The Brooklyn Bridge that spans the river tying Manhattan Island
to Brooklyn is truly a miracle bridge. In 1863, 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.