1887.] on Bridging the Firth of Forth. 149 



distance of 180 ft., carrying away a dozen rungs of a ladder with 

 which he came in contact, as if they had been straws. These are 

 instances of rashness, but the best men run risks from their fellow 

 workmen. Thus a sj)lendid fellow, active as a cat, who would run 

 hand over hand along a rope at auy height, was knocked over by a 

 man dropping a wedge on him from above and killed by a fall of 

 between one and two hundred feet. There are about 500 men at 

 work at each main pier and something is always dropping from aloft. 

 1 saw a hole 1 in. in diameter made through the 4 in. timber of the 

 staging by a spanner which fell about 300 ft. and took off a man's 

 cap in its course. On another occasion a drojjped spanner entered a 

 man's waistcoat and came out at his ankle tearing open the whole of 

 his clothes, but not injuring the man himself in any way. 



Happily there is no lack of pluck amongst British workmen ; if 

 one man falls another steps into his place. Difficulties and accidents 

 necessarily occur, but like a disciplined regiment in action we close 

 up the ranks, push on, and step by step we intend to carry on the 

 work to a victorious conclusion. 



[B. B.] 



