The Nevada Democrat., 1857-08-12
Terrible Catastrophe at the Hauensteinl
3 artee Tunnel, In Switzerland. I..f


+ The following details of this appalling casas-
trophe, are contained in letter from Basle,
dated June 4th, and published in a European
paper; .oe F7l giduJ al
The Hauensten tunnel is on the center rail-
way which unites Basle to Aarau, Lucerne,
Berne, and other towns in the neighborhcod,
and is five Kilometres (abeut three miles) 10
length. The cutting Of the tunnel having been
commenced at both ends progressed satisfaeto-
rily until only about 800 metres remained to be
pierced. In both sections are several shafts for
extracting earth in letting in air, aud Ia the
northern one, one of the shafts, bearing the
No l, which is about 500 metres from the spot
where the works are going on, was supported
by solid woodwork to prevent the fall OF earth
and stones. In the tunnel fire was constantly
kept up in order to increase the circulation Of
air, aud at the very bottom OF the shaft forge
was established. The woodwork of the shaft
became extremely dry, aud at last on the 2sth
ult,, il caught fire. The flames shot up with
extraordinary rapidty, and set fire to all the
woodwork in the shaft, which was not less than
200 metres deep A column of fame rose high
above the SHIFT, forminga terrible spectacle,
After while a thick column Of smoke succeed
ed the flames, and indicated that the bottom of
the shaft had fallen in, and consequently that
the retreat of the laborers, whom 1t had been
impossible to warn, was cut off To describe
the scene of anguish which ensued would be
impossible People rushed in crowds to the
entrance of the tunnel to render assistance to
the victims, aud they reached the mass OF earth
which had fallen in; but large quantity OF
coal which had been collected near suddenly
oaught fire, and it created such volumes OF
smoke and gas that many were overcome, and
had to be dragged away by the others; seven
\ daod nd ahnut a hundppd others We're
got out in pitiable state.
At length something like order was establish
ed, the workmen being formed into gangs who
replaced each other every ten minutes. Fire
engines were employed to throw water mixed
with chalk into the tunnel, to extnguish the
fire and neutralize the noxious gas and pipes
for conveying pure air to the workmen were
established The cutting of gallery in the
mass of fallen earth has been commenced though
the fire is not yet completely extlnguished But
no hopes whatever are entertained that any o.
the men buried viii! be got out alive, for though
they have au open space of about 800 metrea
and though in Il there is spring Of water, and
they had four horses which they might kill for
food, 1t is certain that the noxious gas must
! have snff'ocated them. OF the 81 men buried,
| 80 are Swiss 4 English, and Is Germans. The
wives of the English workmen who have perish
ed have behaved in the most admirable manner,
not only constantly encouraging those who
were endeayoring to reach the unfortunate
men in the tunnel, but attending carefully to
such as suffered from their exertions. Since
the above account was written intelligence has
been received of the extrcation of 81 dead
bodies, but we regret to learn that l6 of the
laborers employed to open the gallery have per-
ished by the poisonous vapors which were col
ected there. making the total mortality, with
the 81 buried in the first instance, no less than
! TO-" .H I.... ..ur. f.'I IHfH..