The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-29
THE TRIP OF THE Big CAISSON.
FOUR TUGS HOLD TT BACK WHILE
1T DRIFTS DOWNSTREAM,
And steer the Unwieldy Float Into Slack
Water Under the Brooklyn Bridge,
Where II ChaTes Pier--River Craft

The great caisson for Che New York pier
of the Manhattan Bridge resumed its UNI
wieldy trip down the East River with the
ebb tide yesterday noon, from Ninety
seventh street. where 1t had been moored
overnight. The big wooden box, lA feet
long and rs feet wide, rising 80 feet out OF
water, began its Journey on Monday MORN
ing from the slip in the Harlem River at
l52d street, where it had been under con-
struction since last March.
The tug men figured on getting it into it's
berth at the foot OF Pike street at slack
water the same evening. They based their
calculations on the six hour trip made
last year by its mate, on which the Brooklyn
pier has been built. Hard luck at the
draws on the Harlem delayed them Just
long enough to meet the first Of the flood
tide above Hell Gate
The caisson draws thirteen feet of water
and gave tho tide purchase that four big
tugs couldn't overcome; 80, after pulling
apart two three-inch ring bolts, to which
their hawsers were fastened, the tugs
gave up the idea Of bucking the, tide.
The caisson came down on the tide yes
ooeangoing tugs which churned away
full speed at the end Of their hawsers and
did little more than act as rudders to the
drifting box. Two smaller tugs, pressing
their stems against the downstream side,
were pushed along as il they were toys.
Only the long wakes Of swirling water
from their propellers showed the work
they were doing. The caisson Numbered
on downstream with scarcely visible
check to Its progress.
All the way downstream river craft
gave the tow wide berth. as the caisson
stood UP 80 formidably that pilots didn't
take any chances Of running afoul. Prob
ably no one Of the four tug captains ever
madea trip down the East River with fewer
cuss words.
II was 8 o'clock, with four hours more
before slack water, when the procession
came opposite Pike street. The tug men
knew better than to try for the slip then.
and let their tow carry them below the
BROOKLYN Bridge, where a tidal eddy makes
slack water close to the Brooklyn shore
There, by dint of mighty pulling and push
ing, the caisson was coaxed into the slip
at Pier to wait for the tide to let up
While the tugs we're waiting for the final
wrestle against the tide from Pier the
caisson fioa ted In the slack water Of the slip
with one corner touching the stringplece.
Every time it rose with the swell the sharp
corner chafed splinter or two from the
pier, and the dock master was soon raging
about, calling on the tugs to pull her on.
Engineer Sylvester Of the Dock Depart
ment undertook to ease the dock masters
mind He got good brace for his feet and
pushed nightly against the caisson; Vsry
by imperceptible degrees, he forced 1t a
foot from the stringpiece.
At about tina time the big Sound steamers
we're starting up the river, Capt. Riley,
from his perch on top OF the calsson, or
dered his feet out into the stream again.
The current was still setting ont pretty
strong, and it was an hour before the tow,
hugging the Brooklyn. Shore, cleared the
bridge. Then the tide Stacked rapidly,
and a diagonal course across TO Pike street
took only few minutes.
It was dead slack water along the New
York shore, so the towing tugs cast loose
and let the little fellows bunt the box in
Soon the first feel OF the flood came along
Just in time to carry the big float into her
berth between two square islands OF crib
bling which will hold her in place.