Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1906-05-13
FERRIS WHEELS FINISH.
Afser Varied Career II 10 Destroyed %
St Louis by Dynamite.

ST. Louis, May i2.-Blown 70 pieces
by a monster charge Of dynamite. the
Ferris wheel. after a varied career Of
thirteen years. passed out OF existence
in this city. Constructed as one Of
the engineering wonders OF century.
the wheel first was n feature Of the
Chicago Worlds fair In 1898. Then for
long period Of monumental and un-
profitable inactivity II lowered In an
amusement park at North Clark street
anG Wrightwood avenue. II finally
was removed TO ST. Louis 20 form for
the second time the huge mechanical
marvel OF a great exposition.
For more than n month heavy wag-
ons laden with the 1900 tons Of steel
entering into its construction numbered
through Chicago's streets.
The old wheel. which had become
ST. Louis white elephant. died hard.
II required 200 pounds of dynamite TO
put II out OF business. The FIRST charge
was exploded under the supports al
the north side OF the structure. wreck.
ing its foundation and permitting the
wheel 10 drop 10 the ground. a matter
OF but few feet.
As the wheel settled II slowly turn
ed. with its bottom as n support. and
then after tottering a moment like a
huge giant In distress. II collapsed
slowly. Within a few minutes II was
a tangled mass OF steel and iron thirty
or forty feet high.
The huge axle. weighing seventy.
four tons. dropped slowly with the rem
nants OF the wheel. crushing the small.
or braces and steel framework. When
the mass stopped settling II bore no
resemblance 20 the wheel which was so
familiar to Chicago and 81. Louis and
20 100000 amusement seekers from
all over the world, who. In the days
when II was in operation. made the
trip TO the top OF its height Of 26f feet
and then slowly around and down TO
the starting point.
Following the blast that wrecked the
wheel. but which failed TO shatter its
foundation. came an explosion OF an
other charge Of 100 pounds OF dyna-
mite. The sticks were sunk In holes
drilled In the concrete foundations that
supported the pillars on the north side
OF the wheel
The wheel was the wonder OF two
continents by reason Of It's cost OF
$500. 900, its dimensions and It's utter
uselessness. II was the rival OF the
Eiffel tower OF Paris. Chicago was
glad 10 get rid OF II, and St Louis Ia
said TO have Witnessed Its destruction
with satisfaction.
George Washington Vale Ferris OF a
Pittsburg engineering Arm. originated
the idea OF the wheel that bore his
name. taking the notion from a bicycle
and adapting the constructive princi-
pies OF steel bridges In its erection.
Ferris financed the wheel, built II
at Pittsburg. erected II at the Chicago
Columbian exposition. and took In
$3.50 900 at 50 cents a ride. Then Fer.
ris took a trip 10 Europe. He lost all
interest In the monster and died In
OF tuberculosis. He was only
forty years old.
The stockholders. who made 100 per
cent profit out OF the wheel IN 1898.
leased the ground In North Clark
street and regretted Il there. Ferris
Wheel park was not q success. and
the wheel was taken down again and
removed 10 ST. Louis on June 3. 1903
The cost OF taking down the wheel
was $4,000. Its ruins are estimated 70 |
be worth $4,000 as scrap iron.