Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-04-10

hostile grOWl, uasnng anu ,urIppllB VI
water, while around on every side was n
lively sense of cold, wet iron. Once below
the food gates where the water was Kissing
and sputterpg as if eager to make rush
upon the victim, the sense Of wetness grad
ually increased, and when deposited at the
bottom of the shaft, plunge into the
"sumph" could have added nothing to our
condition. Four times the rope was lower
ed, and the party at last found themselves
at the beginning Of their voyage, standing
under a pelting shower bath, which in a
few minutes had nearly half filed with water
the irail bar to which we coniided our for
tunes.
A FLAT-BoTToMED BOAT
It was the very wors. boat that could pos
sibly have been selected. The slightest
movement had the effect Of tipping it over,
and the result was that when We started,
each one having to sit in the bottom We
were comfortably impersed half way upin
water.
THE TUNNEL.
The only means Of propelling the yesse!
was by pushing against the walls, and this
was a very unsteady process. The water at
the crib was exactly half way up the sides
of the bore, gradually deepening, Of course,
as we approached the shore. For time by
the aid of the lamps we were enabled to ex-
anime minutey the condition Of the cement.
.E,t haw could be discovered, with thcex-
ccption of space here and there between
the bricks, where an iron spike had been
introduced to hold the ventilators. The
top of the arch seemed to be perfectly dry,
save in the places where the water, not
from the lake, bat from springs in the vi
cinity of the tunnel, cozes through the
walls The wster was beautifully clear.
We we're not long permitted, however, to
e!'joy the contemplation Of the surrounding
scenery, limited as the view was. The bricks
were soon exhausted brick being so
much like its neigtbor as to become some
what monotonous. The lamps, too, began to
flicker ont. Like the foolish virgins, we had
omitted to trim them properly, and now we
were left in a state of obscurity which was
almost as bcwilicring as total darkness. One
could have imagined hc was crossingthc un-
known river with that grim ferryman whom
poets write of our Charon being Mr.. Ches-
b,ough, WHO lvoaei ike some grim phantom
paving the air as it seemed, and muttering
some MYSTERIOUS incarnation. The silence
became oppressive, the distant Crcwling5
from the end of the cavern were msgnited
into the noise Of cateract, AM our hearts
stood sti!~a3 we thought how by some
unforeseen accident the flood gates might DC
opeacd. To perish like rats in a hole, 20 be
distributed in the course Of time through
the water-pipes of Chicago, and be boiled
in kettles we we're not prepared for such
sacrifice. Then again we remembered how
DR.. Gullotin was among the first who per-
ishci by the instrument. of d d,ath which he
inverted, how the man who invented the
new drop was the very first who was hanged
upon it, and other simalar instances. How
il destiny hal also decided that Mr.. Ches-
brough was TO be drowned in his owh tunnel?
TIC chase away these fears we sang the Star
spangled Banner" ard listened to the
beautiful echos Of our own sweet voices
from the nearest chambers.
In this way we reached the closing stone,
Il white marble tablet, placed theer By TIE
Mayors own hands. We paused to scruli-
nize this closing stone AMI here an unlucky
incident occurred. One OF the crew, inspired
by n frantic wish to write his name in wa
ter" leaned over the edge of the lat-bo,-
toned boat, which took in little more than
it could conveniently carry. Then in the
process Of bailng the crew got unsettled in
their positions and never quite rcgaiucd an
equilibrium. We succeeded, however, in
pushing our way at considerable rsh on to
point beyond the fifth chamber, or nearly
mile and half from the crib.
wEDGED IN.
Our hands had been gradually approach.
ing the top of the tunnel as we pursued our
darksome journey to the shore. From Sit
ting posturcs each member Of the party had
slowly subsided into reclining attitudes, and
by and by they were changed into horizon
tai positions This, in a tat-bottomed boat
half full of water, was refreshing. l'hose
who were at eq6a end of the boat we're bent
Ike Yo.Jels OLA building il an attitude Of
devotion, while the other two, with faces
turned heavenwaid, could feel the rubbing
of the bricks against their noses. Further
progress was deemed little too precarious
Still no one was willing to give out, and our
leader manifested desire to 60 the whole
length if desirable. 1t was not desirable.
In fact it was not practicable, seeing that the
boat by this time was effectualy wcdsed in
between the bricks a!fl the water.
THE CATASTROPHE.
The turn necessilatcd change Of pro-
pelers, and the NV hands not being well ac-
uustomed to the duty, the uneasiness of our
devoted bark was increased. The water