Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-09-02

that other masses Of fellow being were quietly !
walking through subterrenean passage below
us The visitor is directed "This way to the
Tunnel 0.l5~" by board on the corner Of
street. You descend winding stone stairway
100 steps, and enter into the Tunnel, which is
well lighted with gas and afforded us a cool,
pleasant walk, after four hours exposure to the
sun. The Tunnel has two avenues, each wide
enough to allow II or l6 persons to walk a
breast. Half way through, printing press is
stationed "By Royal Authority" which is
throwing of sheets containing an account of
the Tunnel. told the man would purchase
two Of his sheets provided he would allow me
to "pull" them myself. This, upon learning
that 81 knows the ropes" as they say at sea,
he consented to. have, therefore, an account
of the Thames Tunnel, printed by myself, stan
ding midway between the London and Snrry
sides of the river, seventy feet below its bed,
with steamers and ships passing directly over
my head
The Tunnel is two miles below London
Bridge, where another bridge, which was much
wanted, would have proved seriously injurious
to the immense commerce of the metropolis.
In 1923, after the failure and abandonment of
/ several plans for tunncling the Thames one was
| submitted by Mr.. (now Sir J. NJ BRuNrr,
/ which received the confidence of capitalists,
and in 1925 he commenced his operation. But
/ lie encountered difficulties and obstacles, for
years, at every step of his progress, that would
have disheOrtened and appalled, any man but
one whom the emergency had produced to ac'
complish this mighty enterprise. Qulcksand
beds were among the most troublesome and pc
rilous obstacles met with. The top of the Tun.
ners arch, about the middle of the river, ap
proachcs within ten feet Of the bottom Of the ri
yer. -Four times, during its progress the Tun
mel and shafts were filled with water, and the
irruption of 1897 threatened to destroy the en-
terprise, but by the most incredible efforts, al
was overcome by its indomitahlc architect, ant
in 1885, seven years afterwards, Sir J. NJ. Bru
mel was enabled to resume the work.
The progress of this great work was ncccs
sarily very slow. Sometimes, with favorabl
excavations, two feet would be accomplished i
twenty-;our hours, working as they did, wit
5 changes OF hands, day and night where tn
excavation was difficult, only two feet would
done in week; and for the last three month
SO great was the labor and so formidable tn
distractions, that only three feet and four incl
b, os progress was made In August, ISil, fl
a teen years after the ground was broken on IL
a London side Of the Thames, Sir J. NJ. Bruno
: descended a shaft from the Mapping side all
= passed through a small "drift.way through ii
:. shield in the Tunnel" Less than two yea
/. thereafter, in March, lsl3, the MAGSlEIcEN
c WORK WAS COMPLETED The whole expense
/ construction is estimated at I'll 1000 pounds ste
J. ling. The toll is only penny for passr
n through the Tunnel, and hut for 'the getting
/. stairs" it would pay well. Until passcnge
/ are let down and taken up by an engine, it VI
A. not take foot passengers from the bridges.
e, The son of Sir ]. NJ Brunei, whose life w
10 in such eminent danger from swallowing
is half crown piece, was with three worklnc
= caught by one Of the inhrcaks of water and ca
,r ried by the rushing column through the Tu
,r mel to the shaft and up TO the surface where
re was rescued. The three men who were wi
re him pcrishod. On the first passage ofthc std
cs mer Great Western from London to Bristol,
" also met with an accident which it was SUPP
T. scd would result fatally, but from which he
| covered.
T. The fine weather affords prospect of 90
VI crops, though the spring, as with US, was c,
nj and backward.
Il, The Asphate paycments (pitch) Of I
et Squares and Bouyelards of Paris, became so s
recently, by the heat oflhe sun, that la,
,ot elegantly dressed, on passing about two o'clo
of the Cafe de Paris, was unable to extract
so shoes, which were OF white satin, aad was
us bhged To leave them behind her. a I'ror
hc paper relates the above as fact, but does
mi state wha, became other stockings.
7h- LABoR SAVING MACurNE.-Every thing in
art age shows the onward march of improvement,
IN the mighty struggles of genius to dcvelope its
ne resources. Among other proofs Of this, is one
es- the neighborhood of tho Poor House, where an
We genous Dutchman. having an eye to the valu,
eeI time, has constructed a Water Wheel driven by
1tl- ltte brook OF tina, neighbohood, which is jus
ms bout sufficient TO rock cradle, and to that d
has he uut il. When the plump bahy with a