You're listening to American Shadows, a production of I Heart Radio and Grimm & Mild

from Erin Manky.

It rose up from below, a centenile of sweeping, steel, and promise.

The Brooklyn Bridge sword, a stately giant that welded the two banks of the East River

together.

It was the longest suspension bridge ever created, an eighth wonder of the world according

to some.

It became a point of pride for New York, and one of the most recognizable landmarks around,

especially to those who had just arrived on America's shores.

The bridge had become just as iconic as Lady Liberty herself.

Immigrants saw these towering figures as symbols of possibility.

They arrived in ship after ship because they understood America to be a place of opportunity.

As did the conman who waited for the newcomers at the docks, some of whom, as we've talked

about before on this show, went about trying to sell them, that very bridge.

The scammers who prayed upon the dreams of these seawirry travelers and convinced them that

they've had a bridge to sell were Dima doesn't.

So much so that the processors of Ellis Island began warning people about them and others

to be on the lookout for.

It was evident that the American dream was ripe for exploitation.

Immigrants arrived believing they were starting over that their new lives were about to begin,

and some like Bertha Heyman relished in starting over again and again and again.

Bertha was committed to the hustle.

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