Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1883-05-31
where thew extended their congratula-

where they extended their congratula..
tons to the successful engineer and
honored invalid, who, with nus
accomplished wife. Mrs. Roebling
(sister of the late Major General
G. X. Warren), received their dis
tinguished visitors. John A. Roebllng,
father OF the present engineer, was the
first engineer in charge Of the construc-
tion. In 1869 the elder Roebling was
standing on string. piece OF the dock
next to the Fulton Ferry slip, liking
location for the Brooklyn tower. A
fnrryboat, in entering the slip, drove the
tenders against the dock SO as to crush
the engineer's foot. He had his
own notions of treating an injury.
He believed in hydropathy, and
on going to his hotel he put his injured
foot beneath a faucet running cold
water, and allowed it to remain there
until it was overchilled. He died SIX
teen days later with lockjaw. Washing
ton Roebling then took up his fathers
work and carried it to completion. One
spring afternoon in 1872 Col. Roebling
was brought up out of the New York
caisson almost insensible. Long eS-
posure to abnormal conditions had
wasted his strength. All that night
his death was hourly expected; but In
few days he rallied, and against the
physician's advice he went back to the
caisson, the work upon which
formed part of his delirium and his
dreams. He was, however, too weak to
work as before beneath the tides, but he
remained at his post until July, 1872,
when the foundation of the New York
pier was completed. He rested for two
or three weeks, but his health was only
partly mended. His physicians in the
spring of 1878 told him that his one
chance of life was to go away from his
work. His strong eyes that had served
the army 30 well had grown weak by
constant writing, and he was afflicted
with double vision. He consented
to go to Germany, and for
six months he rested ut Weis-
baden. Before leaving he held series
of short conferences with his assistants,
for bis strength did not permit him to
talk long at time. He knew the quail
tiles and talents OF his assistants SO we'll
that he effected an admirable organiza-
ton of the corps. giving to each member
a special department. His owp self
sacrifice INSPIRED the most devoted 10y
atty in the corps of engineers about
him, and they directed ell of their en-
ergies to carry out his plans aud wishes.
Not the slightest advantage was ever
taken of his illness to deviate from
the letter and spirit of his plans. Mr..
Roebling, a weak invalid, away from the
work, remained complete master of the
enterprise. His return from Weisbaden
was followed by his residence in Trenton.
His prostration was most acute, and his
ailment was an elaboration of the caisson
disease which puzzled the physicians.
The impression that he is hopeless
paralytic is common. Ills mind has not
abated in vigor, and is brighter after
period of rest. He has full control of
every part of his body. and can walk
about his house, but he is unable to
talk or to listen save for short time.
When he exerts himself he has sudden
attack of weakness that smites him just
below the diaphragm, and he is then
prosrated. He has kept familiar with
the minutest details of the bridge. He
has had an easy chair at the window of
the top story of the bay window extern
sion of his house, which commands a
view of nearly the whole of the struc-
tnrc. Col. Roebling is the builder of
the whole work from the first course of
stone at the piers to the flagstaff at
their top, and his sick room has for ten
years been the headquarters OF the corps
of engineers.