The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-04-13

ADVENTURE IN "A TUNNEL.
A frivhtful accident which occurred a few
weeks since "a some If the workmen EN-
ploved in the Halshaw Moor Tunnel, on
the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, re-
minds rs e an adventure III tunnel, as
related I" us not hong az" by person in
the employment of the telegraph company.
He had been engaged in the inspection and
repair uf the Telegraph wires, and their fix
ings, which are subject to many accidents
and require constant looking after to ensure
their integrity and efficiency. Even when
carried through tunnels. in gutta percha
castings embedded IN leaden tubes, they
are hahle t. accidents from passing wag-
ons. or. IN winter. from humps falling down
the sides Il the shafts and damaging the
tubes
Ii appears that, one day, the door of a
coal wagon had got loose in the tunnel of
the railway. and dashing back against
the sides of the tunnel. had torn the tubes
and even cut the wires in many places
The telegraph was, therefore, broken; it
could not he work -d, and several workmen
were sent into the tunnel to execute the
necessary repairs The person who related
the following adventure acted in the capaci-
ty Of inspector, and it was necessary for
him to visit the workmen. ascertain the
nature Of the damage that had been done,
and give directions on the spot as to the
repairs, the necessity for completing which
was Of the greatest urgency.
"a knew very well, said he, that the
tunnel was Of great length rather more
than two miles long and that the work
men, who had set out in the morning
from the station nearest to the tunnel, had
entered it by its south end So | deter
mined to follow them and overtake them,
which | would doubtless be able to do
somewhere in the tunnel. where they would
he at work
Twas accompanied by little dog, which
trotted behind at my feet. After walking
about mile. reached the tunnel en-
trance. over which frowned the eff Of a
grim hons heal cut in the stone
There were. as usual, two lines Of rails -
the up-line and the down-line-an de
termined to walk along the former, that |
might SEE before the approaching lights BY
any advancing train. which | would take
care 10 avoid by stepping on to the opposite
line ~ rails, at the same time that | should
thus avold being run over by any train
coming up behind from the opposite direc-
tion. and which ! might not see in time to
avoid had, however, taken the precau-
tinn e. ascertain that no train was expected
t. t,ass along the up-line, over which | was
yrnceedlng. for about two hours but was
aWare that that could not be depended up
On. and therefore ] resolved to keep good
lockout ahead. Along the opposite down
line knew that passenger train was soon
to pass indeed. II was even now due; but
by keeping on the opposite line of rails
! felt that ! Vas safe sn,far "a that was con
ccrned.
had never been in tunnel Of such
length a this before, and confess that felt
someN hat dlsmayed when the light which
accompanied me 80 far into the tunnel en-
trance began e. grow fainter and fainter.
After walking for a short distance | pro
ceeded on IN almost total darkness. Behind
me there was the distant light, streaming in
at the tunnel mouth before me, almost
impenetrable darkness. But by walking on
in straight line, knew that ! could not
miss my way. and the rails between which
/ walked, and which occasionally touched
with my feet. served to keep me in the
road
In a short time was able to discern a
seeming spot of light, which gradually
sweIled into broader CLEAN, though still
at a great distance before me and knew
it to be the opening Of the nearest shaft t.
it was a mere glimmer amid the thick and
almost palpable darkness which enveloped
mr. As | walked on heard my little dog
painting at my heels, and the sound Of my
tread re-echoed from the vaulted roof Of
the tunnel When / stood still to listen
| heard distinctly the loud beating Of my
heart
A startling thought suddenly occurred tC
me. What if goods train should sudden
ly shoot through the tunnel along the line
on which was proceeding, while the pass
enger train, now due, came on in the Oppo
site direction. had not thought of thii
before. And yet | was aware that th'
i number Of casual trains on a well-fre
quented railway is very considerable at par
ticular seasons Should turn back, reacl
the mouth Of the tunnel again, and wal
until the passenger train had passed, wheI
| could then follow along the down-line o
rails-knowing that no other train wa
likely to follow it for at least a full quarte
Of an hour
But the shaft, down which the light nov
family streamed was nearer to me than tn,
mouth Of the tunnel, and | resolved there
fore, to make for that point, where ther
was, ! knew, ample room outside Of boil
lines Of rail, TO enable me TO stand in safe
~ until the down train had passed. So
strode on. But low, hollow murmur, a
if Of remote thunder, and then distan
scream, which seemed to reverberate alon
the tunnel, fell upon my ears, doubtles
the passenger train which / had been ex
Pecting, entering the tunnel mouth. Blu
looking ahead at the same time, discern
ed thrOug gh the CLEAN of daylight, at tn