It's place rush Miller had his chair
The new wire, and every time the cut was made the
lashng few into the air and the wires sprang apart
with frigh'iui force, thus giving Miller quick,
short fail and bounce in his chair. He bad
1000 feet to 30 and twenty ashings to cut On
Saturday last Supple did The work ten minutes.
Yesterday Miller did ii in seven and halt. As he
ncared the cloragc the order gwen ''Stand by,
men. TO snatch him y His lace firmly set, and his
had queer hight in Them his lace shining
the galvanized iron dust that the iron shacke OF his
char had ground IRON the wires, and his hands were
IN active the rope. When he within reach
the men caught him, and with rousng cheer landed
hun on the stone work. Meanwhile an exciting
cine was gong between the Just
The dark spot that the men knew to be Frcacrick
Arnold commenced move from the Brooklyn
SIDE O'Neu started from New York lie moved very
fast and seemed TO lie gaming on his fellow workman,
each having 500 feet to and had accomp shed about
half the distance when he was seen 10 stop by
heavens w exclaimed, "bs chair Is jammcd.p
The glasses of the engineers brought bear on
him, when they saw HIM working at the wire above
hun, as II were last Then he got out OF his chair,
climbed up to the wirc and, acting very much like
gymnas sung himself by a strap tho wire he had
uot been riding on. 1t was then that by
error ID the management the wires had been crossed
aud he had been riding on the new wire instead OF the
old one or traveller oNeii discovered
GOODNESS determined TO change. He cut his
chair clear from the shacke, and calmly sitting in the
strap that held him ISIS feet the river splccd
the ends OF the hemp ropes Of his chair together Ii
took him just sixteen accomplish the task
ihe hearts OF many OF the spectators beating fast and
hard on witnessing his cool daring As all
right O'Nei move on again, and without further
adventure reached the mlde OF the river a seventeen
minutes alter our O'Clock, precisely thirty four min
rtes after his start and there bes de Arnold who
had meanwhile been patiently waiting for him. o'Nch
four minutes past iour L. 81. before every thing was
made right ana The engine moved again.
PROM BRpoSLYN
Al the Brooklyn side OF the bridge there quite
number o persons who had been admitted To tue en-
closure which surrounds the tower Among these
several ladies' who were very anxious to witness
the passage OF the men Oue pretty brunette. young
girl OF about eighteen, wearing pink plaid summer
dress, assembled 10 the top OF the tower Mr.
Harrington down on the wire 10 the anchorage. and
she was foIlowed by number Of young ladies'
When she reached the top she felt rather dzzy,
she used her opera glass effectively. Dozens OF per-
sons applied to be permitted to 90 up tower but
they were allowed to DO so, accidents we're
feared. Mr. Harrington, II was understood would
make a crossing IRON The tower TO the BROOKLYN IL
choragc, distance OF $40 icct aud precisely at eight
past two O'Clock appeared readiness his
bVatswans chair having been already liked for him.
TnE START WAS MADE IsngpiArgty.
There were twenty lasbngs " be cut the anchor
age side and Tor this purpose Mr. harrington took
him large knife. as The lashings, made OF hcmpcn
rope, wound around the cables ven or
Dgnt times each. The dar aerial navigator had cut
two Of the lashings which were my apart when
his knife dropped to the carth 200 feet below him.
Then the difficulty came to how the
cables 10 be united. But Mr. Harrington
soon solved this matter by taking hold of the