The New York herald., 1869-10-11


way under she high bank OF the south or lower end
OF Ncoet Island through 70 the tunnel some 800 or
400 feet distant striking the tunnel some nfty Feet
IL Is supposed, from the upper end OF the excava
tlon When first discovered u excited no particular
alarm as u was supposed that remedies could easily
strong CRIB was built OF unbers and plank ana
noated down over the fssure and filed with stone,
brush and earth TO stop the flow OF water Scarcely
had this crib reached its destination before the
bottom OF the river at that point for space OF thirty
or forty feet square seemed 70 SINK, ieaVins hole
force and disappeared under the island 10 reappear
with headlong fury IN the tunnel, through which II
flowed and found its outlet az the mouth oil the tun
mel, at The southern extremity OF Hennepn lsland,
some 1000 feet distant.
A FEARFUL PANIC.
This unooked-for catastrophe az once created
iearlul panic, The news apreau with lightning
rapidity through the two cities, and the citizens en-
ntdSSe rushed 70 the scene. Tne lremen OF the Two
cities were called out and an immense force or
w0rkmen began 90 devise ways and means to avert
the threatened calamity. Another immense crib was
commenced, and every man sprang to the task OF
endeavorlng TO stay the ravages OF the mood. At
four O'Clock r. NJ. this second CRIB was completed,
and the livees hopes were entertained that II would
prove success and the low OF water be stopped.
Alas these hopes proved de uslye, for while the crb
was covered with some twenty-five or thirty men, II
began TO Sink and so rapidly that they had hardly
time 10 heed the warning cries OF the hundreds
who lined the banks OF the island, anxious spec
tators OF the scene, and leap Tor the snore
before the huge mestrom sucked IN The in-
mense crib the second nme revealing further
break in the bottom OF the river now some 200 feet
In length and thirty to forty feet vide. This lett
upon the surface Of the river a huge Whirlpool
around which the waters rolled aud surged, suck
ing in tiInbers, planks, &c.. and carrying them
under the blum. The immense volume OF water
thus turned into the tunnel went roaring down to
the mouth, out OF which IL poured with noise that
almost drowned the roar OF the great falls snort
distance OIL
THE TUNNEL CAvED IN.
OF course TINS huge volume OF water could not
through the tunnel with such velocity (the fal
from the break to the mouth OF the tunnel being
thirty OF forty leeu without doing more or less dam
age. The bed rock of the falls under which the
tunnel is built began 10 wear away rapidly at The
mouth OF the tunnel and soon some 200 ieet OF The
ROOF over the tunnel caved III.
NEPIN ISLAND.
The widest excitement then ensued upon Henne-
pm Island, and Tears were entertained that the top
OF the tunnel, which runs the entre length OF the
island would cave in, carrying with II the utter de-
structon OF The mills situated on the island aud
speedily wash the Island Itself away. ON chs island
are situated the following mills and factoIies:-At
the extreme lower end OF the island and immedi-
atey alongside the mouth OF the tunnel is situated
the Summit FIGURING Mil, owned by James Morris
X Co. That portion Of the tunnel which c3yed in
ran Immediately In front Of this mill. aud leaves IL
standing upon very precarons loundation liable
TO be swept away at any moment.
Next TO IL and also on the east side OF the island
and distant from the summit Mills only lev eet,
is the Island Mills. owned by Eastman Cahill. Tnis
ml was not In as mach dagger as the Summit MIL,
unless the tunnel continues 70 wash away and cave
ill., when this COO must 60
Farther up on the same side and near the short
bridge leading from The main land to the island
stands the River Mills, owned by Lawrence x Co.,
and at later accounts were safe, unless the whole
island goes.
just above the bridge is located E. Droads axe
factory while the east side OF the island are
the large stone paper mills OF Averll, Secomb *
Co. These are ali the mills situated on The island,
and all the buildings To be affected by the catastro-
phe.
THE TUNNEL.
Most OF our readers are aware that some two
years ago NlcCllet Island was purchased by com
pany composed OF Messrs. j. l.. Meiam and A. II.
Wilder. OF this city, and W. W. Eastman and j. :.
Judd. OF Minneapolis About year ago these
gentlemen conceived the idea OF building tunnel
commencing at the lower extremity OF Hennepin
Island and extending under the entire island, as
well under the river, up under a portion or
Nicollet Island, with view OF obtaining
water power on the southern portion Of
a year ago. It's extreme length when completed
was to have been some 1900 feet. OF this
ABOUT 900 or 1000 feet were completed, carrying
If some 300 feet under Hennapln Island, aal about
nity feet above where the water broke INTO lt on
Monday. This tunnel was some six feet wide and
SIX feet high with arched goof. Ii dug under
the bed rocS Of the Falls and through sand rock the
entire length. 1t cos up TO The present time from
$4,000 to $4,000, which, in the event OF ii beng I'M
possible 10 stop the break Will be an entire loss In
the present uncertain state Of affairs II rs impossl-
bic to say how much this tunnel WIZ he daalaged,
or whether IL can ever be maze ayailaDie for the
intended.
WHAT is TO BE DoNEg
When we lett the Falls last evening II was imDos-
sible 10 tell what would be the result. The property
holders on Hennepn Island were removing all their
loose property us rapidly as possible. Flour, bar
re, hoop poles, luoer &C., We're being carted over
to the main land fast as teams coulu land them.
When the tunnel cayed In two teams were stand.
ing IN front OF Summit Mil, loading, and
were carried down with the loose earth and
rocks but, fortunately, were NOT injured, and were
rescued with some diiflcuty from their perilous
situation The iutilltY OF any Kind Of crib work. at
the great break to stay the current OF the water
acknowledged. some other plan must be devised TO
turn me current Oh water. arlo1s plans were sug
gested AT one time IL was Thought advisable 10
blow up portion OF the main dam across the rlver
and thus create channel tnat would draw oil the
water IRON the break. ins idea was abandoned,
we believe, anu the only effective plan decaed upon
was 10 build Golfer dam around the break aud thus
turn the water. AT last accounts preparations weIe
being made Tor the speedy construction OF tns Golfer
dam. 10 build TINS Will require day, and perhaps
Two, and in the meantime the water would be- rush
Ing through the tunnel and undermining the bed
rock OF not only Hennepm Island, but may hap u
portion of the Falls also, ana n1cNng damage tnat
may be irreparaDle ia It's nature.
HEROIC EFFORTS OF rug CITIZENS.
From the moment OF the first apprehension OF
serious danger the citizens OF the two cities TUNED
out and labored heroicaly to stay the damage.
Every miliowner in minneapolis sent his men and
teams to AID The nremen OF the two cities turned
out en- Hdsse, and worked rs only hremen can
work. They were headed by Nh. +. Cook the
engineer OF the tunnel; MI. stevens, the engineer IN
charge of the WORK at the Falls; John JARVIS OF the
Milwaukee Road; john Tldd and the lnielaugaDie
driving, go-ahead George A Brackett. All that
human energy could do or that human judgment
could suggest was done, and VIII continue 10 be
DONE to avert more serious loss and damage by this
unexpected ana fearful catastrophe. Thousands
OF people from Minneapolis ST. Anthony and the
surrounding country, among them hundreds OF
ladies, visited the scene during the day Fear
ful forebouings AMI dlleiul appfeheusl0n3 OF
worse TO come liied every mind. No one could
tell what damage was beng done beneath
the raging Hood down IN the bowels or the earth,
under the rocky bottom OF the river. There was
anxiety in every hears when darkness settled down
upon the scene, aud there VIII be anxious looking
for the Light OF day to reveal tue rayages OF tho hood
during the silent watches OF the night.
To sum up tue matter, the damage already done Is
not OF so serious a nature but that 1t may lie re-
paired. II is the probable damage yet to be revealed
that creates the greatest fear and anxiety
our readers should not confound this disaster with
the main falls the Minneapolis side of the river.
They cannot In any event be affected py this Catas.
trophe. The damage that Is already DONE or that
may be done, will be confined TO the tunne, ana to
Honnepn Island, on which Is situated the mills ana
factories above mentioned.
The Efforts 10 Close the Tuuacl-Encourag ging
Prospects.
From the Minneapolis Tribune oct II
Yesterday force OF over 800 men, besides
large number OF teams, were engaged in the of
fling up the opening crevasse caused By the TALL
ing IN or the bed rock near the western shore OF
Ntcolletr Ig1 Tho oDpuuQ TupSday