The weekly Butte record. [volume] (Oroville [Calif.]) 1866-1887, 1867-05-11

A P~riAses Voyage fn the Chic.ss Tunnel.
On Saturday, March Esd. jast before the water
was LET the lake tunnel zt Chicago. final tour
was made by the Superintendent, Mr. Cheese
brough who took with him three newspaper re
perters- After reaching the CRIB out IN the lake,
an uncomfortable descent Of sixty feet took them
to the horizontal shaft where they found a lesky
fiat bottomed boat awaiting them. The only
means of propelling the vessel, according to the
Tribune reporter, was by pashing sganst the
walls. and this was very unsteady process.
fraught with danger the boat and her little crew.
The water at the crib was exactly halfway up the
sides of the bore, gradually deepening. OF course
as we approached the shore. For time it was
comparatively plain sailing, and by the aid OF the
lamps we were enabled to examine minutely the
condition OF the cement, which was the principal
object of the voyage. Not a flaw could be dlscov-
cred. with the exception Of space here and there
between the bricks where iron spike had been
introduced to hold the yentiiators The top of the
arch seemed to be perfectly dry in the places
where the water, not from the lake, but from
springs in the vicinity of the tunnel through
the walls The water was beautifully clear clear
as crystal, and sweet to the taste We were not
long permitted however, to enjoy the contempla-
ton Of the surrounding scenery, limited as the view
was. The bricks were soon exhausted. Each
brick much like its neighbor as 10 become
somewhat monotonous. The lamps, too, began to
flicker out. The silence became oppressive; the
distant growlings from the end Of the cavern were
magnifed into the noise of a cataract, and our
hearts stood still thought how by some n
foreseen accident the loodgates might be opened.
To perish like rats in hole. TO be distributed in
the course Of time through the water pipes of Chi
cago, to be boiled in kettes-we were not prepared
for such sacrifice. To chase away thes. fears We
sang the Star Spangled Banner, and listened TO the
echo of our voices from the nearest chamber. In
this way we reached the nearest stone white
marble tablet placed there by the Mayors own
hand We paused to scrutinize this cioSlngstone,
hffb
NAV be attributed the disaster which was soon TO
follow One of the crew inspired by frantic de-
sire to write his name in water, leaned over the
edge of the -bottomed boat, which had taken IN
a little than it could conveniently carry
Then in the process of bailiug the crew got unset
tied in their positions and never quite regalned an
eauiibrum. We succeeded, however in pushing
our way 10 a point beyond the fifth chamber, or
ne,rly mile and half from the crib
Our heads had been gradually approaching the
top of the tunnel pursued our darhsome jour
nev to the shore From sitting postures each mem
Der of the party had subsided into reclining attl
tudes and by and by they were changed into NON.
zontal positions. This in a fat bottomed boat halt
full of water, was refreshing. Further progress
was deemed little too precarious. Stl no one
was willing to give ont. and our leader manlfesteda
readiness to go the whole length If desirable In
fact. it not practicable. seeing that the boat
bv this time etiectuaily Wedged In between Tue
bricks and the water.
The return neeessitated change of prope!lers.
and the new hands not being well accustomed to
the work the unsteadiness of our devoted bark was
increased. The water came In on all SIDES So we
got on swimniugly after fashion. Only Two
lights were left. and those but struggled drearliy
with the dark ness. They were entrusted to the
man in the centre of the boat; another propelled,
while the two at each end set 10 work 10 bail out
the water. We had not gone far toward the crib
end again. when symptoms of uneaslness began 10
manifest themselves In spite of all efforts TO bale
out the water. the boat seemed to be filing rapidly
We yet mile at least from the shaft ana the
water was nearly breast deep. Suddenly the man
at the raised sharp cry of distress; his end
was settling down. he said, and what was the use
of baling out. The man at the lamp rose to his
feet lust as he felt the boat subsidlng- The man
with the bucket sprang overheard, and Cheeseman
houndered. We were Shipwreched.
The last expiring lamp light had fickered out,
and all was confusion and darkness There was no
helm for rs but u raise the boat and haul it to the
crib end This was task of no little difficulty but
after a vigorous effort succeeded. Winding
through the chilly water with our limbs benumbed
and dragging an ungrateful hat-bottomed boat
which would not carry us, we toiled painfully but
as cheerfuliy possible for the distance Of mile,
shouting occasionally for help, which did not come
bewailing our sad fate, and thinking sorrnwfuy of
the four small obituaries that would appear in the
morning papers.
At last a faint light glimmered on US from the
far end We had been iioundering in our watery
dungeon for nearly three hours, and were pretty
we'll exhausted The light proved to be lamp In
the hand of Captain Berg, who. fearing from our
prolonged absence that some disaster had overta-
ken u.s. had descended TO the bottom OF the shaft =.
And there he stood, profoundly amused at our mis-
chance and laughing consumedly at the bedrasgled
wayfarerS. who came, one by one, into view. But
our worst danger was not over. We had to climb
the SHAFT sxty-eght feet in height. by means OF
the ladder. Just go straight up, said Capt. Berg,
'.you cannot go out of the way. There was no
possibility of reaching the upper air that night,
. except hv climbing and there was no comtorta-
hle lodging TO be had in the tunnel, we again ven
tured. Mr. Cheesebrough ascended first. and by
way of parting salute, when halt way up, he emp
tied gallon of water from each boot on our heads.
The remainder of the party were already exhaust
ed by fatigue and cold. How the Others succeeded
is best known TO themselves. The present writer,
/ for his part, just on the point OF giving ont,
when he reached platform let down about fifteen
feet from the mouth of the shaft. hands stItfened
with cFamp dizzy sensation of sixty feet be
meath him. a creeping of the flesh powerless to go
another step One last shout for help aud he found
himself seized by friendly hand. and laid oat on a
platform. then lied to a rope and hauled up TO the
mouth of the shaft
The hoodgates of the crib we're re-opened imme-
dately after our ascent and the waters went down
with a roar like that of infant Niagara. What
became OF the fiat bottomed boat we Gid not know
( and did not care. The tug was waiting for us at
ten O'Clock, and in few minutes the party were
feeting merrily home again. And 50 ended the
adventurous vuyage-the last that Will be male
through the Lake Tunnel.