The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-25
THE ROEBLINGS.
The Curious Disease that Affiicts w. A.
ROebling-A Tribute to His Wife.

The Curious Disease that Affticts w. A.
Roebling-A Tribute to His Wife.
New York World -
The caisson disease with which Mr. Roeb-
ling is afflicted is always curious one and
its manifestations in Colonel Roebling's case
have been most peculiar. His intellect is
wholly unimpaired and his interest and
pride in his work are unabated. He has full
control of his body and can move about his
room and house freely, but he is unequal to
prolonged conversaton-to listening as to
speaking-the effect of over-exertion in such
direction being complete prostration, He
has found relaxation from his labors and the
tedium of confinement to the house in the
study of mineralogy, having been compelled
through physical weakness to give up his
much-loved and deftly handled violin. When
last fall public attention was directed to the
long delays and greatly increased expendi-
lures which had characterized the construc-
tion of the bridge, it was attempted to secure
the removal of Colonel Roebling from the
office of chief engineer A motion to this
effect was, however defeated in the board of
trustees, it being felt that to retire him just
as the enterprise was approaching pile
ton would be a cruel wrong. "Mr. Roeb-
htsg said President Henry G. Murphy, who
completion OF the work in which he had so
long been a co-laborer, Mr.. Roebling lost
his health while in the service OF the
company, and it does not seem right to give
to another the honor which he has earned"
In the course of an interview Mrs Roeb-
ling said
There have been many absurd things pub
lished about the Colonel, as, for instance,
that with his glass he could see every rvet
i Ax1% -
those statements were nonsensical-far more
SO than the erroneous report published last
summer that he was to be removed because
he did not personally supervise the work.
Down to the most minute details there has
been nothing done, even to the placing of
rivet or The stretching of a strand of wire,
That my husband was not acquainted with
before, at the time, or very soon after it was
DONE"
when did Mr. Roebling first become
sick?'
HE was taken down in 1873, but in 1872
he first began to complain of pain, and TO-
ward the latter part of that year he was able
to make but few visits to the bridge"
'Is he able to get about now2'
''Oh, yes, he has gained a great deal in
strength and moves about quite freely; but
as said before, the strain upon him during
the past few weeks has been so great that he
has grown weak in receiving visitors and
all his time to reporters, and he had spread
over tables in the parlors all the plans of the
bridge, and to the newspaper men who called
he explained all the details of the building
OF the structure"
'The bridge having reached a successful
completion, should think that fact would
do much to hasten his recovery" suggested
the reporter that is, if the disease is as
it is generally understood to be, something
of nervous character"
AS it is natural to expect my husband
feels very proud of the work ncepted by his
father, who lost his life in the building CT
the bridge, his foot being crushed and death
resulting from ckjaw in sixteen days after"
Mrs. Roebling smiingly continued: "Of
course there have been many unkind things
said of Colonel Roebling and many publish
ed, the ground of complaint being his ina
bility to personally supervise the work; but
he doesn't mind, nor did we those people
who wish to detract from the Roeblings that
which is their due"
A gentleman of this city well acquainted
with the family said that as soon as Mr..
Roebling was stricken with that peculiar
fever, which has since prostrated him, Mrs.
Roebling applied herself to the study of
engineering, and she succeeded so well that
in short time she was able to assume the
duties of chief engineer,
Such an achievement is something re-
markable, and to illustrate her proficiency In
engineering one instance will suffice. When
bids for the steel and iron work for the struc-
ture we're advertised for three or four years
ago 1t was found that entirely new shapes
would be required, such as no mill was then
making.
This necesstated new patterns, and repre-
sentatives of the mills desiring to bid went
to New York to consult with Mr.. Roebling.
Their surprise was great when Mrs, Roebing
sat down with them, and by her knowledge
of engineering helped them out with their
patterns and cleared away difficulties that
had for weeks been puzzling their brains.