Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-09-09

Hundred and seventy-six Feet from
Ihe Water.
The man daring enough to be the first
TO cross the East river ON the wire
stretched from New York to Brooklyn,
says the Sun, was Edwin f. Harrington. /
He is a master mechanic, and, it is said, |
has no peer in the putting together of /
the wire work of suspension bridges. |
He gained a reputation at Niagara and |
Cincinnati in the construction of bridges. |
He is about fifty years of age, and is as
brave as a lion.
Tho working rope is endless, reaching
from pier to pier, and is $500 feet in
length. 1t is the longest single belt con-
Meeting machinery in the world. A
boatswain's chair, not unlike an ordi-
nary little swing used by children, was
attached to the wire. The 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 the top. Mr.. Harrington
wore tight fitting buckskin gloves, and
when he took his seat his grip on the
cable was firm. Then he folded his arms
around the ropes, and the red flags on
the Brooklyn and New York towers were
waved, and the wire began again to re-
volve. A gun was fred on the New
York side and Mr.. harrington was on
his perilous ride to the Brooklyn tower
from the anchorage. The people in the
streets and on the housetops, near the
Fulton ferry, Justify cbeered, and Mr..
Harrington swung his hat and waved
kisses to the ladies. He took his watch
and noted the time. Five minutes after
ward he approached the tower. Then
he was standing in his seat. This, Mr..
Martin, who was experimenting the en-
CINE, explained, was the only point at
tended with peril, and he felt some anx-
iety about the working of the engine,
for, in case it went too rapid, the chair
might be dragged over the pulleys and
its occupant thrown out. He watched
the signal man anxiously, and when he
learned that the chair was within ten
feet of the tower he stopped the engine.
Then he ordered it to work very slowly,
and to 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 pdlS3 dIJ HulNClOus Liz
held tight to the cable. Daring work
men reached for him, and he was drawn
upon the pier. He trembled somewhat,
but said that he was not nervous. He
shook hands and spoke to the bystand-
ers, one of whom encouragingly said
"Well, old boy, you carry your life in
your hand in crossing that river. ]
wouldn't make that trip for million
dollars"
The little swing or boatswain's chair
was made fast to the cable on the river
side of the pier. Mr.. Harrington said
that he was ready to start. He stroked
his short gray beard, and looked
curiously at those about him, and ther
with real bravery and much nimbleness
he swung over the side of the tower and
cutched the ropes of the chair. He
waved his hand. The spectators cheered
the red flags were held aloft, and the
journey across the river was begun.
All the ferryboats, tugboats, an6
steamers in the river set up a screech
ing, Every pilot seemed simultaneous
ly to have seen Mr.. Harrington on the
wire. Some of the ferryboats were
stopped in the middle of the river, anG
the ladies on the boats, on the piers
and on the housetops frantically shool
their handkerchiefs. Men and boy
shouted and swung their hats, and Mr.
Harrington, seemingly enjoying his ride
held his handkerchief to the breeze
When near the center of the crossing h
clapped his hands, and seemed immense
ly pleased. While nearing the Ney
York pier the wire was bent so that tn
trip was almost perpendicular, and Mr.
Harrington stood in his seat, and wa
thus safely carried to the top, and tn
first man who crossed the great bridg
was greeted with terrific cheers. TIL
trip from pier to pier was made in si
minutes and forty-fva seconds. TIL
ride from the New York pier to tn
anchorage was accomplished in four min
ures. Mr.. Harrington said he had de
lightful ride. Many persons applied a
the bridge company's Office for permits
sion to cross in the same chair used b
Mr.. harrington. His trip was merely t
satisfy the public that the wire is 81
cure. He was the first to cross the Cir
cinnati bridge and also the Niagara one
This is the only unhUsiness venture i
the work of the bridge, and the othe
trips are to be made for useful purposes
A new working rope is to be dashed t
the upper cable and pulled across, {
was the boatswain's chair. After it
stretched from anchorage to anchorage
two buggies, one from New York, Il
other from the Brooklyn tower, are
be started down the rope to the ancho
ages. Each will descend by it's ow
weight, and as it goes the workmen il
side of it will cut the lashings, thus fire.
ing the working wire. This done, IL
buggies are to be returned to the tw
towers, and adjusted to the cables in ii
same way. They will descend to Il
middle of the stream, from opposite q
rections, by their own weight, and I'll
lashings will be cut as they go. The
will meet in the center of IL
river-it is hoped without a viole,
collision, as there will be nothing to I
strain them in their course. The nae
in the buggies are to lash them togethe
and then tie them firmly to the endle
cable. They are then to swing the ne
wire free, and are to be pulled to Il
Brooklyn tower by working the endle
rope.
How CIoaniur ror nl,neto ouo NJ 4