New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-13
BRIDGE WRECKAGEA MENACE
VESSELS BUMP INTO 1T IN FoG-FOOT-
BRIDGES SAG AT BROOK
LYN END.

There was much activity yesterday at the
Manhattan end of the New East River Bridge.
which was seriously damaged by the spectacular
fire of Monday night. Conditions resultant from
the fire were serious. the thick mist that hung
over the river efectually preventing pilots and
captains Of passing boats from seeing the tons Of
timbers and cables that dangled over their
heads.
An accident unique in many ways befell the
City of Worcester, Of the Norwich Line, yes
terday, as she passed under the new East River
Bridge. The steamer was hugging the Manhat-
tan shore closely the trip down. TO avoid sew
eral Jines Of barges and scows which were pass
ing upstream. The first mast passed under the
bridge successfully. but the topmast Of the
mainmast did not fare so well. The brass ball.
about twelve inches in diameter, caught in the
wreckage of the burned footbridge and caused
the topmast TO bend like bow. It broke a few
feet from the ball and shot out into the air
if from catapult. The sudden release of
the mast from the tension the boat got clear
of the bridge. caused the entire topmast to be-
come loosened. Turning over and in fall
ing. the broken part struck the deck with great
force. The splintered end. sharpened like
wedge. hit the hurricane deck. cut through II
and through the saloon deck below. The mast
kept on its course until It had gone through
heavy drygoods box filled with cloth. and struck
the main deck. The staff fitted in the holes 1t
had made snugly that light could be seen
between it and the edge of the holes in any of
the decks. No one was injured The mast
passed through the saloon deck within a few
feet Of a large radiator. On cold days this ra-
diator warns the saloon but yesterday it
not in use. 1t is the practice Of passegers 10 sit
about the radiator awaiting the arrival in New
York, Yesterday most of them were on the
hurricane deck
The work Of removing the burned and wrecked
footbridge will be slow and dangerous task,
and that will require the services Of the
most expert and careful riggers. The engineers
fear that If a high wind should come up there
will he rain of material into the river that will
do mischief. Under such conditions. they say.
l.affic under the bridge would have 10 be sus-
pended.
Workmen began TO remove that part of the
wrecked footbridge which hangs over Temp
kns-st. Tons Of shattered tmbers had fallen
TO the ground. and the wood was eagerly gath
cred up and carried away by the poor people of
the neighborhood.
Soon after o'clock word was received from
the Brooklyn end Of the bridge that there was
dangerous condition Of affairs over there A
gang OF men at once dispatched 10 the
other side.
The breaking Of the six 2Iz-inch temporary
cables at the Manhattan tower caused a sagGing
Of the footbridges between the Brooklyn tower
and the anchorages. At that point the foot
bridges remained intact, but a the strain was
fast increasing a sudden collapse like that
which happened on the night of the fire be-
tween the Manhattan tower and the anchOrageS
seemed imminent. To prevent further disaster
the engineers decided to remove the woodwork.
During the day. in small sections. in all about
five hundred feet of the working bridge work
was cleared away and lowered TO the metal
structure without
No effort made to remedy the dangerous
condition Of the shattered footbridges swaying
to and fro by slender hangers the water
between the two towers. Beside the City
of Worcester other smaller craft in making
their way through the river struck some Of the
dangling wreckage. and the pilots Of the ferry
boats say that they are running great risks in
making their trips under the mass Of loose tim
bers and cables. and that steps ought 70 be
taken to get these out OF the way before a gale
springs up. The engineers say that the removal
OF the wreck is being carried quickly
possible under the circumstances, but declare
that the shore end must be attended to before
work on the big spans be begun with safety.
The engineers have not yet removed from the
cables at the top OF the tower the two hundred
more strands that damaged. Where
the cables pass the saddles on the top Of
the tower. lengths Of ten feet or more VIII have
to be removed and new pieces spliced in.