New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-28
THE BRIDGE ON SUNDAY.

THE CROWD OF SATURDAY sURPAssED-wAGoN-
WAYS THROWN OPEN AND BLoCKADEs RE-
LIEvEp.
The number of persons who crossed the Brldge
last Friday was considered extraordinary by all
those interested in the matter, but yesterdays pro-
cession quite eclpsed the patry 100000 or so who
paid their pennies the day after the formal open
ing and took the novel promenade Early IN the
morning City Hall Square resembled the entrance
to a p0pulous ant hill during working hours.
Every surface whose route terminates at the
City Hall brought full load of passengers, crowd
ing on the front and rear platforms, hanging on to
the sides of the open and packing the aisles of
the closed ones, and in every at least ninety
nine per cent ahghted at the entrance to the Bridge
All sorts and conditions of men and women were
TO be found among them some to whom the scent
of the meadow and the fragrance of the pine woods
seemed still to cling Others whose knowledge ogreen
fields was confined to the pot of mignonette, IN
the tenements high easement" some to whom
Chatham-st and the Bowery are the
most important streets in Now-York, and Others
again, whose knowledge of the city begins with
Ffth-ave. and ends at Twenty-thrd-st When the
latter class saw the swarmng multitude blocking
up every inch of space they shudlered and hasened
up town again. while the others patiently waited
way to the toll-gatc In spite of the unusual traffic
there was no blockade of the surface cars; their
pace was of necessity retarded from Chatham-st.
to the City Hall, but they managed to
keep constantly moving and no serious
loss of time resulted. A TRIBUNE reporter was
passenger Bleecker-st. car about p m, on
which forty-fOur fares were registered. Forty
three of tho passengers got out at the Bridge, the
sole occupant left being tho reporter. Great
ScOtt!' he heard an unmlstakablc New Yorker eX-
claim, as nc hoped off the car, DO you think I'm
going to join that crowd No, sir | guess I'll
leave that to the country folks An hour after
ward the surveying Fulton-st.
feuybOat from the centre OF the Bridge. So it was
with many; they came. saw, were
conquered with fear of joining, the
crush, but eventually yielded to the
temptation and fought their way to the roadway.
About II a. one of the officials who was
stationed at the New York entran, became alarmed
and feared a riot. They wor pushin and foishtin'
loikc pack of haythen,' he recounted 10 the
reporter, "an' the bhoys wor shtonin' them. an l
got scared an win fur Misher Martin. the lnginecr
in Charge He come down at wonst and put
badge an a hllmit oike posman, and in two
tw0s he had 'cln all to roights. |
ni,er seen man do anything betther
m me lo.fe.' A conversation with Mr Martin
confirmed the truth of the statement II came
night oycr,' said h" "and set 10 work 10 see what
could DO. found there was continuous block on
the passenger fOOtvay about midway between the
Nrw-lork entrance and the towers. The passage
there Is narrowed three feet 80 TO clear the centre
cables Tomorrow shall take steps q have this
altered. and shall manage 10 gain about foot on
each SIDE. shall also have division running
a!ong thc middle of the path - - 10 divide the
crowd into two streams gong M opposite directions
Today ! had a section OF the railing separating
the iootpa;h from the car-tracHs removed
and allowed the passengers 70 cross over
auc get down 10 tho wagon
way. THIS produced instant relief and all day
since have allowed them this cours" II 80 Inclined
and no block has since eusucd the Bridge itself.
There has been no restriction put upon the drivers
aS 10 the rate of speed al which they shall drive hut
have found them invariably consdrrato of those
foot, slackcniug their speed wherever there was
crowd, aud consequently there have been no
accidents.
me- and indeed have heard the same remark from
all my assistants, las been the extreme good nature
and orderlIncss Of the crowd. People have been
pushed and jammed for twenty minutes at a time
with hot pouring down It's rays on their heads,
but have scarcely heard cross word aud hlycsccn
no rough conduct at all. or course. need hardly
say that letting the people walk on the carriage
ways is OILY temporary eXp-dient, and soon is
possible We shall stop II. hen the ears ar" run
ming 1t VIII be- Impossible 70 let any one across the
track How many people do think have crossed
to-dayl Well, YOU have me there can 0nly tell
Won that / have three men stationed al the gate
aud they each raking IN their pennies AT the rate
of from seventy To eighty a minute, and that has
been going on for hours"
About 3 o'clock the human tide was at It's Hood,
and measures had to be taken To guard against
danger to life from the crush. Mr.. HOagland one
OF me en uccrs charge. therefore baTrlCaded tho
New-York entrance. and for the space of nearly an
hour refused admlttaucc 10 any one. A pldclId was
in readiness Announcing that the Bridge was closed,
but Was found unnecessary. rs toward evening the
throng abated somewhat. While the people were
penncd up between the pay-gatcs and the tempo
rary barrcadc waiting 10 get out some eager spirits
tOro down portions Of the wooden pallng
which confined them, aud as no attempt was
made by the officials to stop them, numerous gaps
were soon formed through which the crowd poured
ont Much credit is due to Alden :. Swan. one of
the trustees, VINO devoted the entire day to
helping 10 preserve order and devlsng means
OF tightening the pressure For one hour he aud
Mr. Martin stationed themselves at the New York
carriage entrance and acted amateur tOlltakers.
Numerous attempts to swndlc were made, aud the
urrsprIng Mr.. Alden made victim more than
once This week the toll-houses Will he moved TO
the sidewalk on the Ncw-York side, aud six men
will take the place of the three who at present have
their hands d0ubly and trebly full
The receipts at the toll-hOuscs on Saturday were
1857 In cent fares and $500 0 from teams in all
Sl,507 %.