Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-08-05

| bkEAT VT NION DER DLAST NJ DoN Nilll''--
One of the greatest fcats in the blasting of
rocks by gunpowdcr, which perhaps ever took
place in the North of ireland, was achieved
on the line of the Londonderry and Colerainc
Railway at Downhill The rock to be blasted
was the hcadland known as the - Cove. =
about quarter Of II mile scaward from Down
hill mansion house. and 200 yards Westward
of the q" Temple" On either side Of the
tunnel, and about half way from each end, y
large hole somewhat in the shape of the letter
7 was cut out Of the solid rock. The inner
most part of this aperture, or the head Of the
letter i as it were, was Il chamber - feet by
10. In this chamber We're Deposited ID cwt.
3 qrs Of blasting powder, or 81 l-2 cwt. in
the two. Connected with the powder, in
each Of the chambers were wires cummuncn-
ting with galyunic battery which was
placed at II distance of 24 yards outside the
tunnel.
Beyond the battery again, and in the face
OF Il ncighborng cliff small cave was hcwn
out in which the parties who communicated
with the battery could lie down and be safely
protected from the effects of the blast. just
as it struck ) o'clock the loud report of Il
gun told that all was ready. Precisely at ten
minutes after ) the outline of the hcadland
was observed to move: iu one or two mo-
mcnt4 more loud deep rumbling as Of
thunder, followed by Il sharp report, was
heard, and then Il volume of smoke VAS seen
to rise over the Stone of explosion. When
all was still again. those who could run has
tened to the spot and ON the smoke clearing
away there lay, in millions of fragments, the
rock which, but few minutes before, seemed
impcri.hablc rs the hills.
This cnormqus blast passed off withuUt any
accident, with but one single exceptions An
old man, named I.oughr"y. from Magilligan
having incautously y approached too near the
scene OF explosion, IL huge stone cam" rum
bling down from the flte Of the cliil' and be-
fore he could retreat it knocked him down
and severely cut him ON the head. lcul ing u
gash of nearly an inch in length. From data
furnished us by Mr.. Dugan, of \rtirlavc and
by one of the engineers on the line, Wc made
Il calculation 10 the effect, that $50 eco cubic
feet, or >, 900 tons of rock, were disludgcd 10y
this blast. 50 soon as the debris i. removed
the line will then be clear from CoorLinc to
Derry. and we expect that, in the course of
few weeks more. it will be open for traffic
between both places - Coicrdinc ChroHicic.
DRowYING THE SsulEuEL.--W When ! was
about SIX years old. one morning. going to
school, ground squirrel ran INTO is hoc IN
the road before me- as they like to dlg holes
in some place, where they can put on. helr
head to see If any danger Is near. | thought.
now ! Will have fine fan. A. there was II
stream of water inst at hand. determined t.
pour water into the hole I'LL it would be full,
and force the little animal up, SO that m'ght
xiii it, GOT a iroUgh ircm beside sugar
maple used for catching the sweet sap and was
soon pouring the water in on the poor squirrel.
| could hear 1t struggling to get up, and said
. An my fellow, | will soon have You out now.
Just then heard voice behind new ell
my boy what have You cot in there : turned
and saw one Of my n"ighhprs, good old rlnn
with long white locks. hat had seen sixty
winters Why said |, Il have ground
squirrel in here, and | am going to drown hlu
out
Said he Jonathan when was n little boy
more than fifty years ago, was engaged onC
day just as YOU are, druWnIag a ground SPUR
rel; and an old man came along, and sand tC
me, 'Iou are II little boy; now, if YOU wcrt
down IN a narrow hole Ike that. and ! shoulC
come along and pour water on you to drowr
you, would not you think ! was cruel: Goo
made that little squirrel, and life is as sweet tC
it as to you, and why will ypn to'tUre Il little
innocent creature that Gud has made: stlC
he, : | have never forgotten that and nevc
shall. ! never have killed any harmless crea
turc for fun >incc Now my dear boy, wan
you t. remember this while you live, and whcl
tempted to klI any poor lnlc innocent anln!
or bird, think or this and mind, God don
allow us 10 XII his petty little creatures 10
fun
More than forty years have since passed am
never forgot what the good mln s'Id, no
have ever killed the least animal for iu
since. Now you SEE II is ninety years Ginc
: tins advice was first given, and 1t lls not los
lis influence vet How many little crcatur"
it has saved from being tortured to death
, cannot tell, but | have no doub, great number
, and | believe my whole life has been influence
by it.
Now, | want all tho dear little boys, whc
r they read this, to keep ii il mind aud whe
t they see pretty birds or harmless ANIMALS play
, ing or hunting their food not to hurt lhem.-
e Your heavenly Farhcr made them, and h
| never intended them to be killed for fun,
: don't think, when the blessed Jesus was litll
I boy, he would have killed such innocent ere.
. lures for fun, and every little boy shaUl Try
G be as much like Jesus as he can. The Bbl
r says, Blessed are the mcrciiu for they sha
- obtain mercy ChiifS Paper.