The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-26
RIVERS SHALL NOT DIVIDE THEM.
THE FIRST MAN CROSSES IRON BROOKLYN TO
NEW YORK DY WAY OF THE GREAT BRIDGE

wire swung from tower tower a few DAYS ago The
attracted thousands Of spectators who lined the
wharves and river OF both cities from an
early hour in the morning One O'Clock
in the afternoon the hour fixed for
the pcrous voyage. and the forenoon wore on tho
housetops in the vicinity Of the anchoragcs became
black with spectators and streets the neghbornood
became crowded to interfere with travel AT the
anchorage and towers workmen were busily engaged
in preparing for the transit. The ropo stretching
from anchorage to anchorage across the towers
is only three-quarters Of inch thick so
that at that immense height 1t looked like a
SPIDERS thread. 1t $500 feet long and is
worked by twenty-five horse power engine at tho
foot Of the Brooklyn tower; passes through combina
ton OF shcaves and pulleys either anchorage and
forms the longest bctconnectng machinery in the
world. Al tho Brooklyn anchorage Mr.. McNulty, of
tho Engineer corps, superintendcd the worKmcn as
sisted by Mr. Harrington and Mr.. Martin A belt six
teen inches wide stretched from the engine TO the
shaft Ut tho top Of the anchorage distance of ninety
eight feet bet tightcner was erected that the
strain the belt could be regulated and then by
OF lever top OF she structure tho machinery was
set in motion and the endless traveller moved
across tho 1t found necessary to have the
rope make the circuit several times to got twists
out of it, Otherwise would have turned the advcn
turous passenger and in his journey. stick
anchorage twisted completely around several times
tower The rope kept in revolution until sed
TO twist and ran with perfect smOothness Tho engine
was then reversed, and 1t found to travel with
equal facility the contrary direction. Before ono
O'Clock
THE TOWERS WITH SPECTATORS
among whom few ladies, whom the climb
Ing Of some 400 steps mad not deferred from making
the ascent. Al nineteen minutes past one o'clock a
United States nag thirty feet by twenty lung to
the breeze from the Brooklyn tower, few min
utos later another aoatcd from tho flagstaff on the
New York tower. A man with a red signal flag was
posted on The verge OF either tower, and tho waving
alot OF thor bunting announced that all roady for
the trip The greatest excitement prev allied among
tho thousands who, with upurned faces had xously
watched these preparations. cheer sight of
the red flags and the ranks of skygazcrs rapidly
augmented by arrivals. Meanwhile Mr.. Harrington
experimenting tho preparation Of the contrvanco
in which he was to make the passage This what
is known as ''boatswains chair" 1t was simply a
piece OF board two inches thick and half feot
long and ten inches wide, wing each corner an
auger hole through which passed piece of
rope knottcd tho under side OF the board Those
Jour ropes then brought together In a
knot at their upper extremity and fastened TO an
iron ring the whole forming sort OF swing. Tho
ring bolt was then attached 10 the eastern wire and
Mr. Harrington proceeded to take his This was
somewha. delicate operation. piece of board was
fastened with us end projecting some distance beyond
tho face Of the masonry. Upon this outer end |
placed the board and the passenger took his seat upon
He apparently perfectly cool and collected and
from tImo 10 time gave directions to the workmcn |
abou. glance at HIM showed man OF medium
height and rather spare figure with graysh beard and
light blue He attrcd in suit OF unbleachcd
linen and straw nat Tho workmcn passed q |
rope across a, his back 10 form rest and then BRING
4
rope again. This seemed TO make the voyager |
uncomfortable. as 1t interfercd with his freedom OF
motion.
At precisely thirty two minutes past o'clock Mr..
Harrington cried "Ready !" the red flag waved tho
engineer shifted hs lever, the wheels revolved and
the twnkling OF an eye tho daring passenger was
susPkNDED IN MID AIR,
while cheer after cheer from tho bc
low and the party on tho tower could BIO waving
hats and han dkorchiots AS Mr.. Harrington swung
the housetops in his ascent toward the
he stood upright upon ME seal, swung around
freed himself from the restraint of the rope by which
he surrounded, and resuming his sitting POSTURE
lifted his hat and waved his handkerchief in response
the cheers OF the multitude tho roofs below. His
light coat blew open and hutercd in the wind at
moderate rnte Of speed he carried along the
rope, which Tor some distance wa, almost horizontal
on account of the sag. To the eyes OF the watchers
OH tho anchorage his form grew smaller and smaller
UNTIL he ncared the tower, he seemed larger than
good sized BIRD And now, having passed beyond the
sag OF the wirc his almost
upward along the facc OF the Tho greatest caro-
necessary manipulating tho wire, for II he
were drawn suddenly against the coping The tower
he would be thrown Off anu dashed TO jelly upon the
wharf below One Of the most experienced gincers
the place ncd tho lever and as Mr. WINS seen
toapproach the top of the the engine slowed
All eyes strained to discern the movements
Of the voyaser. That he appreciated the danger
evident also the reason for bis freeing himself
from tho restraints of tho cncircng rope for he
upright again with his feet upon tho board aud his
hands ready to save himself by grasping tho |
coping Of the tower in case tho wire was stopped
in time The red flag to drop, and snulta. |
to hcp Mr. Harrington upon the tower but he was still
little too low down to DO reached The red flag
mean go ahead Started the wire again very eau
tously 1t had moved but few fcct when the flag |
dropped again. and the engine was stopped ins!ana;
with the top Of the tower, and strong hands |
srasping his he upon his foct and surrounded by
excited crowd OF friends in second. Three rous-
ing cheers announced hts safety to the thousands |
waiting the New York shore. and little gun the
foot OF tina, tower gave on; salute. His time from
leaving the distance of 900 feet three
aud thrcequartcr minutcA The
fastened TO- tho wro ass.n and Mr.. harrington was
swung out over tho river with stretch OF 900 feet
clear before hum As he Moved outward war, he was In
and navigating the river. Cheers the air. and he
responded by waving hts hat An carporcng shrek Of
ndded their shril TREBLE the signal OF the
ferry boats and the deep dapnson Of the steamboats,
all Joined In continuous roar Which swcllcd louder
and louder while tho bird-likc speck twircd around
and around rs II progressed toward the New York
top nsar the tower crowds OH the wharves broke
forth into long and loud cheers Another minute and
the vigilant watchers on the Brooklyn side
saw the flag drop and stopped tho wirc
and n another second tho object Of their soicitude
stood upon The Now York tower having mndo the pas
sage In six and three quarter minutea Walking
tho tower no at ten minutes to two O'Clock resumed
hts fragile perch tho signal hoiscd and he began
his downward trip toward the anchorage this SIDE
The crowds assembled along The rivor front surgcd
toward the anchorage 10 see him land Despite
the shouting and confusion that went beneath him
he sat quiet with his hands folded when no
them In response and showed every sign Of perfect
self possession. whc making this part Of the trip
bells rung and tho steam whistles OF dozen
factories gave notice citizens from the
that tho feat almost accomplished In four min
utes from the Of leaving tbo tower the first pas
songcr by way OF the great bridge landed at tho
apt HORACE on Waor street, The trip from the
Brooklyn anchorage made IN twenty two minutes
When Mr. Harrington descended he tho recipient Of
SPONTANEOUS OVATION
from the assembled thousands and as he strocd
an oh he on Ia IL 10