The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-10

Il VA here that fireworks were generally
let off, because the reflection OF their
corruscations In the water added greatly
to the general Effect, and because they
were not as liable TO do h ,rm there as
they might within the limits OF the town
In later times tbis favorite place was
gradually neglected by the better class
Oi people, as the city continued t. grow
westward. For many wears before the
lac war IL had become the resort Of
social and political clubs. where barba.
cues and o her like festivities were held.
Finally IL fell into disgrace from be-
coming the haunt Il the lowest cli 20 OF
gamblers cock-hShlers and people of
such ilk, until now it is only the resort
Of the fisherman and the fowler
A CURIOUS STRUCTURE
) short distance above the western
boundary Of Haymarket Garden was a
road cut out between high banks leafing
down to Trent's old bridge This curious
structure occupied a position slightly be
low the present Free bridge, between
Richmond aud Manchester, and seemed
10 have been built for some Of the sa ne
reasons that The latter was. Its plan was
original and peculiar The sills were
fastened down close to the water by
long iron spikes fixed into holes drilled
INTO the rocks The crOss-lies over
Tapped them, and were secured in Ike
manner at short intervals The spaces
between the latter were filled up with
fragments of rocks after the manner Of
bsllasling the tracks Of railways Of The
present day. Upon this ample f0unds-
lion was heavy white. OAK flooring
fastened Iby long wrOugbi-iron spike.
The object OF the builder was TO save eX-
pense, 40 that by collecting lower rates
ne could control much Of the traffic that
passed over the bridges further down tie
river to The business part Of The town, and
Al the same time accommodate travellers
going 10 parts of the country beyond
and above the city. llis calculation was
that during most of the year the water
would pass under the bridge, although
only about two feet below It. As long
as this state of the river should continue
his business would thrive when, how
ever, food should occur the bridge
would be impossible A few feet Of
water over the flooring did not
prevent the safe passage o.!
vehicles and horsemen. Another
advantage Was that the bridge waa not
as liable to injury from high water and
floating timber D. II it had been erected
upon piers or trestles. The experiment
was 4 success Many food passed over
the humble but sturdy structure without
causing serious damage, while others
more elevated and expensive were swept
away la passing over y one eH-
perienced the apprehension, even at low
water, that the rapids above would surely
oyeriake and sweep him down stream
before the opposite bank could be reached
The writer remembers attempting TO walk
over II when quite small boy, but was
deferred by this very apprehension. Alter
the death of Its owner and builder, the
bridge fell into disuse and decay For
many years aiie', the broken and wafer
logged fragments might be seen lying
across the rlver like the skeleton Of some
vast ampbibiOds monster. Mr.. Edward
Trent. the builder Of the bridge, lived on
the Manchester side, but had such bust
ness interests in Richmond that he rarely
failed 10 cross over every day. lie II
described by one who hal often seen
him on these occasions as tall erect
man, mounted upon fine thoroughbred
horse. and always riding postillion after
the manner of the English Of the present
day. lie was brother of the late DR..
Trent Of Richmond, whose well-known
residence long occupied the present site
Of the armory al the corner Of Marshall
and Sc venih streets