Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-07-22

recitation OF SAIL; Tor we dearly rove W W
afloa,; i, i, be in bathing tub. "fhe hoat: Is
there water, then, in the tunnel so deep 'ha' NC
must be floated Overt" =,
"By the powers, Masther! but there Is smaii
call of waiher. that has half filed this part oil
the tunnel, and has driven the miners 10 Toe
pit below, but here's the floa'!"
Paddy had, by this time, walked along pianks
and broken air spou,s a considerable wav over
a thin sheet of water, on which our candles
CLEANED, giving it the appearance OF q SOLID
surface He drew to the side little rait, form
ed Of a few snort masons' boards, rudely attach
ed oy three slender crossing pieces, and hall oi
which was an inch under wafer by bis weight.
Upon this we laid a short board, 10 keep our
selves a.d our little companion from getting
we, feet; and, received long and massy plank
with which to shove our slender raft along, and
at the same time, functions 10 guard against
posts, floating timber, and so forth, we pushed
off, in expectation o. reaching bank, * thence
little four foot tunnel, leading from that in
which we were to the one worked to the full
size below, from which we might ascend by the
shaft near the Mount.
Our voyage was, indeed, somewhat perilous'
The number Of posts and abandoned pumps we
encountered in addition to quantities oil hoat-
ing timber, rendered il impossible to proceed,
standing, IS we were sometimes, ankle deep,
with any think like speed. We soon, however
los, sight Of the workmen, the ligh, Of whose
candles was lost amidst the hazy smoke that
filled the tunnel; and, pushing our raft along, we
got into drep water. The quantity Of pianks,
b. ans, spars, and other materials, that had ac>
eumula,ed towards the further end, precluded
however, the possibility of our reaching the
extremity Of this dismal lake, which is there a
bout eight or nine feet in depth. The plaster
ers shouted to know il we had safely landed;
and their, oices echoed along the vault, 10 half
the height Of which we were now hoated, and
came so distinctly upon our car, that the sound
seemed 10 proceed from distance ofon!y few
yards.
We had now TO make our way back we
could Our little companion manfully held
candle in each hand, and directed us to steer
FRS, for he right and then TO the left; TO avoid
floating pianks and beams, amidst which we
could not avoid being frequently entangled.-
Our only apprehension was lest he might &C,
cidently fall, when our lights would be exin-
guished and we might be left npunceri"g about
IN The dark, without being alb. TO mako our way
To the lanHing place. Indeed there was pos
sibility Of being drowned very snug'y.
Happily, however, we reached the bank in
SAFETY, no, little fa,igued by skulllog al 'ng
plank, tina, was extremely slppy, by being
smeared over with we, clay. Our voyage "a
long Iais cbeerlcss sheet of water, which the
winds Of hravrn can never rouse from It's black
and CLASSY s,umher IN ,nc waves, nor the light
Of day can penetrate dcepened BY the Tunes oil
gunpowGer, minded US Of the poets descrip-
zion Of the S,ygisn Lake, bu, if Old Charon had
no better boat than we, many OF his custom
ers must have waited long for a passage, Tor he
could have taken only one al a time.
The lateness Of the evening when we ascend
ed the SHAFT, induced to pos, pone our visit
TO tina, part Of the works more Immediately IN
der the town until nex m.rning.
We decerd al The pi' near the Noun which
was originally struck from the bottom OF the
qnarrv, now near filed up, known as the yellow
delft rhe descentis about forty yards, bring
seventeen or eighteen yards more than thst of
the hi, in Mosslake fields, a difference occas-
ionrd by the grearer ,ise'o the ground above
The level ofthe tunnel. Al intelligent overseer
who, like most Of the principal miners employ
ed in tie works weasould discover by its dia-
lrct, 10 be from the North, accompanied US on
this occasion, each ofus carrying small Can
die stuck ina ball Of clay
The tunnel Is almost en,ircly cut through
mass OF red free stone, occasionally streaked
with white and yelio'; aud with various de-
or Is o. ha, dnssS. 1t S twenty two feet in
width, aid about sixteen in height, rising three
quarters of an inch O he yard, and it runs to
tie eastward: and If the reader reflect that ibis
excavation or cavern, will extend when COM
pl trd, in a direct line 20 he back Of Edge hill,
49, whole handsomely arched over head, and
ligh,r ed up with gas; if he reflect, moreover,
hit ;hrce mill coaches, might, with ease; drive
through it abreast, he may form some idea OF
this magnificent sub,erranean passage, which
is. L, surtdly. as a national work, one Of the
grandrs, underI kings Of the age, and does irfi
hi'e honour TO the projectors, and TO the ensi-
neer, who has successfully conducted The ope
ralions towards their completion, the whole
extent Of tunnel will be about 1900 wards, and
Of this, except towards it's termination at the
queens do k, only few hundred yIrds re-
main I" be- excavsted. A great deal OF Arch>
work is driven in the solid stone, and when that
has been found defective, soft OF insecure, the
arch mas been completed with brickwork Th,
preparation Of brickwork throughout tn, who'll