East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-01-04
Interesting Letter From
New York City

New York, Jan. 4.-Falls or Volun-
tary leaps from the high bridges
over the East river are not unusual
occurrences, but the experience of
Charles Summerfield, an iron worker,
who fell from the williamsburg
bridge the other day into the East
river, a distance of 1876 feet, was as
remarkable as 1t was thrilling.
Summerfield was at work on a
girder when his foot slipped on an
ice-covered plank. He clutched for
through the network of steel. He
turned two complete somersauts be-
fore he covered half the distance to
the river. Then he seemed to gather
himself as one would do If he were
preparing to take a leap. He doubled
his knees against his chest, clasped
his hands around them and ducked
his head. The mans conposure was
remarkable, and those who witnessed
his acts were astounded that he could
control himself in midair. He evi-
IDENTIFY clearly saw his danger, and
did his best to save his life. Striking
the water on his side he disappeared.
In few seconds he came to the
surface. and began swimming for all
he was worth. Those who were
watching from the bridge saw him
take several strokes and then turn on
his side.
In a few moments he was pulled
aboard tug and taken to a hospital.
When he regained consciousness Sum-
merfield said that he was formerly a
circus performer, and that his train
ing in the ring probably saved his
life. This fact explains his remark
able actions when in midair.
An Artificial Island.
The proposition to build an artifi-
cial island in that part of New York
bay where the water is so shallow
that great difficulty is experienced in
keeping clear the channels used by
large steamships, has been revived,
and Brooklyn congressman are pre-
pairing to present the project to the
national legislature. For IL years
the government has been engaged in
| deepening what is known as the Am
brose channel, but the work has pro-
ceeded very slowly on account of the
continued filling in of the excava-
tions by cross currents. 1t is now
proposed that a part of the harboI
be filled up and to build two long jet
ties that would guide the currents sc
as to sweep a wide channel deer
enough for the passage of the biggest
ocean liners at low tide.
To Build Moving Platform.
AS the development of New York!
present transportation boom. which
includes plans for the extension of al
the existing systems and for th'
building of new lines, overhead
underground and under water,
great moving platform now looms VI
novelty is part of the Pennsylvani;
railroads system to handle the thous
ands of passengers coming from ant
going to it's new terminal station, ant
will be operated across town unde
Thirty-fourth street, or from Firs
|, avenue to Ninth avenue.
According to experts the movini
) platform will permit the loading an
unloading of $50 passengers a minut
while the train is in motion, or tn
delivering of 47,25o passengers al
) hour at given point, which is abou
double the capacity of the INTERIOR
ough. The time saved in making tn
cross-town trip, based on the spec
of the present trolley cars, will b
, about four minutes. There will b
: two platforms, one running east an
the other west. Each platform
really a set of four, three for constan
use and an auxiliary, which may b
used at night or any other time whe
needed. The first of the three regu
r lar platforms, it is proposed, wi
5 move at a speed of three miles, tn
second at six and the third at min
: miles. The third platform will be pre-
vided with seats placed crosswise.