MO CHAIN PIER. 



diameter, in links ten feet long, and the platform is suspended from the 

 main chains by suspension rods of about one inch in diameter ; the upper 

 ends of the suspension rods are inserted in hollow caps, resting on the 

 joints of the main chains. It stood manfully the test of all weathers, 

 until the great storm, on the loth October, 1833, on the evening of 

 which day it blew a tremendous gale from the west. The principal 

 damage done then was to the second and third bridges ; the platforms of 

 which were more or less destroyed, most of the suspension rods snapped, 

 and the main chains were left hanging almost independent of the 

 platform, one of the upper pair of chains being separated from its 

 companion and twisted round the pair below it. In the first and fourth 

 bridges, the only damage done was the sinking of the main chains, in 

 consequence of the counter-balancing weight of the second and third 

 bridges being removed, some of the suspension rod were found bent, and 

 the towers thrown a little out of their perpendicular. 



As no person was spectator of the damage done during the storm, its 

 cause is only conjectural ; by some it was attributed to lightning, but 

 this was disproved by the thickness of the rods and their uninjured state 

 after the storm; then it being low water at the time, the action of 

 the sea was not the cause ; but it is, with great probability, attributed 

 to the wind, which, being due west, would fall at right angles on the 

 pier, and producing continued vibration at stated intervals, would cause 

 so violent a motion as to break some of the centre suspension rods, where 

 the vibration would of course be greater, and these giving way, the 

 increased weight would be thrown upon the adjoining rods; and hence 

 the damage done. 



It was shortly afterwards substantially repaired by stay chains being 

 added, and has ever since bravely stood amidst the " war of elements" 

 an object of beauty and utility. 



As we have spoken of stay chains, it may not be uninteresting to 

 describe those which Mr. Brunei, senior, applied as additional securities 

 to the two suspension bridges, which he erected for the French Govern- 

 ment in the Isle of Bourbon; where, from the violence of storms with 

 which that island is so frequently visited, the greatest possible strength 

 was required. Mr. Brunei obtained a proper resistance by employing a 

 double system; first, the usual upper chain; secondly, lower and 

 inverted chains, united to the roadway of the bridges by vertical 

 rods, which are, properly speaking, the suspending rods of the 

 inverted chains. In order to give firmness to the road of the bridges, 

 horizontal with the stream, the lower chains, instead of being on a 



