Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1864-08-20

The ventilation Of the tunnel was most
ipgeniously effected. Just within. our exte-
rior lines or works q Shaft TO the side Of
the tunnel, at its junction With which q
fireplace was built, With o grating opening
into the cutlery. Que end OF q series OF
tubes made Of pine board was inserted
through the earth into. this fireplace,
wberel as The air became rari6ed aud as
Gendtd, II created q stcticr, or draft, ID the
tubes connecting with the gallery. As fast
as the tunnel progressed, additional tubing
was added on, and followed the workmen
step by step. Tie smoke from the Efe
could not, Of course, be cohceaIed bit, ID
with draw attention from il, 6res were
sept burning at various points along the
line. The lighting of the tunnel was effect
ed simply by placing candles or lanterns
along tue walls at a distance Of dbout
twenty feet apart. err7.1aA > shenq7 I
g.iAt length the end was reached, and the
triaGgulatiou was abuudantly verified 10 the
noises overhead. The nalling of timber
aud planks c:n!d be distinctly heard,, and
left no doubt that the men we're directly
beneath the Rebel fort The enemy were
evidently making q flooring for their ar,i
cry. As near as could be ascertained, the
distance from the tunnel to the fort wa.
twenty feet.
After it was Sufficiently evident that O
point under the fort was reached, The
construction of the mine was commenced
The angle Of the fort projects. towards our
lines, aud under this angle the tunnel di.
verged into two gallares, each running. as
near as could be ascertained. under each
side. 1t was the intention 10 make the
mines conss. Of eight magasiues, placed at
Intervals along these galleries, SO that the
entire length of the fort might be blown up
instead OF one spot. Preliminary expert
ment were made by Col. Pleasant with Car,
tridges Of powder, which he inserted in the
earth and ignited by fuse. lie ascer,
tanned that the work Of making breach
would be more effectually secured by dis.
tributing the powder instead of putting il
in bulk. In the latter case the explosion
resulted in deep aud broad crater, in th'
form of wide chasm Where the car
tridges, bis miniature magazines, were no
disconnec' ed By packing; the tendency o
tie explosion was to Hud vent at the first
hole. Hence he resorted to packing be-
tween the magazines, or. as it is technically
known, tamping. .5,..
The explosion Of the magazines will bt
effected through tubes of pine wood 81,
inches square, half filled with pow der
These run along The bottom of the tunne
and enter the magazines through the open
ing made for them Between each pair Q
magazines and over the tubitgs is the tamp
ing of sand bags and logs.
The tubes extend only one hundred fee
from the mine, thence they are connected
with the mouth of the tunnel by fuses, thu
regular sure FIRE coal mining fuses 0
Pennsylvania being procured specially 70
the purpose. ,.,......,' -. ...r.
The mine was. charged oday. Fh
| quantity Of powder used was six tons
Pause end think Of Sig tons twelv
thousand pounds Imagine eight dr..
good boxes (the magazines resemble then
in size and shape) filed with powder. an'
you will have an idea Of the thine. Wha
a terrific spectacle is ia store for as.