The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-03
NIAGARA FALLS BRIDGEs.
Last of suspension Structures-Boy's
Kite First Crossed the Chasm.

Last of suspension Structures-Boy's
Kite First Crossed the Chasm.
o. Il. Dunlap in Leslie's Weekly.
The second steel arch bridge across the
Niagara gorge is in course of construction,
to the falls.
The signing of the contracts for the new
arch was practically an order for the de-
struction of the last of the famous great
suspension bridges at Niagara, far as
their original location is concerned. and the
last of the structures traversed by thou
sands OF tourists in an admiring mood will
live in memory only. All arrangements for
the building of the first bridge over the
gorge We're completed early in 1S4S, and the
contractors set about finding means of es-
tablishing communication between the cliffs
at the narroWest point near the whirlpool
rapids. The idea of overcoming the diff
Guilty by powerful rocket was conceived.
But this did not work. and some school boys
flying their kites on the river bank gave
the suggestion that the desired connection
might be made by allowing a kite to settle
on the opposite bank.
The most adept of the boys in flying their
Kites was little Holman Walsh and the
contractors invited him to try his skill. The
prevailing wind at the falls is from the
southwest. and after waiting some days for
a favorable wind, young Walsh walked up
stream two miles to the ferry, and crossed
to the Canadian side, reaching which he
proceeded down stream to the site of the
bridge. The wind was blowing strong, and
he soon had his kite, named the Union,
flying. heavenward. The cord went out rap
idly, but the gale was too strong to allow
the kite to settle Night came On, and
walsh and boys who had gathered built
fire on the bank to keep warm, awaiting a
lull in the wind towards midnight. The
anxious watchers on the opposite shore also
built a fire. Walsh knew then that his
programme was understood, and that there
would be a close watch kept for the kite :
Inc Wind went down as expected, and
ing on the kite string told him that his kite
had landed and that the cord was safely
across the gorge The distance and roar of
the rapids prevented verbal communication;
therefore they were uncertain as to each
others movements. Suddenly there came a
heavy jerk on the cord and then it fell loose
in Walsh's hands. So much sag had been
given it that it had reached the river be-
low, in which a vast amount of ice was
Disappointed, Walsh wound up his end of
the cord and started for the ferry. Reach
ing there, he was told the river was so full
of ice that the boats dared not venture out.
For eight days he was ice-bound on the
Canadian shore.
When finally he arrived home he found
his kite uninjured, and after waiting again
for a favorable wind to fly it from the
New York State bank he again crossed to
the Canadian side. The wind was favor
able and in thirty minutes he had landed
his kite. and the desired connection between
the cliffs was established. The cord was
used to draw q, heavier cord across thu
wire cable. Other cables followed. and Il
galloway on which an iron basket ran, now
ciety. was operated in building the bridge
Walsh received $50 for his work. He is still
alive and resides in Lincoln, Neb.
Other cables were strung and placed on
towers From these cables were suspended
two bridges. each about three feet wide and
forty feet apart. Between them the cable
way was operated. The second of these
bridges had been carried out about go feet
from the New York State bank and about
$50 feet from the Canadian bank. when
terrible tornado swept down the gorge from
the southwest. The unfinished bridge was
parted near the towers and the cables were
displaced. Far out over midstream, 20O Ieet
above the water, six men were at work FOR
d short time all seemed to be lost Back ana
forth the bridges swung at the mercy OF the
gale. Two Of the men made their way 10 Ine
tremity The rain came in torrents. AS
soon as the storm subsidized little. the IRON
basket was let out on the eabIe WIN one
and when he reached the wreck he used lt
to make g bridge. over which the men
passed. ;rto the basket and were puiieo
The steel arch now being built will be the
fourth bridge erected on the site. Connec-
ton at the. point was made between lne
cliffs by carrying a rope across the river
on an ice bridge. The first bridge was
wooden structure. opened to the pupnG an al,
2 1859 In 1SS7-S8 it was rebuilt in steel. On
the night of Jan. 9-10 1889, the new structure
was wrecked by wind and turned bottom up
in the gorge. A portion of this bridge SUI
lies beneath the waters of the river. Inc
last man to cross it was DR.. John Hodge,
of Niagara Falls, who went to the Canadian
side to visit very sick patient. on MS re-
turn he had a frightful experience ana mar
rowly escaped being blown into the gorge.
The suspension bridge was rebuilt IN 1883.
and # is this bridge that is now to give way
TO the latest steel arch. 4
With the building of the arch the present
suspension bridge will be taken down anu
carried down stream seven miles, Wnefe II Is
tn he rebuilt on the site of the old Lewiston
bridge. which was wrecked by wind on April
16 1854 under remarkable circumstances. In
March and early in April of the year mem
tioned the ice came down the river from
lake Erie in great and unusual quantlues.
An Immense gorge was formed below the
bridge. and the ice piled up about the an
chorages of the guys to such an extent Ihat
If created alarm that when 1t moved II
would carry the guys away. Inc sorge
broke and the owners of the brloge con-
gratulated themselves that their care mao nau
Iesuited in saving the structure NICE
weather followed. but the bridge men olu
not think to replace the guys. "A neTce
storm came down the gorge and the prldg Se
was swept away. 1t was never repulis, p .'.e
over the gorge to-day, from cliff to cll1, the
cables swing attracting much attenllon
from passers through the now popular ro tlte
of travel and affording, it is sald; IN the
mast n means of criminals escaping from the
United States into the Dominion.