The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-02-23
SHAKING HANDS UNDER THE
ALPS.

A correspondent Of an italian paper
describes the scene when the two work
ing parties in the Mount Gems Tunnel
met and shook hands
The earlier use of improved machinery
enabled the laborers from the italian end
at Bardonecchia to make a greater ad
vance than their fellow workers from
Modena, and the advantage was main
tanned to the end, so that the last act in
the drama was accomplished, as we see, at
some distance to the north Of the half
way point. The proceedings are thus de-
scribed in the Opinione: ''The band,
composed of laborers, struck up the
''Royal March and the country folks
focked around the mouth of the
tunnel as we made our triumphal
entry in four railway carriages. We
were about hundred in all knowing
that the temperature would be very DIFF
ferent in the bowels Of the earth, we had
DOTTED our winter garments, exchanging
them for lighter materials, precaution
Of which we had no cause to repent, for
before we had madea kllometre the cent?
grade thermometer marked II degrees
above zero, and then successfully 20, %,
and %: so degrees (63 degrees, 68 de-
greegs, 13 degrees, and So degrees Z. J
During work the temperature rises to 50
degrees (95 degrees 7. At the end of
the sixth kilometre, the rails not being
laid down beyond this point, we had to
alight and proceed on foot. The dense
darkness was lighted up by torches and
the lanterns borne by the workmen.
At last we stood between the curtain
Of rock still stretched between the two
open portions. In this mass a hole had
been pierced allowing the parties on the
opposite side to shake hands. You may
well imagine with what feelings we con-
templated the work accomplished, think
ing of the untiring activity, the inteli
gence, the logged endurance with wichh
the gigantic enterprise had been carried
through. The mines were prepared, and
nothing remained but to charge them and
apply the match. Perspiring IN every
pore, We had to retrace our steps about
half kilometre, in order to allow this
last operation to be performed. The pen
Of Dante alone could describe this Vul-
cans forge, and its halfnaked bronze fig
ures fitting to and fro in every direction,
torch in hand.
Close upon five. % clock q terrible deto-
nation was heard. The first mine had
exploded So violent was the shock that
al our lights were at once extinguished
and we remained in utter darkness Then
crash upon crash in quick succession, vol
umes of smoke, a fearful stencil Ct gun
powder, aud the breach was opened. We
sped forward. What solemn moment
was that We jostled one another most
numerically in orr hurry to pass through,
for every one was eager to- be foremost.
The first over was the engineer Grattoni,
who had to duck his head to avoid many
a knock against the shattered masses of
rock And then the double current of
visitors from Bardonecchia and from Mo-
dena met, and our cries of g V7ca 7 HdHlat
TIra T1tto17o Enaoase{e ~ responded
sepulchrally through the yaulted passage
The great work was accomplished after
thirteen years and forty days Of unremit-
ting toll and as we shook hands all
round We recalled to mind how many
had tried to throw cold water upon the
scheme, declaring it physically impossi-
Bile, or at best very doubtful.