Page 236 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New York City

234  NE W Y ORK CIT Y AREA B Y AREA

Making the Cables Cable Wrapping
Wire was wound off the
drum and around the
Thickness of steel wire (actual size) End of cable to form a tight
wire final wrapping.
How the Cables Were Made
Each of the four main cables has 19 strands,
each made of 278 steel wires. The wires
were not twisted, but laid parallel.

Iron clamp

The 19 strands of a
main cable A massive iron clamp
compressed all the strands
into an even cylinder once
they had been positioned.
The strands were laid in order: after
the bottom 12 strands were laid, the
center strands were bound together. Bolt

Bustling Bridge
This 1883 view from
the Manhattan side
shows the original two
outer lanes for horse-
drawn carriages, two
middle lanes for cable
The 1983 Centennial Fireworks over the Brooklyn Bridge cars, and the elevated
Celebrating the bridge’s 100th year, this display was spectacular. center walkway.

Panic on Memorial Day, 1883
After a woman tripped on the bridge, panic
broke out. Of the estimated 20,000 people
on the bridge, 12 were crushed to death.

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