The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-07
CITY OF BRIDGES.
New York and It's ApprOaches-Mrs.
RoebIing's Thwarted Ambition.

RoebIing's Thwarted Ambition.
New York Press.
This is going to be city of bridges, not
withstanding the tunnels. The Brooklyn
bridge is a monument to John A. Roebling.
the hardest-headed German that ever
landed on our shores. In the preliminary
work beam rolled upon his ankle, crush
ing it, and he was laid up for repairs. Able
surgeons attended him, but he knew more
than they did. Instead of submitting to
their treatment with humility and patience
he rugged up a water cooler over the bed
50 that the ice-cold aqua pura could drip
upon the wound. Lockjaw set in and he
died. Almost with his last gasp he said to
the commissioners: Il have a boy who
can complete the bridge. Appoint him my
SUCCESSOR So Washington Roebling took
charge.
Washington Roebling supervised every
detail. In the prosecution of the work he
caught the caisson fever, which settled in
his legs, physically incapacitating him. AS
he lay upon his bed In Brooklyn his
subordinates kept him in touch with the
work, carefully, faithfully submitting
every phase. The man upon whom devolved
all responsibility was Col c. c. Martin.
Not stone was laid except under Martin $
eye. Not wire was twisted, not a rivet
riveted, not a bolt inserted, not q beam
laid not spike driven except with his
approval Martin was the real builder OF
the bridge, but Roebling had the credit. 1t
is case of Sampson and Schley all over
again. With both Roebling and Sampson
it might be styled the absent treatment"
The chief point in great undertakings in
both peace and war is to have able men
under you to carry out your purposes.
Such men you can always hire. But you
cannot at all times hire master mind to
direct.
1t was common talk among bridge work.
ers in those days that Mrs. Washington
Roebling was the actual builder. While
her husband lay upon his pallet she dashed
hither and thither in a carriage, giving
orders to this, that and tother official Her
interest In the progress OF the work became
an absorbing passion. On the opening day
she scanned her general results with the
intense pride. affection, love and hope with
which mother regards her first born. The
poet OF the occasion said:
mot in the throng will you find him,
Not at the festive board,
Not at the head of the workers
Who toiled so long at his word.
"Out through an open window,
With an eager, glistening eye,
He studies the fruit of his labor
And the throngs that are hurrying by.
HE hears the shrek of the whistle,
And the cannons laundering boom;
And the strains of martial music
Make an echo in his room"
And so forth There was nothing in the
poem about Mrs. Washington Roebling, the
actual builder, as she thought herself.
Everything was in readiness for the OPEN
ing of the monumental work. The greatest
of all bridges in the world was to be turned
over 10 traffic.
Then high above the rivers mist appears
an arc OF light;
A city sleeps at either end, enveloped in the
night"
So said the poet after dark. Mrs. Roeb-
ling had given orders to all the engineers,
from Colonel Martin down. that she was TO
be the first person to drive across the new
structure, and all acquiesced with that gal
lantry which becomes men when woman 2
whims to be humored. But there was
one important functionary whom she failed
to take into consideration. big Tom
Burns was foreman of laborers. The in
slant the last plank in the floor was laid he
started his horse a trot and never paused
till his immense corporeity in a small truck
had been hauled across and back. The sight
of him returning nearly broke Mrs. Roeb-
ling's heart. 1t was the disappointment
of her life.
big Tom" Burns has been with the
bridge ever since 1870. and is to-day foreman
of laborers at a salary Of $500. He and
started on the work with Superintendent
Martin thirty-two years ago. They are the
oldest employees. Burns still chuckles over
his famous coup de pont." 1t was the
event of his life. He would not take $1,000
for the "Reminiscences. On account of his
strength Of the structure after every fresh
scare When he has danced can-can in
the middle of the span the engineering force
agrees that the structure is safe.