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Build a Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge that
spans the river tying Manhattan Island to Brooklyn is truly a miracle bridge.
In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea
for this spectacular bridge. However, bridge-building experts throughout
the world told him to forget it; it could not be done.
Roebling convinced his son,
Washington, who was a young upand coming engineer, that the bridge could
be built. The two of them developed the concepts of how it could be accomplished
and how the obstacles could be overcome. With un harnessed excitement and
inspiration, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.
The project was only a few
months under construction when a tragic accident on the site took the life
of John Roebling and severely injured his son, Washington. Washington was
left with permanent brain damage and was unable to talk or walk. Everyone
felt that the project would have to be scrapped since the Roeblings were
the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built.
Even though Washington was
unable to move or talk, his mind was as sharp as ever, and he still had
a burning desire to complete the bridge. An idea hit him as he lay in his
hospital bed, and he developed a code for communication. All he could move
was one finger, so he touched the arm of his wife with that finger, tapping
out the code to communicate to her what to tell the engineers who were
building the bridge. For thirteen years, Washington tapped out his instructions
with his finger until the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge was finally completed.
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