mr mackay bought both sides of the river so he could specifically build this bridge....he would invite folks over so that he could scare them into laughing---his favorite emotion...anyway, when they would arrive he would get them to walk the bridge to his 'little party'...once there, his demonstrate and share his hemp rope making abilities, telling them the bridge was, in fact, made of the very material....then after it got dark he would disappear to the other side, he would send his native friends over to tell them the good captain had taken ill and to go home...then once they were on the bridge, he would shake it until the screams became laughs