The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-07-18
A BROKEN BRIDGE.

n DhVAGN DhlDUEs
/ reached the little Welsh town Of
Abermaw one boisterous afternoon in
autumn, at about four o'clock, after q
dong tramp over the mountains Aber.
nav, as its name implies, is situated al
the mouth of the river Nav, which here
forms an estuary about mile broad
The town itself faces the open sea; the
harbor lies about half mile up the
estuary, whilst between the town and
the bridge was the outline of huge
bridge, then in the course of construc-
ton. Abermaw is a little bit of place,
consisting of hotel, few shops, q
church, a chapel of ease and half-a-dozen
lodging houses, which are built on a
platform of sand, the work of the sea
and river in concert or in conflict. The
old fishing village is perched upon the
rock above, tier upon tier, the Intel
stone of one house looking down the
chimney of the house below, and is
reached by rude, rocky steps, where the
children Of the village swarm up and
down, and yet rarely contrive to break
their Decks.
The farther shore of the estuary was a
triangular spit of sand, across which was
a track that Joined the high road at a
point where it commenced to mount the
shoulder of wave-beaten cliff on the
fence of which it was terraced, for on
the further or southern side of the
estuary the sea washed up 10 the very
base of the rocks that formed the rugged
fringe of this iron-bound coast. There
was ferry from the Abermaw side to
the spit of sand, and thence, by detour
of several miles, you could make your
way along the southern bank of the river
to the town Of Dolbadarn. AS the crow
flies, Dolbadarn was not more than
seven miles distant from Abermaw, but
it could not be reached by any practi-
cable track in less than from ten to
twelve miles, for the river took a sweep
to the north, and, in addition to the
detour thus caused, the first bridge
where the road crossed the river was at
point a good way wide of Dolbadarn,
20 that, altogether, the distance was
heightened to that above mentioned. On
the other hand, if you crossed the ferry
and made your way across the sand to
the highway, the distance was much
the same, and this latter route was of
course only practicable to foot passen-
gers.
Although I had reached Abermaw in
the guise of a free and independent
pedestrian, yet my liberty was of re-,
stricted nature. Ny wife and children
had gone by the regular coach route to
DolbadarD, and had crossed the noun
tains, by wild footpath, promising to
Join them that night at Dolbadarn in
time for dinner, for ] had intended to
take the coach at Abermaw, which
would have brought me to the end of
my journey in good time. This coach,
however, ! had missed just FIVE minutes.
Ny walk that day had been long one,
and 1 was rather tagged, and should
probably have hired a conveyance for
the remainder of the distance, but the
manner of the landlord of the hotel was
so abrupt, and, as thought offensive, in
answer to my inquiries, that / resolved,
come what might, he should not be six
pence richer for me.
/ walked ON till / came to little
public house at the farther end of the
town, close to the rough quarters that
bordered the estuary, and turned in
there for a glass of beer and crust of
bread and cheese, as well as for the pur-
pose of making few inquiries as to my
route.
"Well, indeed" said Evan Rowlands,
the landlord, "there's no possible way
to get to Dolbadarn tonight, unless you
take car from Mr.. Jenes's."
sha'n't have car from Mr.. Jones" "
] said. "Can l hire one somewhere
elseP'
Evan shook his head there was no
horse or car in Abermaw except the
horses and cars owned by Mr. Jones
Very well, then,n | said, T" | will
walk"
"Not possible" said Evan; "its
more than ten miles"
al wouldn't mind the distance, only
/ have walked fve-and-twenty miles
already"
"Dear me" said Evan, @you're very
strongi" $50
"Can'tI get boat part Of the wayf'
l then suggested.
Evan put his head out at the door.
"No," he cried, the tide has just
turned; it is running down very strong
"Then there is nothing for it but
walking I said; II must go round by
Lianfair bridge" but didn't like the
idea of this ten miles walk through the
mist and gathering gloom.
"Stopl' said Evan. +" Why shouldn't
you go over the bridge-the railroad
bridget"
lis the bridge passable then? Can ]
get across?'
ooh, dear, yes. The gentlemen from
the railway come over very often, anC
to-day, Hugh Pugh and David Morris
did come over from the Dolbrith quarry
And what distance will that save
me?
Four or five miles; yes, sure'
. And the bridge is quite safe?"
Oh. it is very strong and safe indeed
or how should Hugh Pugh and Davi,
Morris come over, and the railway gen
tlemen; yes, sure. "
"And the railway people won't objec
to my going oyer?"
They've all knocked off for a day
and there won't be soul near the bridg
but yourself"
"Then of course Pll go over it.''
| found that there were certain diff
culties in The way. The railway bridg
crossed the estuary at point about
quarter of a mile from the little in
that formed the extremity of the tow
at spot where its channel was narrowe
to a distance of three-quarters of
mile. The unfinished bri tge was col
structed of piles firmly driven into th
bed of the river, from which rose hug
piers of timber to the height of abol
forty feet. Along these we're massiy