National Republican., 1876-08-28
A JOURNEY IN IND AIR.
Crossing the East River on one Of the Small
Wires.

WHobs
On Friday afternoon the first crossing was
made in air over the East river, from Brooklyn
to New York, by Mr.. Edwin T. Harrington,
superintendent in charge of the construction of
the bridge, who made the passage from tower
top 10 tower TOP, at an elevation of two hun
dred and seventy six feet above the water, on
a single wire, arranged on pulleys as an endless
belt. MIR. Harrington, in his trip, occupied
"boatswain's chair," and the object of the trip
was chiefly to show to the public the safety of
the wire and inspire the workmen with conf.
dence.
The cable was Get in motion at about II
O'Clock, to take out any twists there nigh. be
in it and to test more thoroughly its working
capacity. There were number of prominent
persons present, and considerable prominence
was given 10 the event by display of flags,
blowing of whistles by the steam craft on the
river, &c. The passage Of Mr.. harrington is
thus described:
HSoon after O'Clock the cable ceased to
revolve, and the 'beatswain's chair not IN
like an ordinary 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 were less than four feet long and
Joined close together around the wire at the
top. Mr.. Harrington wore tight-fttiug buck
skin gloves, and when he took mis- 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 reyolve.
A gun was fired 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 cheered, and
Mr.. Harrington swung his hat and waved
kisses to the ladies. He took his watch and
noted the time. Five minutes afterward he
approached the tower. Then he was standing
in his seat. This, Mr.. Martin, who was super
intending the engine, explained, was the only
point attended with peril, and he felt some
anxiety about the working of the engine, fof,
in case it went too rapid the chair might be
dragged over the pulleys and its occupant
thrown out. He watched the signal man anx-
iously, and when he learned that the chair
was within ten feet of the tower he stopped
the engine. Then he ordered il to work very
slow, 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 pale,
and his lips quivered. He held tight to the
cable. Daring workmen reached for him, and
he was drawn upon the pier. He trembled
somewhat, but said that he was not nervous.
He shook hands with Senator Murphy, and
then spoke to the bystanders, one Of whom en-
courseingly said, We'll, old boy, you carry
your life in your hand in crossing that river.
l wouldn't make the trip for q million dol
lars
"The little swing or boatswain's chair was
made fast 10 the cable on the river side of the
pier. Mr.. FarrInetOn said that he was ready
to start. He stroked his short gray beard,
ard looked curiously at those about him, and
then with real hrayprv and rnrrph iunh 60
he swung over the side of the tower and
clutched the ropes of his chair. He waved his
hand. The spectators on the tower DOTTED
their hats and cheered, the red flags were held
aloft, and the journey across the river was be-
gun. Senator Murphy and others shouted to
him, 'Good hy,' "A safe journey
'All the ferry boats, tug boats and steamers
in the river set up screeching. Every pilot
seemed simultaneously to have seen MIR. Far
rngton on the wire. Some of the ferry-boats
were stopped in the middle of the river, and
the ladies on the boats, on the piers and on
the housetops frantically shook their handker-
chiefs. Men and boys shouted and swung
their hats, and, Mr.. Harrington, seemingly en-
joying his ride, held his handkerchief In the
breeze. When near the centre of the crossing
he clapped his hands, and seemed immensely
pleased. While nearing the New York pier
the wire was bent so that the trip was almost
perpendicular, and Mr.. Harrington stood in his
seat, aDu Was IuuS edlciS Top,
and the first man who crossed the great bridge
was greeted with terrific cheers. The trip
from pier to pier was made in six minutes and
forty-fve seconds. The ride from the New
York pier to the anchorage was accomplished
in four minutes. Mr.. harrington said he had
a delightful ride. He returned to Brooklyn in
a Fulton ferry-boat, and was everywhere con-
graduated. Many persons applied to the
bridge company's office for permission to cross
in the same chair used by Mr.. harrington"
Mr.. Harrington, the hero of the hour, Is
master mechanic, and is said to have no peer
in the putting together OF wire bridges. He
gained high reputation in the construction Of
the bridges at Cincinnati and Niagara, both of
which be was the first to cross.
The endless belt on which he crossed is 9 800
feet in length, ex lending over the tower on
either side of the river and to the anchorage
below. 1t will be used to carry the material
for the structure, being propelled by steam
engines over pulleys.