Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-08-11

rain Of Friday night last. occasioned seri-
Gus wash in the Hoosao tunnel, about half
way between the central and west shaft,
completely blocking up this great bore. and
cutting off all communication through it.
The cavipg in occurred at point
where the demoralized or spewed rock, as
it is Familiarity termed by the miners. is
located; and the roof has already been
blasted out in the endeavor to get beyond
the rotten mass, which attempt has so far
proved fruitless.
To hight of between forty and fifty feet
and preparatory to bricking, it has been
heavily shored and timbcred up of late,
and the tremendous rain of last night
proved too much for the supports, and
with very little warning at an early hour
this morning, with a roar resembling that
of an earthquake, an enormous mass OF
rock fell to the floor of the tunnel, bear
ing the enormous timbers down as though
they were twigs. No one was injured, but
for a time panic prevailed among the
workmen. Word was sent to North
Adams, and a large force of workmen was
summoned and the work of clearing away
debris began.
The large force Of workmen brought to
bear upon the immense mass of material,
finally succeeded in forcing narrow
passage through, and freight trains went
through Monday noon west The task of
clearing the debris, was q trying and dam
gerCus one, as the loose material was con-
stantly falling, and several of the work
men had narrow escapes from instant
death. A large number of the props have
again been brought into requisition, and
the roof is once more partly shored up.
There is yet very large amount Of ma
terial to be removed, and it will probably
take all this week to clear the tunnel sufli-
GENTLY to allow the workmen TO once more
commence the work of arranging the brick
roof. At this part of the tunnel the roof
will be almost sixty feet in height. and
owing to the nature Of the rock, instead OF
forming q perfect arch, will terminate in a
point. The danger from falling fragments
is believed to be at an end. and great credit
is given to Contractor Farren for the able
manner in which the unforeseen difficulty
was handled.
The following letter of President Buck
ham will serve as Il very good advertisement
for the L. V. NJ. We have no doubt thu,
Il majority of Vermont parents entertain
views similar to his in regard to college
boating. Meantime, we hope there will be
no unseemly emulation among the hardy
mowers of the University, especially when
anybody is looking on. A truly good col
leSe should insist that each student shall
NOW by himself. without spectators, and
properly and modestly invested as to his
manly form in-well, say Napoleonic sur.
tout, for an outer garment. But the let
ter shows that practical agriculture is
taught at the University. That insttu-
tan has an income of over $4,000 Il veal
from the Agricultural College Fund, anG
we are glad to note rs the first fruits to the
farming interests which that fund was tC
promote that her students are in the hay
field.
PRESIDENT BUCKHAM on SARATOGA
| REGATTAS-" To the Editor OF tic Hult pen
dent You ask why the University OF
Vermont was not represented at the Sara
toga regatta. 1t certainly was not for lack
of facilities for training. for we have, rs
| you suggest, a beautiful lake on one side OF
, us and beautiful river on another side
Neither was it for lack of manlineSs in OH
men. The University was represented
in almost every great battle Of the REBEL
: ion, from Bull Run to Petersburgh, having
, sent to the field larger number in proper
ton to its total roll than any other New
England college. But the fact is that
neither the character of our community
nor the traditions of the college are such
rs to encourage sporting habits. 4 large
proportion of our students-large enough
to determine the prevailing tone of the in
Stituton-are the sons Of farmers. frugal,
industrious fellows, who are working their
own way through college, aud who ut the
time of the regatta are swinging the
Scythe in the bayfield, or handling the
compass and chain on the railroad Be
sides. though they are poor. they are
proud. and would regard it rs beneath the
dignity of Il free born Nermonter to cx-
pose their muscle in public. like gladiators
in the amphtheatre, for Mrs. Morri>sev
and other high-brcd DANES to bet on If
you will get up 4 contest in some honest
and useful work. and will insure Us
against the intrusion of gamblers and
blacklegs, we will engage to be rcpres-
ented.' Meanwhile, we must answer
Your question why we were not ut Sara,o-
ga by pleading that we are too busy, too
poor and too proud.
Very respectfully.
NJ. H. BUCKHAM.
Burlington, VT, July &c, 1870