◆ SpookStack

—_ ccna Ne Nae eden ¢ 5} * em Scat, * re meme n ar a Dae Ems antieneitatitnetatnmaintentis en tana at p hg has in eh Fae Sencar bridge until he vas 7;@peticaélly en it for the “@: reason that he didn’t know it wi Where, despite having bef Qver it twice that day. The srgument here could weil be that “someone else -had been driving" and he just hadn't paid any attention to the local scenery, which held no novelty for him. This argument might win | credence from some and prove difficuit to dispute if the Dike — : Bridge was an ordinary one, but it isn't: it is extraordinary and = the extraordinary, the anomalous, attracts attention. :¢ ‘xuthor Olsen tells us more than once ir The Bridge at Chap- paquiddick (c.g.. FP: L16 ard 135), that it is cleariy visible ; from the road from a distance of 200 yards or nore, partly due to * its angle to the read. “As if the rather abrupt change in scenery wasn't enough to attract attention (the trees and brush lining he road stop before reaching the Malm house), the road becomes increasingly rough, with ruts and a couple of pot holes not far from the westeriy end of the bridge that: cause any normal driver to slow down, bridge or not. And it is reasonable to assume that Mr. Crimmins is a normal driver. Then there is the unusual 27- degree angle of the bridge to the road (according to Inspector George Kennedy) and then the narrowness of the bridge, itself-- only ten feet, six inches wide--to command the attention. (The cited article in Time (p. 12,. Aug. 1, 1969) seys the local resi- dents recommend coming to a full stop before going onte the briac-.- - then inching forware at a respectable 5 m.p.-h. until safely on the other side.) But these, other than the width, are only the approach fac- tors; there is the bridge, itself. Most rural bridges are essen tially level witn the road and it is, indeed, possible to zip past them withovt notice; but not the Dike. It is “humpbacked", and this contributes mostly to its visibility from a distance. In an elaborate report in the form of an affidavit by professional en~ gineer Eugene D. Jones, Wire Drorident in charges of the New Engléend Division of Frederic R. Harris, Inc., Consulting Engineers, the ‘bridge is described as having a center span 11'-9" long. Let's say- twelve feet. Then it says this span varies in clearance from three feet to five feet above the water. It does not say, howeve? whether thig variance is due to the tide or if it refers to the levels of the center approach sections to the said center span. ‘Looking a various photographs of the bridge, it is easy to believe the reference is to the bridge, itself. These approach sections appear to be between 15 and 20 feet long and rise, ramplike, to meet each respective end of tne elevated center Span. This is why it is known locally as."the hump".- The center span looks as if it is easily two feet above the beginning of each approaching ramp section, which would give the ramps 4 gradient of no jess than ten degrees, and going cver it the first time in an automo~ ‘pile, whether driving or as @ passenger, must se quite an experi- ence. With a wheelbase of ten feet, four inches (according to the manufacturer) and a minimun clearance of just about six inches, Mr. Crimmins must have had sone misgivings before reaching the . other side and quite possibly some conversation with the Senator as to whether to risk it! For example, read the following excerpt (stigney abridge’) from Mr. Crimmins' testimony and see if you c agree. 2cf/ Thid., p. hy. oe een aa