The Washington bee., 1899-07-08
Spanning Niagara,

The second steel arch bridge across
the Niagara gorge replaces the upper
suspension bridge close to the falls.
The signing of the contracts for the
new arch was practically an order for
the destruction of the last of the ia
nous great suspension bridges at Nj
agara. so far as their original location
is concerned, and the last of the struc-
lures traversed by thousands of tour
lists in an admiring mood will live in
memory only. All arrangements for
the building of the first bridge over
the gorge were completed. writes Orrin
E. Dunlap in Leslie's Weekly. early in
lS4S, and the contractors set about
finding a means of establishing COM
munication between the cliffs at the
narrowest point near the whirlpool
rapids. The idea of overcoming the
difficulty by a powerful rocket was
conceived. But this did not work, and
some schoolboys flying their kites on
the river bank gave the suggestion that
the desired connection might be made
by allowing kite to settle on the op-
posite bank.
+" The most adept Of the boys in flying
their kites was little Homan 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 sooon had his kite man,
ed the Union, flying heavenward. The
cord went out rapidly, 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 toward midnight.
The anxious watchers on the opposite
shore also built a fire. Walsh knew
then that his program was understood,
and that there would be a close watch
kept for the kite.
The wind went down as expected,
and about IL O'Clock increased tension
and jerking 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 pre-
vented verbal communication, there
fore 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 1t that it
had reached the river below, in which
a vast amount Of ice was flowing. and
the cord was broken in two. Disap-
pointed, Walsh wound up his end OF
the cord and started for the ferry.
Reaching there, he was told the river
was so full of ice that the boats dared
not venture out. For eight days he was
icebound on the Canadian shore.
When finally he arrived home he
found his kite uninjured, and after
waiting again for favorable wind to
fly 1t from the New York State bank,
he again crossed to the Canadian side.
The wind was favorable. and in thirty
minutes he had landed his kite, and
the desired connection between the
cliffs was established. The cord was
used to draw heavier cord across the
river. and this was followed by rope
and a wire cable. Other cables follow
ed. and a cable way on which an iron
basket ran. now in possession of the
Buffalo Historical Society. was operat-
ed IN building the bridge. Walsh re-
ceived $50 for his work. He is still
alive. and resides In Lincoln, Neb.