The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-09-01
q GREAr BRIDGE BUILDER.

Interesting RsmiuiSeonoo OF = Lady Wen
known ip wheeling The Wheeling
suspsnsion Bridge the First Across tho
Ohio.
Below Is an Interesting "reminiscences
from the pen of Mrs. W. D. cabell. tell
Ing OF the achievement at Niagara Fails
Of Colonel Charles Eliet jr., builder OF
the Wheeling suspension bridge. the
first placed across the Ohio river. Mrs.
cabell is we'll known in Wheeling and
vicinity and Was-recentiy visitor here.
She Is daughter Of Colonel Ealet, ana
when here endeavored to prevail upon
the council Of Martins Ferry TO buy the
Walnut Grove property for pubic
park. the grove having become aeeessl-
bic through the extension OF the Wheel-
ing Railway companys line 70 II. the
letter mentioned appears in the BaIu-
more Sun, and Is partially comment
on an article that appeared in the New
York Sun. Says Mrs. Cabell;
The New York Evening Post Of May
IS contains a very interesting article Dy
Mr.. Emory /. Haynes, recountlng IN
simple but glowing phrases certain STIR
ring passages in the life OF the master
mechanic and bridge builder, the late
3, P. Fannignton. whose name Is IN
dlssolubly connected with Roebling's In
that triumph OF engineering skill, che
Brooklyn bridge.
An ailuslon 10 Mr.. Fannington's work
in reconstructlng the wonderful Mag
ara bridge when Il was not familiar
task" recalls the great feat performed
by the engineer, who first bridged the
Niagara, and who swung across the
mighty chasm the first slender line up
on which depended not only the bridge
he then built. but the three subsequent
bridges connecting the United states
with Canada.
In ls47, Charles Ellet, jr, civil engi-
neer, succeeded In throwing across the
Niagara river, at point little above
the whirlpool, single wire cable OF
about the thickness Of mans thumb.
Upon this cable he swung an Iron bas-
ket, worked by ropes and pulleys on
either side Of the river, As public con-
fldence in this almost marvellous under
taking was very wavering, and as the
experiment involved imminent personal
risk, Mr.. Ellet made the trial trip alone.
About three thousand people stood and
breathlessly watched the little iron bas-
ket. with It's single living freight, as Il
glided rapidly down the almost invisible
wire, then made an ominouR pause IN
the middle OF the perllouB transit, Tin
the agitation of this trial trip the lines
were not smoothly worked, then slowly
climbed to the top of the stone tower
upon the Canadian cliffs. During those
moments OF suspense, as he sat with
lifted hat in response to the frantic APP
plause OF the thousands Of bystanders,
Charles Ellet. IT,, was the first among
mortal men to gaze from mld-air, far
above the raging river, upon the mighty
cataract OF Niagara.
The basket In which this passage was
made hangs. am told, in the museum
at Buffalo. 1t was used by Mr.. Elicit
for carrying workmen and material for
the construction of little foot bridge.
This slight structure served as the scaf-
folding for the construction of strong
and solid carriage and wagon bridge,
which It was Mr.. Ellets plan to use
pending the construction OF the railroad
bridge he had designed. Again, finding
the public dIstrustful OF the carriage
bridge, and fearing that lack Of conf
dence would delay the profitable use Of
the structure, as soon as 1t was COM
pleted, before the railing had been up,
Mr.. Ellet mounted the box OF a two
horse carriage and drove across the
bridge. which then came promptly into
general use. A difficulty with the bridge
company in relation to the terms OF the
contract was compromised, and Mr.,
Ellet left to others the task Of complet-
ing the work he had begun.
1t may not be without interest at this
hour to note that Charles Ellet. jr., was
the inventor OF the now noted steam
ram as a means of coast and harbor
defense. He constructed the United
States steam ram feet of the MISSISSIPPI
pi, nnd commanded 1t June 6, 1862, with
the rank Of colonel, In the first pitched
battle between steam rams In the world
the victorious battle before Memphis
where he fell mortallV wounded on
the deck Of his flagship. the Queen of
the West, OF glorious memory.