New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-29
A Walk IN MiU-AfR.
CROSSING THE EAST RIVER FOOT-BRIDGE
A JOURNEY CONSIDERED BY SOME MoHE PLEASANT
TO READ ABOUT THAN TO uNDERrakE-INCi-

y
A JOURNEY CONSIDERED BY SOME MORE PLEASANT
IN READ ,RoUr THAN TO MOUNTAINEERING
DENTS OF THE TRIP
81 wonder how If seems TO be mp there" is an ex-
clamatIon often heard on the Fulton Ferry boats
from people who are gazing up at fhe caoes Oh tle
BROOKLYN Bridge. Many persons aside from those
engaged in building the structure ana, lhcluu,h y,
not a few ladies' have made the trIp between we
two cities by the temporary foot-0rldRe oyer tne
towers and yet very many others, pr0DapIy' HIVE
never even heard the experience deScripeu; baiy
of these would probably prefer to be told about the
trip than totry 1t themselves Moreover u Is I'M
possible for ali who desire il to cross the bridge, as
the company refuses 10 issue passes lndlscrlhaleN.
The Journey over the fOot-biidge was made lew
days ago by lRIBUNE reporter, accompaneu og
on the trip, although the beginning was something
like inducing three baly horses to 20 nhead az the
same time, Having occasionally climbed nlRDtS Oh
stairs 10 THr IRIBUNE editorial rooms, the reporter
felt no dizziness after climbing tho steps to t1e SUD-
NIT OF the Brooklyn ANCHORAGE per from which lhe
start WAS made. After watching for "A few minutes
the worknen engaged on the approach, WnlGh
sweeps with a majestic curve to the corner OF WASH
ington and Sands-sts. the party proceeded over me
foot bridge Two twisted wire ropes, or cables, TWO
inches in thickness. support the floor OF the bridge
which is made of oak Stats, between one ana Two
inches thick and three inches WIZ securely fastened
across the cables two inches apart. halt-nch wire
rope on each side serves as hand RAIL- ana Is
stretched tightly enough to be sufficient support TO
any person with cool head f0r me illst lew Steps
the bridge gives a very delightful impression or
stability and safety and one RaZeS down cOmpa-
Gently on the roofs of the houses and wonders now
he could have ever feared 20 make the attempt But
on advancing up the ascent to the Brooklyn tower,
there comes q consciousness OF something sWayug.
and the pedestrian soon concludes that IL is inc
bridge. and that he must sway with 10. Inc motion
is not so decided as the swell of tho ocean, but con-
sideriug the height OF the brldge-traveller II Is
as quite unpleasant, The bridge begins to tip
and Osclae sideways as the tower Is ap-
preached, and 1t is here that one begins TO
wish that he was a sidewalk, or at least that he
had a good sized accident insurance policy III his
I, no A. les
the bridge far the outer mann cables, the
OF flrmness returns, as the footpath Is mere
firmly guyed to the main cables.
These cradles afford very pleasant resting places.
and they also give variety to the trip because one
must go up and down stairs to get over them. The
ascent Is rather steep Just before reaching the
tower and 1t Is "a very genuine gladness that fills
the novice he plants his feet on this stone giant.
$50 feet nigh. Now can be observed the mag
enjoy so well from the footpath. One feels
inclined to stand and gaze forever with eyes wide
open and tongue speechless. Beneath lle the
thousands of homes III Brooklyn, with church
spires here and there. The streets seem to be little
canals the wagons tiny boats, and the people pig
miles, Fulton Ferry plies its human-laden shuttIes,
stick The bay Is flood of silver in the August
sun. Staten island and Sandy Hook loom M in the
SOUTH and in the far west the jersey hills lift their
SUBMITS. Across the East River, yet so near that
it seems almost possible for to leap the distance
with bound, is New-York. with her two enclrcllng
rivers. NOrthward haze 0bstTucts the view OF
upper New-York, but one can trace the shining
course Of the East River, aud also catch glimpse
of the distant Sound.
The ascent the first tower is the most formida-
BILE part OF the journey. After that Is accomplished
there is q strong fascination to begin the passage
the water between the towers. One feels safer
over the water, perhaps from imagining that he
would strike less torcibly there than the land.
II is a b.rd-ike swoOp between the towers such
curve as a swallow makes, tltteriny n note with
every unduatlon. he crosses the country fields.
The swaylng CT the foOt-path Is not dlsagrecabc
between the towers, and the downward grade makes
one naturally walk more brlskly and confidently.
Arrived at the middle OF the bridge. looks down
at the water. Owing to the position the waves are
hardly dlscernable, and except for the hurrylng
vessels one might imagine the Fast River rural
lake and the bTistllng hedge of rsaSts each side
only the flags ana rushes that line its shores. At the
Ncw-York tower there is a good opportunity TO OBJ
serve the four cables us they pass over the
iron shoes" at the top. For some distance here
they are not wrapped into a perfectly round cable
they are between the piers, but the thousands of
steel sineWs lie spread ont and exposed 10 view. In
this they lie closer 10 the shoe and there less
liability OF their breaking than If they were IN
cylindrical form.
There is a niche below each cable. large enough
for man to pass through and look down the face of
the pier. Coils Of wire are lying about the
summit of the pier and, strange to say. u tuft OF
grass has found lodging and life in a crevice.