The New York herald., 1877-02-12
UP THE TOWER.
The Question of Nerve Which Ferry Passsn.
gers Daily Discuss.
MEN pom WIR E S.
A Short Walk on the Foot Bridge-Ascending
the Tower-Reyolving Scenery.

figures OF men which creep upou 'hc IRON hi"iho"'s'
swsyng as gossamer threads between the two towers
and who are lost wonder at the nerve these men DIS
play and cannot imagine they can work under
such perous circumstances The writer was of a
croup staring at these bridge cs He heard many ex-
presons of admiration pluck and proceeded TO
see what there was IN It.
First he approached the gate OF the New YORK tower
Soon watchman sang OUT
"Hi! there, where yer goin'y'
Cup the tower-if l can
eyer can't Go see Mr.. Farrngton; he's in Brook
lyn or he is somewhercs in New York, or hos at tho
anchorage, or he"
s.Stop, my friend, you arc sufficiently explicit" ana
the reporter started for tho New York anchorage In
the office lie found the foreman of the rggers and
Iaborers Charles W. Young tall portly man OF six
fcct full Intelligent face. with heavy mustache. Mr.
Young though very polite also referred the reporter
10 MIR. Harrington. Passing from Mr.. Youngs Office
at tho foot of the anchorage he found a hut full oil
laborcrs and rggcrs taking their dinner and pipes He
asked the names OF these bridge flies and how they
felt when up the bridge.
MODEST HEROES
bright looking young fellow in brown overshirt
and with a sparkling eye, gave HIS name as Joseph
CaIlaghan The Others were Louis Holland, William
Gardner reticent, iull bearded man; Martin Whacn,
clean shaven, with Robert Macairc hat on; Joseph
Shrcdccker who tusgcd away at pipe and squeezed
himself out of shape in u corner his modesty John
Perry, with a mustache and imperial and Tom Brown.
All that could asccrained from these modest bridge
dies was that If they were put in the HERALD they
would DO chaffed by thor comrades; that climbing
cables and walking tight ropes easier than rolling
of og and that there heroism calling forth
of the subtle force in 1t at ALL but being brought
up riggers. they knew rope from a handsaw, and
weren't such fools reporters took them to be-
Every effort get moro OF their experiences was met
with the answer. go to Harrington"
THE SUPERINTENDENT
Edmund S. harrington, master mechanic, superin-
tendent charge OF wire work, IRON work and carpen-
terry the East River Brdgo, was found at MS oihco
In Brooklyn. Hc is man lity- y-sevcn years old, OF
medium height solidly butt, wearing closely cut
brown IN mustache and beard, and somewhat resembles
General Grant in quiet decision OF lace and manner
His eve is of that calm dangerous blue; his Of
low clear pitch, both indicative OF immense rcsolu
..Mr Harrington, want TO go over as much Of the
foot bridge as can, aud up the tower"
..You can 60 SIR, replied Mr.. Harrington, with a
peculiar twinkle that the reporter did not then COM
prehend, "and as happen to have business IN tho
tower, shall 60 with YOU"
ssBeforc we 90 please tell me something about your
men and how they can work under such apparent d't
..Woil, sir many of my men have been with me for
years. There are John L. Smallieid ana william
bempsep foreman carpenters; Harry Supple, fore
m of the New York tower. whose name Indicates his
pature; William Miller, James O'Neill, Fred Arnold
ana william Gardner are Old experienced risgcrs and
men of like character in this kind of work. They
temperate thoroughly disciplined, and in lofty posi-.
tions gesture look Will have the iu!l force oil
command"
"Do you think that 1t Is simply temperance that
makes these steady at great heiehisW
mo, SIR. No man can bo a bridge builder VINO must
educate his nerves 1t must be II constitutional gilt
He cannot when 200 feet the air, use MS brain to
keep his head steady lie needs IL an |" make ms
delicate and difficult work secure. They must plant
their feet by instinct OF course aiea
OF ieet without muscle trembling 1t is rare thing
for man osc his lite IN our business from loss oil
nerve Sometimes carelcssness or want oi Juaamont
IN handling costs their lives but competent aith-
iul men are comparatively in much less danger ihan
you think."
..rhen understand you that when one looks up in
admiration and W rdcr at these men from the Jerry
boats IL is somewhat LOST :" .
.No SIR. But | say that my men and myself
move with such and precision that our eyes and
muscular 80 thoroughly trained that what to
won seems SO dangerous 10 us more than rcading
solid ground. But think where We Would be II cattle
should part then imagine yourself IN that place
NV nerves and do not know what giddncss Is"
Now shall we so to The tower or rather try the
bridge IRON the anchorage" continued the reporter
WALKING TUE PLANK.
s,Ccrtanly,n said Mr.. Fafcington and soon we had
mounted tue Brooklyn anchorage picr which Is sixty
feet high Before us the slender loot bridge not Tour
feet WIDE built upon Two massive cables, soped up TO-
ward the sun, stopping on the way at the Top
of the Brooklyn tower Some twelve feet from the
anchorage pier the bridge not laid For this dis
ance IL was connected by single plank, SIX inches
wide, with the masonry at our ieet. stepping nimDy
IN this plank thence to tho bridge Mr. Earring
ton commenced to dance around and run upward, aud
exclamed:- ,,
.Ccrtainy; steady as-my nerves Here | come, "
replied the reporter, putting one loot hrmly on the
plank no 9n sxS ee
gold were plainly to be seen traced upon the stone
pavement ,,
al thought you wanted go over the bridge as lar as
Another despcrate effort but, aasl the reporters
pnte
give Finally Mr.. Farrington came plungng back and
said quietly
"what?" yelled the reporter and dashIng over tne
board The bridge shot up at rapid rate Tor uly
he was TO get back again. After a prolonged
conversation OF minute and constant terror lest me
lively Harrington might bump against nun pom go, on
reached SOLID earth and presently were at Jho 1901 Oh
the lofty tower that rises oeside the river.
AS Mr. Farrington thrust his Key into the entrance
door he said :-"Now what inscription would you put
over this door, sir. F."
The reporter rcped:--
.stand like - steadast tower that
Its top for all the blowing OF the winds"
"I'Il be bound,n replied Mr. Harrington, "hcres one
man who doesn't say, All hope abandon yc who enter
In. %
SUCH GETTING UPSTAIRS.
The ascent began. 1t was decidedly easier than the
cable bridge, but some how, when YOU got up some
fifty feet you found, taking ono OF the turns that
you 20 around quicker than you mean TO. You think
IL is mistake it's the IN the next one and
the ncxt until you sit down and commence to make
rimlct OF yourself and try bore hole IN the step.
You look at MT. Harrington and he is lean
ing azly against the slender railing his eyes
dancing with laughter, and, In low tone, he repeats
..xeep fast hold. Tor by such stairs ns these
Must we periorce depart from so much evil"
EXTRAORDINARY SCENERY.
The reporter sugacst> that The view Is very Inc
md Mr. Harrington says II Is liner much higher; so
they start again 100 feet higher and the reporter looks
out ut New York just you LOOK INFO zootrope, tho
houses jumping one the other steamboats, bounc-
mo ir, ntlcaly over ships and into warehouses; men,
women and chldron not doigning to wait Tor the com
pIction OF the bridge, but taking the river al leap
aud he cries a.,
.Mr Harrington, l am not constutionally lifted for
bridge builder ond II ever can describe this scenery
we'll can do II now; thus rs just the proper height
that is If the scenery will only hold stIii noment"
.Weli" Mr.. Harrington REPLIED, I'VE VIII
rest here" and stepping OIL me pank.ns
vide lcdrc o the tower, 10 the
absolute terror of the reporter, who expected to see
hI,n ego below" Mr.. Farrington continued; Come
over here and look this man hole ONei iell down
Ierc 1O9 feet the other day. and actually when rope
lowercd he fastened II on his own hody we pulled