The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-08-26
THE TUNNEL HILL CELEBRATION---INCI-
DENTS OF THE TRIP


attending the great Barbecue Dinner and Mass
Meeting at Tunnel Hill on the 10Th inst
Leaving Abbeville on tho Tuesday previous,
we had an agreeable run to Williamson by
Railroad On the train We're many who had
come up to attend the celebration and who
availed themselves of the opportunity of pay
ing flying visit to the Springs. Upon the ar
rival of the train we were greeted with some
delicious music from the Band i'm the piazza of
the large Hotel. where were also assembled a
large company Of ladies' and gentlemen, among
whom we recognised many from Abbeville
We coon secured comfortable quarters, and
passed an agreeable afternoon. Tho House is
well kept and we We're glad to learn has been
literally patronized during the present season.
During the past few weeks n large and pleas.
ant company from various portions of the
State have been s"jorrni ing here, and their pro.
longed stay is evidence Of their appreciation of
the attractions Of the place. The libernlity
aud enterprise Of the Hotel propretors is wor-
OF nil praise and they have spared 10 pains
to make WILLIAMSON one of the most popular
watering places ut the South
Leaving at about S o'clock the ncyt morni,p
and brenkfasting at Belton, we reached Ander.
son safely, and here took the train on the Blue
Ridge Railroad to Pcndleton. The distance is
about l3 miles, and the road is one of the finest
in the Union. Attnched to n powerful locom
otivc-the J'o. c. Calhoun. and which was
emheilIshed with striking likeness Of the
great s'atesnan-we speched rapidly over the
route-now over high embankments md
through deep cuts. and obtaining MANY pic
turesque views Of the adjacent country. The
landscape at various points is very beautiful.
dVersihed with hill and dale, and presenting
the varied attractions of the mountain scene.
~.
fsndleton is once more thriving Village,
and exhibits various signs of Improvement.
hne Masonic Hall has just been completed
ana various brick stores are in the process of
erection. it was once n favoritc resort of
visitors from the lower country. md the bu;l1-
ing of the Blue Ridge Railroad has once more
given an impetus to its trade and population.
Ipon our arrival we anticipated some Difficult
~ III obtaining conveynnces to Tunnel Hill dis
taht about 81 miles, but we believe TINT all
who came obtained seats in the various limos
of hacks which were running. The price 20.
ing and returning was $500. We were furtu
nate to take passage with pleasant party of
gentlemen whose agreeable conversation mad.
The journey delightful one The road for
the most part passes over sandy ridge and
and through the Primevnl forests. 1t is almost
equal TO turnpike aud is superior to any of
the same length. that we have seen in the up-
per country. Passing through the Village Of
Wall!alla, VIC reached Tunnel Hill, which is
six miles beyond, about dusk, and obtained
very comfortable accommodations at BowpEx's
Hotel during the remainder of our STAY
The next day we devoted in part to the in
spection Of the various works Mt the Tunnel
The Tunnel itself is sturcndous entcrnrisc
and Will when completed, he triumph of hui
man energy and skill. 1t will extend for
more than mile through the solid granite
connected with the surface by four shafts. the
longest OF which Is 26o feet in depth. Under
the lead of the enterprising contractor, Mr.
HIrcucocK, we descended to the eastern en-.
trance. and seated upon car proceeded ,o
Where the workmon were engaged. PASSING
the LIST shalt, we were soon involved in pitchy
darkness, when we were all ut once startled by
the distant explosions which envcloped us in n
cloud Of gunpow der smoke. Soon we were in
view of the lamps Of the workmen, which fit.
ting through the surrounding darkness pre-.
sented quite novel and interesting sight.
TO use the words of the reporter of the lcr.
dnry, the 'laborers all wear, fastened to the
front Of their cnps. small oil lnmp, and M
they were engaged in drilling the fitting char.
acter OF the flames alluded to was explained.
Two gangs of men keep up constant labor at
the Tunnel, Sundays excepted a night gang
relieving the day gang at early evening"
With full force of six hundred men, two
hundred and fifry feet of the excavation can he
driven in month, the drilling being all per-
formed by hand. When the ledge has been
perforated with dozen or twenty holes, the
workmen retire to si1ings cut for the purpose
IN the mountains, The holes are then charged
with powder and tamped, with a train laid TO
the charge. The train is fired ut a sufficient
distance to allow tits fremen to escape to sofe
quarters, and the rock explodes with rever
oerat'on rivaling the crash of thunder or ar.
tlllery. All the reports having been coun ted
and noted az equal in number to the trains laid
Wv ASeu'u uHu lOaQ the Clr8 with
the Exploded rock. and then return to drilling
again. This occurs several times in the course
of an ordinary day"
Emerging from the Tunnel and ascending
the steep side, of the mountain, we passed
through the village on the summit, containing
o population of about one thousand persons,
mostly workmen and next visited Shafts nos.
and g. upon which the work hoa haa, eus
pended, and Shaft no. 4, where a stationary
engine is in operation, for elevating the water
and rubbish. A portion of our party here
made the descent which is not dangerous but
inflicted upon them serious wetting. From
this shaft the Tunnel has been completed to
the Western slope Of the mountain.
The Tunnel is about three. .fourths conplet.
ed. Three hundred lab9rers are now employed
and with full force of double that number.
tha pbo1, -. O.: