Witness Post: Brooklyn Bridge
One of those undeniable icons, the Brooklyn Bridge is such a magical connection to the various diaspora of the world. Like the Statue of Liberty, it unites and welcomes the workers in the adjacent borough to Manhattan, which is where the money is made and dreams are born. The images are often from Brooklyn looking west, though some vistas may surprise.
Historian often write about the marvelous construction of this bridge, and a few mention the fatalities of men lost in the process. Estimates are that 20-30 people died during the 14-year construction of the Brooklyn Bridge (1869–1883), though exact records are unavailable. Many deaths were caused by “caisson disease” (the bends) due to working in pressurized underwater chambers, along with accidents involving falling stones, snapped cables and fires. Bridge building is dangerous work.
John A. Roebling, the initial designer of the bridge, died in 1869 from tetanus after his foot was crushed during preliminary surveying. His son, Washington Roebling, was one of those who suffered and died from caisson disease. He was paralyzed and bedridden by the bends. And tragicly, just six days after the ribbon cutting and official opening of the bridge, 12 people died in a stampede on the bridge walkway.
In this case, fewer words are needed, as the images say it all.
Henry E. Hooper 