Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-06-18
\ Ropes Fatal Weakness.

n NOPE dlti w tdkItSS.
TWO MEN KILLED AND TWO INJURED BY THE
PARTING OF WIRE RoPE-TERRIBLE SCENE
on THE NEW YORK ANCHORAGE OF THE FAST
RIVER BRIDGE.
People who were near the New York anchorage
of the East River Bridge about noon yesterday
were suddenly startled by loud report, as of
ca mon. and crashing, whizzing noise. One of
the strands of cable No. 4 of the bridge had sud
denly given way, killing two of the men who hal
been working upon it. This is the first accident
of the KIDD that has happened on the bridge.
Some of the employees apparently have feared
that some casualty would happen, but they
recent the subject yesterday.
The New York anchorage is 20 feet in height,
aud at the top it is 100 feet square. Running
east and west are the four main cables, none of
which is completed, that will support the bridge.
The cables are made in the following manner: A
steel wire is run along by reel over the pier to
the anchorage, and there is passed round the
"shoe" This IS large piece of iron somewhat
in the shape of horseshoe, aud weighing about
ton. The shoe is held in position by two thick
iron bars, nearly II feet in length with pulleys at
the other end. The shoe aud The bars are laid be-
tween long, thick and broad iron bars, called eye
bars. When the steel wire is passed around the
shoe, il is sent back the reel to 20 through the
same process on the other side of the bridge.
When the wire has been laid 270 times each way,
it forms a strand The wires are firmly wound
round with other wire and rope. When nineteen
such strands completed they are in their turn
bound together and form a main cable. When
strand is being made the " Tres are stretched at
the highest possible altitude to test their utmost
tension, and when completed are lowered to the
level of the main cable. The strain upon the
strand when completed is estimated at seventy. five
tons, and when lowered TO the level of the cable At
about forty tons. The strand j. lowered by a wire
rope, an inch and quarter thick, fastened to the
shoe aud passing through sheaves or blocks of six
wheels 80 that the maximum strain upon the rope
between the sheayes Is not more than twelve and
half tons. The rope is worked by a steam en-
CINE AT the foot of the anchorage.
AT the time the accident occurred a gang of
men was employed in lowering this strand, which
was at the northern end of the anchorage, under
the direction OF Mr.. Harrington, the master ma
chinist. Thomas W. Blake was standing on the
block at the northwestern end OF the anchorage;
Henry supple, standing on the northern eye-bar.
Was bending over, with a crowbar IN his ands
prying off the strand to keep it between the bars
strands that had already been placed 10 position
nearly opposite to Supple. The other men were
holding the wire rope with pieces of loose rope
cooled round il. The hnge iron block of six iron
Pulleys was slowly moving forward the wire rope
was slowly RAINING through the sheayes and the
strand already lowered so much that the strain
upon IT bad been reduced from seventy five to less
than fifty tons. 1t was within few seconds of
IL o'clock.
Mr.. harrington had just told the men to remove
fkaa IN J. al. tn..srx I.l3
wire rope, when suddenly loud report was heard
The wire rope, while running between the sheaves
had snapped. The ends Of the rope went run
nlng round through the sheaves, knocking the
men in all directions. Blake was struck by the re-
coil Of the binder portion of the broken rope and
hurled to the corner Of the anchorage, covering
the stones and iron work with his blood His right
arm was dslocated at the shoulder and torn out
| at the elbow, the bone prOtruding about three in
ches from the flesh. A blow on the head. lust
above the forehead had made hole through
which the brains could be seen. lie died I'M
medlately. Supple, who standing forward
was hurried back against the woodwork and ropes
on the side OF the anchorage, and rolling through
fell down into the yard, nearly seventy feet be-
low. Mr.. Harrington was by the rope and thrown
upon his back on the other strands the entire
taekling flying over his PROSTATE body, but with
out doing him any further injury.
| The huge block of puleys, weighing about
$40 pounds, attached to the shoe. which, with its
|
| heavy strain of the strand being suddenly re-
| leased, daltcd toward toe liver with Il loud wAz
zing sound. J he huge missile passed over two
| houses, demo i,hod the chimney of the third
partly cracking its roof and knocked off few
| bricks from the roofs of the next two houses
| Then reaching South street, which was crowded
with vehicles II broke down a stout new telegram
| pole, which ii bore along with ii. Passing over
| the entire street, II struck the pavement on the
eastern side, and rehounding, tore away part Of
| the high wooden fence of the yard of the main
| pri and fuall, rested on heap Of gravel. where
a few minutes before gang OF men with several
carts, had been at work. The gate Waterman and
one OF the toremen, were eating their dinners about
five feet from where the shoe finally struck An
| lialian candy vender was standing in the street
| aud portion of the rope struck his stand demol-
lshng It aud scattering his wares in all directions
but the man escaped. A ear was passing and the
| rope rushed past close behind the rear platform
Ine distance between the anchorage and the pier
on he river side is $50 feet, and the shoe attached
10 The strand passed 700 feet before it re ted
on the bed Of gravel. That part of the strand be
tween the piers over the river, rapidly descended
under its own weight; aud one of the Union Fer.
ny boats which Was crossing TO Brooklyn, narrow
~ escaped being struck By h-Tribuae l5th.