The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1827-07-04
men employed in the srchwsy escaped

ing mustered, as soon after the accident
as possible, not one was found missing.
The engineer, who was below repairing
one Of the pumps. was suddenly borne by
the water TO the surface, and was caught
up by mr.. Brunei, the manager OF the
works. Two ladies', accompanied by two
gentlemen, intending TO visit the works,
had just advanced to the stops for the pur-
pose ofdecending, when the accident took
place. Taking into conside ration the vast
body and impetuosity Of the stream that
poured into the tunnel, it is most surpris'
ing that not only no life was lost, but no IN
jury was Sustained by any one.
We have received the following letter
from mr.. Brunei, who, we are happy TO
find does not look upon the accident IN so
serious a light as the above account gave
reason to suppose.
TO THE EDITOR.
SrR--I feel it duty incumbent on me,
TO make known TO the public an accldent
which occurred this evening 10 the Tun-
mel, by the water from the river overpow-
ering the exertions which, at the time,
could be opposed to it. Although this cir
cumstance will retard our progress, yet !
am confident the accident will soon be O.
yercomc, and tho work resumed.
am, Sir, your obedent Servant,
NJ. J. BRUNEI.
Bridge street, Blackfriurs, May 25.
Further yariicuIars--About 100 men
were engaged in cutting the tunnel when
the alarm was raised that the RIVER had
broken 10. Tallett, the under engineer, and
Messrs Btunel, Jun. und Grayatt the prln-
cipal engineers, remained for seSeral min
| u,es, using every endeavor, at the imml"
nent peril Of their lives, to stoY up The cav
| ity through which the water 0oZed but al
ter all their efforts proving hnavaiIlng a
ganst the increasing rush OF the water,
they were forced to retref towards the
shaft. The instant the accident occurred,
general CONSERVATION prevailed amongst
the workmen, and they simultaneously
rushed towards the sbsit-SauUe qua puct
was the sentiment, and in their hurry seve
raj ludicrous accidents took place. 1t ls
with pleasure we Announce that no life
was lost on the occasion, though the engi-
neers, aud particularly Tallett, narrowly es.
capped drowning. 1t appears !hat at q quar-
Ter before seven O'clock, the IL shields, or
frame works, were in the act fbeing pro-
PEELED forward at the end Of the tunnel, to
GuhDlc INC w tNAoNdl' 'll'lR ~
curely and at that time, the tunnel extend
cd $50 feet under the Thames. The work
men employed IN propelling No. i and IL
shields, observed the soil To give way be-
tween these shields, and in few seconds
afterwards, the water poured IN through an
aperture about SIX inches IN dIameter.-T
Tallett, the engineer, screwed up three
door ways az he rctreated towards the
shaft, and he was obliged To swim con-
siderable distance. A workman named
;u,tis, was also in the water for some time.
rallett being good swimmer, renamed
! 1t the top of the water, about ten teet be
low the top of the shalt, till Messrs. Bru-
mel, Junior, and Gravatt came to his assist
ance. Mr. Brunei, lun,or, plunged INTO the
water, aud affixed a rope round raIlett, and
he was drawn up in n stntc OF exhaustion
TO the top of the shaft. From the time the
water first broke IN, till the Tunnel and
shaft were filed TO the level of the river,
Twelve minutes elapsed. The Engineers
are quito confident that they shall be able
TO repair the injury, and that the only con
sequence which will arise from II, will be
the retarding Of the work for about fort
night. We wish they may not be Slsap
nointet in their sangulne expectations but
we cannot help recolscting that former
attempt to make u subaqueous tunnel by
| Mr.. Dodd, failed in consequence OF n simi
lar accident A diving bell has been sem
for, and this day Mr.. Brunei will descen'
IN il, to ascertain the extent OF the INJURY
and to adopt means Of stopping the aper
turc caused by the influx of the water
Should the means proposed TO be used b'
successful. the water IN the tunnel will b'
drawn up by means of steam engines. IN
few DAYS. II must, however, be recollect
ed, hat the former tunne! prolectedb by tn
engineer, Mr.. Dodd, succeeded to tn
point Of working to the commencement c
a sandy stratum of the bed OF the river
when the water burst in, and no effort
art could devise means OF overcoming tn
difficulty. Should the present evil be tn
result of design, unless IT be materially aid
ed by the nature of the soil, it can easily b
overcome.
The Directors, who were specially sum
moned on tho occasion, sat at their rooms
in Bridge street, Blsckfriars, until lat
hour last night, and received from time t
time, reports from Mr.. Brunei the younger
MAY 81.
Further Pariculdrs.-Atl low water, thi
morning, mr. Brunei, sen. mr., Brunei Jun
and mr.. Gravatt, descended III the diving
bell TO the bed of the river, in order to as
certain the efficacy Of the measures whie
Ihayo been adopted to remedy the difficult
~ which has arisen in the prosecution
this important undertaking. In addiuo
to large quantities of strong clay, som
bags filed with the same composition, hay'
: with the help of long spikes, been lowere
= into the river, and laid in such position
4 as would best answer the purpose inten'
n ed. Messrs. Brunei, this morning, d,