Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-08-13

Z GgH Hief9 ,agf Iand.I hu4 etD0 81
ENTRANCE TO THE TUNNEL.
The entrance does not materially
differ in appearance from that Of or
tinary railway tunnels. 1t is here
built up and faced with solid masonry,
and is twenty Eve feet thFee+and-a-
half inches at the base. twenty-six feet
two and three-quarter inches at the
broadcast part, and tW6uty'-f0Ur 1eet
seven inches high. "a double railway
track emerges from the mouth end
wagons loaded with debris were coming
cut, and others, flied with cut stones
for the mason-work, drills, and other
working utensils, going IN, as we en-
tered, the. only Light we could see
ahead was a gas jet blazing inathe dis
tance. Along either side Of the tunnel
here is a trOttoiT of hagstones, upon
which we walked, lighting path for
our feet with the lamp which hung
near them. The air-eonduit is ranged
along the side of the gallery, while in
the middle of the tunnel between the
two lines of rails, canal has been dug,
through which the gas and. water pipes
This canal is wide, and deep enough
to afford refuge for the workfaen,
and means. of exit in case the tunnel
should be filled by q fa1l of the erunlb-
ling rock aboXess The masonry on
either side was damp, and in many
through it, and it occurred to me that
in time this EOnstRnt percOlatiOn must
inevitably wear away the cement which
binds the blocks of stone together, and
undermine The vault. Overhead the
masonry is not visible, nothing being
seen but wooden partition, dividing
the tunnel into equal galleries above
and below. The object of this, which
| is only temporary, is to create a. cur
rent, the rRrified air from the lower gal
| lery rising and rushing out though the
4 upper, while fresh air comes into the
lower one to supply its place. AS yet
| this partition extends only short dis
| tance, ana is not of much practical
value.
A dull rumb1ing sound attracted my
attentiony aud in the distance, seem
| ing miles away, lights were dancing
/ up and down in the murky air as the
/ feit f0i5et, or Bildfire, dances and fats
/ bOgs and fens- These were the lamps
/ carried by some workmen going ont,
i and wagon loaded with debris soon
! came rolling by us, Up to this time
ddlad experienced NO material difficulty
4 in breathing, a sensation only that the
air was unnatural and dark, like thai
! in q cellar. As we advanced, hoNev-
] er, it began to grow hot and stifling
4 and we entered a thick yellow fog red
oIent of the fumes OF guhpoWdeT
4 " hieh indeed It was, seeking its way
/ toward the mouth of the tunnel. This
was very disagreeable, almost saffo,
| eating, producing a sensation of heayi
ness upon the brain, a dull headache
and fearful feeling of dread. AS We
walked on we saw lights again, dancing
like fireflies in. the ,distaneef and sOoT
| party of rough, half-naked. smoke
4 begriIned men, who loomed up in thu
fog like enormous giants, as they ap
preached, passed as on their way from
! work. 9f'
--1 TWO MILES FROM THE MOUTH.
fl5 About two miles from the entranc
He came upon a little cabin, nor bar
rack, built upon one side, and here M
guide informed me that the completed
portion of the tunnel on the Freuel
slope ended. Entering the cabin an
following his advice and example,
| gladly removed coat and vest; cover
ing myself again with the caOutchouC
and, picking and trimming our lamps
. we darted again into the dark ness u
to this time it had been plain sailing
2 walking along with as little difficult
! or obstacle as on q sidewalk in a de
; serted street. Upon quitting this
! however, we entered the gallery i,s COZ
? tunnel, which, having been opened b
the perfhrHting machines, was now be
! ing enlarged by the ordinary han
E process. Here, there was no longe
any trott0ir, and picking our way owe
3 piles of rocks, which looked as thong
! they had been thrown in confusionU p
: giants at play, lodging wagons passe
& IN and out, passing groups Of swarth
e workmen, through an atmosphere ye
: How, thick and stihing, we at lengt
7 came upon q group of men atandan
4 quietly, as If awaiting something, /
3 front Of heavy Oaken door, whie
: closed the passage in advance OF us {
. / NY guide said we must stop here f
!, the present. / imagined the cause an
: selecting the sOftest, smoothest-lool
+ ing rock, sat down and meditated.
Here was I, more than two mtlC
y from the mouth of the tunnel, with
! mile Of Alps piled above head. IE
!, kRHllerysy yVas not more thHn ten feetEvlo
d and seven high, Rnd its roof and sid'
were of Jagged, sharp, protrudln
rocks, seeming to need but o sligl