idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long
Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought
that this was an impossible feat and told John Roebling toforget the
idea. It just could not be done. It wasnot practical. It had neverbeen
done before.
John Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this
bridge.He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart
that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone
else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his
son Washington Roebling, an up and coming engineer,that the bridge in
fact could be built.
Working together for thefirst time, the father and son developed
concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could
be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness
of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew andbegan to
build their dream bridge.
The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a
tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington
Roebling was injured andleft with a certain amount of brain
damage,which resulted in him notbeing able to walk or talkor even
move.
"We told them so. Crazy men and their crazy dreams. It's foolish to
chase wild visions."
Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project
should be scrapped since the John Roebling were the only ones who knew
how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap Washington
Roebling was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to
complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever.
Washington Roebling tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to
some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task. As he lay
on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through
the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and
he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just
a moment.
It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an
idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to
make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of
communication with his wife Emily.
Washington Roebling touched his wife's arm with that finger,
indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then
heused the same method oftapping her arm to tell the engineers what to
do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.
For 13 years Washington Roebling tapped out his instructions with his
finger on his wife's arm, until the bridge was finally completed in
1883.Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands inall its glory as a
tribute tothe triumph of one man'sindomitable spirit and
hisdetermination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a
tribute to the engineers and their team work, andto their faith in a
man who was considered madby half the world. It stands too as a
tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long
years patiently decoded the messages of her husbandWashington Roebling
and told the engineers what to do.
Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude
that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible
goal.
Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles
seemvery small in comparison to what many others have to face. The
Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be
realized with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds
are.
Even the most distant dream can be realized with persistence and determination.
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