New-York tribune., 1883-06-04
CROWDS ON THE BRIDGE.
THE DIVIDING RAIL "A FAILURE
ONE PASSAGE BLOCKED AND TIE PEOPLE TURNED
INTO THE WEST ROADWAY.

!, INTO THE WEST ROADWAY.
The great Bridge was not crowded at any time
yesterday morning and up to p m. the streams OF
people passing each lother on the foot-path were
not large enough to test the plans
which had been adopted for avoiding tne
dangers of overcrowding. The telephones nau
been made ready for use at the towcrs' ~
each entrance and in Mr.. Martlnsof all connect
ing with Police Headquarters in Brooklyn. Inc
ratings dividing the foot path at the steps ana al the
narrowed, part Of the walk along the cables had
been put in position. Twenty-seven Bridge
policemen were kept constantly on duty,
five of them being stationed at each entrance and
seventeen along the rest of the structure while
eight New-York and eight Brooklyn policemen were
scattered along the Bridge from the centre to the
two entrances from noon until midnight
Shortly after noon the crowds crossing the river
began to increase steadily in size. The people were
mainly workingmen and boys, women and girls.
and strangers, all out for an inexpensive Sunday
excursion. Great numbers of them turned
around at once after crossing the Bridge
from either end, and retraced their steps.
Tne utmost good nature and good order prevailed
and the two streams of people obeyed the frequent
signs on the railings, kept well to the right OF
each other and moved along steadily. The placards
were 80 regously obeyed that vacant space
could be seen dividing the two moving columns as
far up the path as the sight could reacn.
Until p. m, when the footway began 10
get q little crowded, the dividing rail
up the steps served no particular pur-
pose. About o'clock the stream of people going
from New-Yor to Brooklyn became at least twice
as large as the one coming toward New-York. AS
an inevitable result of this the passage formed by
the dividing rail for the uso of those
roin IN ClOked
the crowd while the other passage
was not half filed No trouble was caused but the
stream to Brooklyn had to move very slowly
through the narrow pass provided for it, and the
crowd was blocked in n dense mass for several
hundred feet toward the New-York entrance.
After this state Of affairs had lasted short time
and after 1t became evident that the dividing rail
was positive hindrance Superintendent Martin
ordered a section of the fence TO be taken down
Just above the New York railroad station, and turned
the crowds going 10 Brooklyn INTO the west road
way at that point: At the same time the roadway
was closed to vehicles and two extra toll -gatherers
took their places IN temporary booth at tue en-
trance 20 that half of the crowd was turned imme-
was no further trouble from blockades.
The steps and the whole footpath on the bridge
! itself were exceedingly slippery from tho dampneSs
of the air aud the constant polishing of tens of thou
| sands of shoes, but no accidents happened. When
the rain began falling at about 4 o'clock the TWO
| great streams of people became suddenly trans
! "a
| The crowds entering the Bridge from New-fork
| soon diminished until only moderate number Of
people were in the roadway, but the thIong coming
| from Brooklyn maintained ITS size tiil tue ram
| stopped. Toward nightfall the crowd slowly lie
creased until, when darkness had finally enyeloped
tne huge gray towers only few straggers could be
seen on the structure. lhe police did good work at
all places IN keeping the crowds moving aud ~ pre-
venting loitorers from forming crowds at different
! p,aces Messrs Kingsley. Davis and Swan, OF the
board of Trustees, watched the crowds at the New
York entrance for time and were well satisfied
| win the plan Tor avoiding overcrOwdiDg which
| had been decided upon on Saturday.
Mr. Martin In conversation with a TRIBUNE re-
nortcr expressed the opinion that the dividing rail
was not only failure. but a detrinent TO travel.
BROOKLYN end nor at the steps near the two towers
Tho plan tried to-day Mr.. Martin
Tor spccial days of heavy travel salts
| f,rtoriiv and | think II will be used on such
days until the cars are started running Half the
people crossing the Bridge VIII tlke tue cars feel
anrn aud then there Will lie no trouble from crowds,
zen on the most exceptional occasions. Rnbbers
will be nut upon the steps at once TO obyiate the
| dangor from slippery boards. The people who ad-
- nat extra footways be laid above the railroad
,racEs mean well, but they don't stop To think
about the matter. have just hgnred out the ad-
| ditionai weight which tho adoption oi TINS plan
wonI add 10 the suspended structure. There
would have to be $50 IRON beams TO carry the
! planking. These wonld weigh 100 tons. Inc
! niankinv vould add 400 tons more and then there
,,youId have To be great weight IN ralings added
to this You see 1t is easy to talk about dong this
or that but when IL comes 10 DO HBuIeu Out IL IS
quite different thing. ~ ,,
doubtedly have been a more serious crush than tho
| fatal one on Wednesday afternoon. on the morning
| OF that day. Spraguc. the pedestrian, had applied
for permission to walk across the brldge on wager
| INT was refused. We heard that he would make tho
| attempt NJ 10 A. M: that heavy wagerS bad been
! made and that Richard X. Fox was to be time
ke.per We were therefore prepared. carriage
drove mn AZ about o'clock. hlled with men, one or
whom wore loose overcoat buttoned up TO the chin
IA soon As they entered the roadway the osercOat
wa. thrown OIL and Spraguo IN tights jumped 10 the
oround and started on his walk. Before the crowd
saw the pedestrian policeman cansht MN
| Snrapus nut on his coat and was taken III the car
| rfage TO brooklyn. The same attempt was made at
! the Brooklyn entrance. but again Jailed. Sprague
| said that II Fox hadn't been late he wond nave ar
rived before were ready ana he would nave sue
! cecded If those men had been successful IN their
d,einn the people would have started to follow him
| nl,ug the crowded ioOtpath on the run. without
| watching where they were gong. The result would
| have been much more frishtiul than the catastro
Mary Thompson who was injured in the fatal
| crush and is now nc ST. Nincents Hospital was
much better yesterday and last night. IhomaS
Kiordan who is at the New YORK Hospital was .lso
slightly improved but was not cohS'derod Out oi
Tie funeral Of James O'lrien one OF the victims,
| took place Yesterday at his late home, NO. 80
Laiqht-st. Mr. OBrion had been employed as de-
livery clerk by the Pennsylyanla kailroad AT Fies s
| No 20. North River. and many Of the employees OF
| tho company and nearly all who hare worked with
| bin at tho pier attended the funeral Az the mouse
the Roman Catholic service for tho dead was read
| and the body was then taken 20 Calvary CeneterY,
| followed by "A long line of mOurners on foot ana by
at least nfty carriages.
ANEW APPROACH TO THE BRIDGE
To The Edttor Of The Tribune
c,n, Noticin0 tho article in yOllr issue OF