Wichita eagle., 1890-01-28
xNSSSlilaw
9ai1Y eagle
ON THE BRIDGE CABLE.
A pERiLOUS JOURNEY MADE BY A
NEWSPAPER REPORTER.

NEWSPAPER REPORTER.
A Foxgy Night Selected Tor t:ae Triple
Walks from the New York Anchorage
to the Center of the Big Structure on n
1e-Inch Cable--Above the River 27S Feet.
Hundreds of people while crossing the
Brooklyn bridge have looked at the Triggers
and painters who, in the performance Of
duty, climb up into the network Of wires or
walk along the big cables from which the
great structure rs suspended, and they won
der how these men hold on, or why they do
not get dizzy and fall.
Desiring to know something Of these men
who spend their time away up among those
slender wires, Star reporter endeavored TO
get some of them to tell their experience, but
it was found that they had become so accus-
toned to whatever sensations they might ex-
perienoe that they had grown unconscious of
ANYTHING remarkable in the fact that they
walked on a slender thread between the river
and the sky, except that they earned good
hvings for their families and were very well
pleased with their vacations. Still determined
to learn how it feels to walk in mdair on SO
slender footpath as a 16-inch cylinder the
reporter concluded TO walk on one of the
cables from the New York anchorage to the
top of the tower, and on down the aerial
pathway to the center of the bridge. 1t was
useless to seek permission to make the trip, SO
1t was decided that it should be made under
cover of the darkness of night.
CLIMBING UP.
But an opportunity came eventually, and
the trip was made and experiences noted.
On the night Of Friday heavy fog hung
over the river, and the bridge was lost in
the thickness of the atmosphere Even the
powerful glow Of the electric lights could
not penetrate the mist for any considerable
distance. The four big cables of the bridge
rising from the anchorage and ascending
above the promenade were lost in the fog a
few feet beyond and it was only necessary
to avoid being seen at the start to escape de-
lection 1t was decided to make the trip on
this dark night.
And 50, dressed in ordinary clothes and
street shoes, with an overcoat buttoned
tightly about his throat, the reporter walked
out from Park row along the promenade TO
the anchorage. A policeman doomed up in the
fog just where the cable rises, passed along,
and in q minute was lost sight of Now was
the chance, and tossing his umbrella to a
companion, the searcher after new expert
ences vaultei the railing and stood erect ON
the 16-inch cable. On either side was o half
inch guy rope for q handraiI Grasping each
rope, be began to walk onward and upward
into the darkness and mist A few steps for
ward, ana he was apparently out Of the
world and alone, his Whereabouts known
only to one human being For a time tho
lights below were visible, but soon these dis
appeared from view, and the illumination
from them, although it penetrated the fog,
looked like the dim light Of daybreak.
Tho top of the tower was reached, and as
tho cable passes under the coping stone anx-
iety as to getting across the tower and to the
other side to complete the journey occupied
the attention OF the adventurer. He found
space enough between the top Of the cable
and the roof of the opening through which
the cable passed for him to crawl along. But
the space lessened, and he could go no fur
ther. He had not thought OF turning back,
and by feeling about in the inky darkness it
Yves found that If there was no space above
the cable there ives plenty below. But to
leave the straight and narrow path was a
matter of some moment The darkness was
so intense that nothing could be seen, and it
WAS known that somewhere in that tower a
well hoia descended through the masonry to
the bottom of the foundation, 356 feet below,
and the necessity for caution asserted itself
in a most pronounced manner.
After feeling about gingerly with bands
and feet it was found that there was a solid
something a few feet below, and the reporter
dropped off tie cable to find that he was on
q flooring of smaller wire cables, formed of
the numerous guys which steady the bridge,
and which help to make the network of wire
ropes under the four big cables. These guys
pass through the opening at the top Of the
tower, and when he had dropped to them the
reporter found through the medium of the
senses of smelling and feeling that these
cables were laid i'll bed of fresh paint.
There was nothing to do but push ON toward
the river side Of the tower This wns done
with great care and disregard Of the paint
Having passed through the tunnel and ar
rived safely at the river front OF the tower,
s. was found that the cable was several feet
above
A SAFE DESCENT.
At height of 218 feet above the surface
Of the river one would want q sure footing
and firm grip for the hand to climb no
stone wall. But these were not TO be had, so
raising himself on tiptoes and embracing the
big cable above, the reporter mounted it
much a small boy would mount a horse,
and with much chance Of getting on its