The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-05-13

ohnl-B earring 10 Brnvsiy Vn1er = WSe.
ease csss-asssd In wsrk 81 sAs Bridge.
In crossing the East River Bridge those
who have field glasses may. II they sweep tho
ridge Of houses on the brow OF Columbia
Heights. see at times at the top window Of an
extension that juts out from one Of the lofty
residences the pale face OF . middle aged man
who 10 looking earnestly toward the imposing
river span. He 10 the invalid enginesr-in chief
Of the enterprise. Col Washington A. hoeblins.
From his sick room he looks upon the finishing
Of the structure. the erection Of which hes cost
him the life Of his father. John A. Roebiing.
and his own health and future full enjoyment
Of life. He 10 the builder Of the whole work
from the nrst course OF stono ct tho piers to
the nag stan OF their top. and his sick
room has for ten years been the head
quarters OF the corps OF engineers. Col.
Roebling bacame the successor Of his
father as chief engineer Of the bridge In 1863.
The elder Roobling was standing on string
piece Of the dock next to the Fulton Ferry slip.
fixing . location for the Brooklyn tower. 4
foryboat. In entering the slip. drove tho isnd-
ors against the dock 80 IS to crush tho en-.
gnesr's foot. He had his own notions Of trest-
ing an injury. Ho believed in hydropathy. and
on going 70 his hotel he put his Injured foot be.
meath faucet running cold water and allowed
4 to remain there until 1t vss over chilled. He
cr C. County. " r.. Nay 0 g. 1857 H va" grad.
s Sa a. soy a' the sss 81 Is a.a. ; ;ar
lis iatSer lad Charge Of ths Xlleshany sSsp.n:
MSt ar az soon tho Wsl
er1se out an 4. NJ sItS osS ~
terry and then was. called TO staii duty,
JSnuary 1865. and vent to Gincinnsti 70 assist
ne h hS ohsSS.
work was finished HE father was st work upop
the plans for the East River. Bridge. Col.
s%S a. had the h. Il:
Cincinnati bridge hs went t2 England: France.
foundations. The soundings had already indi.
cAtsd the dialeul!iss 81 securing foundations for
ioraysar stud wing all the lniportant en- einoerng
works in England and ON the Continent and
arss the K1apI Ct sss IN
pre.sn, home on Coi|aimSis Hsixhts. where i:
made him responsible for the future work on
the brooklyn Bridge. His greatest I'm xisty was
in TO the snsns Of the for the
One spring afternoon In 1872 he was brought
had wasted hi. strength, All that night, his
Ssash Was hourly sfpsetsSd SIt ~ few dda;ys
he went back to the eaisson. the work upon
which formed part Of his delirium and his
~ before beneath tho tides. but he remained ut
his post unit! July. 1872. when the foundation
Of tho New YORK pier wa; si H
WAS only partly mended.
Only vigorous man in body and brain could
this time. After his fathers death. in July.
1859. three burdens were placed upon him.
He had to settle his fathers estate. to care for
and to Build the largest bridge in the world.
Not a stroke, Of work had then been done
general in character, and not a single detail
ANXIETY followed ths sinking 81 the New YORK
bed OF boiling auicksand above IN Irregular
ledge Of rock. VARYING from four to twenty feet
and ievsilsd OF the whole foundation would
have involved IN expense of an additional half
million OF dollars. the sacrifice OF hundreds OF
coriinxiy took the bold step Of Stopping within
\ few fsst Of the bed rock. and leaving an in
pressurcs. Tie view be took has been JUS
sS BY sHn time the that 9 has Ya;s No
December, 1872. he was Obliged to cease his
visits TO tho structure: He scarcely expected
scious OF the incompletsness OF the plans and
instructions for the future. and applied him
self that winter In his room. when he was TOO
Ill to leave Ii. to writing and drawing. The
mass OF manuscript then produced contained
directions for the manufacture OF cables and
the erection OF all the complicated pnrts that
| compose the suporstructure. These labors al.
most exhausted him. but the salts faction Of fin
ishing them seemed q nutriment to his wasted
frame. His physicians In the spring OF 1878
tod him that his one chance OF life was to 20
away from his work. His strong eyes that had
served the army 30 we'll had grown weak BY
sSonstsnt writing and ne vas afflicted with
baden Before leaving he held a series
Of short conferences with his assistants. for
his strength did not permit him to tnik long at
time. Ho knew the qualities and talents Of
his assistants 80 we'll that no eiracted qn nd.
each member special department. His own
salf:sacritice inspired the most devoted loyalty
IN the corps OF engineers about him. and they
directed all OF their energies TO carry. out his
plans and wishes. Not the slightest advantage
was ever taken Of his illness to aevistS from
weak invalid. away from the work. remained
| complete master Of the enterprise. Although
| quick in temper. and unhesitating In criticism.
| he maintained ut I'LL times such cordinl rela.
| tons with his corps OF engineers that they
have worked together for fourteen years with.
| out the slightest friction.
His return from Weispaden was followed by
| his residence In Trenton. His Dros,ratlop was
| most acute. and his ailmept was m elabora-
| tion OF the cnlsson disease which puzzled the
| physicians. The impression that he is a hope
less psrnlytic Is common. His mind hns not