River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-11-21
A BROKEN BRIDGE.

autumn, ut about four o'clock, after
long tramp over the mountains. Aber
NAV, as its Lame implies, is situated a
the mouth Of the river Nav, which here
forms an estuary about mile broad. Tint
town itself faces the open sea; the harbol
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 construction. Abermaw is
little bit Of a place, consisting of no
tel, few shops,a church, a chapel of ease
and half dozen lodging houses, which
are bull. on platform of sand, the work
of the sea and river in concert OF Ia con
fact The old hshing village is perched
r.,su u. foc6 all we, tier upon tier, the
IA 81 sFuao Of one house looking down
the chimney OF the house below, and II
reached by rude, rocky steps, where the
children of the village swarm up and
down. and yet rarely contrive to break
their necks.
The farther shore of the estuary was a
triangular spit of sand, across which was
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 il was terraced, Tor on the
further or southern side of the estuary the
sea washed up to the very base of the
rocks ;hat formed the rugged fringe OF 'he
iron-pound east. There was ferry from
the Abermaw side to the spit OF sand
thence bv a detour or several miles, you
could make your way along the southern
bank of the river to the town OF DOlbadarn
AS the crow flies, DUlbadarn was not
more than seven miles distant from Aber-
nav, but it could not be reached by any
practicable track in less than from ten IT
twelve miles, for the river TO sweep to
the north, and in addition to the detour
thus caused, the first bridge where the
road crossed the river was at point q
good way wide Of Dalbadarn, so that, al
together, the distance was heightened to
that above mentioned. On the other hand
if you crossed the ferry and made youI
way across the sand 10 the highway, the
distance was much tile same, and this
latter route was of course only practaca-
BILE 30 foot passengers.
Although had reached Abermaw in
the guise of free and independent pc
destr'au, vet my liberty was of a restrict
ed nature My wife and children had
gone by The regular coach route to Dol
badaTn, and had crossed the mountains
by wild footpath, promising TO join
them that night AT DOlba0arn 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
dav had been long one. aud was rath-
er tagged, and should probably have hir-
ed 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 inqir-
les, that | resolved, come Whist might, he
should not be sixpence richer for me.
/ walked on till came to little pub
lie house at the farther end of the town
close to the rough quarters that bordercd
the estuary, and turned in there for 6
glass of beer and a crust of bread and
cheese, as we'll rs for the purpose o.
making a few inquiries a, to my route.
"Well, indeed" SAID Evan Rowlands
the landlord, ''ther9's no possible way e
get to Dnlbadarn to night, unless yOt
take car from Mr.. Jones s."
Il shan't have a car from Mr.. Jones"
said. "Can hire one somewhere elsef'
Evan shook his head; there was TX
horse or car in Abermaw except the hors
es and cars owned by Mr. Jones.
VERY well. tnen, | said, al viii
walk"
"Not possible" said Eva tits mort
th IN ten miles"
Il wouldn't mind the distance, Oal1
have walked five and twenty miles al
ready
Dear Inc" said Evan, you're very
strong"
Can't I get boat part of the way 7
then suggested.
Evan put his head out at the door.
.,No," he cried, "the tide has Just turn
ed; it is running down very strong.
"Then there is nothing for it but walk
ing" said 81 must go round by Liam
+. tar bridge" but didn't like the idea o
this ten miles walk through the mist anr
gathering gloom.
"Stopi" said Evan. Why shouldn'
you 60 over the biidge-tho railroad
bridget
rs the bridge passible thcni Can
get acr1ssf'
oh, dear, YES. The gentlemen from
the railway come over very often. aBS t.
day, Hugh Pugh ard David Morriss dix
come over from the Dolbrith quarry"
And what distance will that saw
met"
-Four or Eve miles; yes. sure
"And the bridge is quite ssfet"
"Oh, il is very strong and safe indeed
or how shoull Hugh Pugh aud Davi,
Morris come over, and the rallwsy gen
tlemen; yes, sure
"And the raj way people won't chico
- me going overt
"They've all knocked OF for day, an
there won't be soul near the bridge bu
yourself"
"Then Of course I'll go over it,
found that there was certain difhcu
ties in the way. The railway bridg
crossed the estus'y at point about
quarter OF a mile from the little inn tbs
formed the extremity of the town at
spot where its channel was narrowed
a distance OF three quarters of mil
The unfinished bridge was constructed {
plies firmly driven into the bed Of ii
river. from which rose hugh piers of tin
Der 10 the height of shout for-y fec
Along these were massive bslks, destine
to support the platform of the bgidg
whilst each pier was strengthened al
supported by its neighbor by srang
ment Of cross beams ami ties.
When l reached the bank of the riv
with my guide, Evan Rolands, four
that there was considerable hiatus b
tween the shore and the nearest pier.
aoout 8 hundred yards. Evan, howeve
was prepared with plan for reaching
A friend CT bis was the master of the i
tie sloop, the Ann Jones' which was
ing in the tiay brook above. He and
mate were on board of her, and they b:
got their little dingy with them. Evi
would borrow the boat and drop dow
with the stream and deposit me 81 {
foot of the nearest pier.
.sBut why not ferry me right overt
asked.
aNot possible said Evan; @thers a
shadows aud quieksands at the other sid
which st this time of tide are dangerous