The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-02-16
HOOSAC TUNNEL,

THE PASSAGE OF THE FIRST THROUGH TRAIN
THE SENSATION.
A correspondent of the Boston Adysrtlsar
who went through tho Hoosac Tunnel on
the first train last Tuesday, writes ss follows.
The train consisted Of an engine, two or
three empty fiat cars, one car loaded
with coal and one box freight car
The passengers occupied the engine ana
tender and all the cars except that
loaded with coal, which, / believe, was
not occupied. Shortly after O'Clock wa left
the station, receiving feeble cheer from
those present who did not go, answered by
q cheerful yell from the lucky passengers.
At ten minutes past 8 the engin entered the
dismal hole. In the box car, where your cor
respondent enjoyed the rare luxury OF q seat
on trunk, there was as much to be seen as
could be seen anywhere-that is, nothing. By
holding out one of the two or three lanterns.
that cast sickly light over the company.
one could discern the uninteresting and yerv
monotOnous wall of rock, but there was
nothing to excite comment except the curl
Gus effect upon the lungs of q mixture of the
smoke from the wood burned by the engine
with that OF :he countless cigars and pipes "a
the mouths ot passengers. There were but
two incidents on the route: First, when tae
central shaft was passed, and it became evil
dent to everybody that we were on toe
uo"n groue tne owner Wnen, having very
nearly reached the west portal, the engine
came to dead stop, and the skilful but un-
learned engineer in charge Of the machine
cried out, at the top of his lungs, "Open
them doors." AS may be known, the west
ern end has always been closed by TWO i'm
mense wooden doors, and the great men Who
stood guard were forced 70
"Open the gates
As high as the sky,
10 let the engine
Ard freight train pass by"
There are few details that may be added
to this plain, ,unyarnished story. The COM
pany was not select by any means, but 1t
included few people
WORTHY OF MENTION.
Mr.. Doane and Mr.. Frost, state engineers,
Mr.. Hawkes., of Adams, who has to answer
for having started the fret subscription for
the survey of the mountain with view TO
tunneling It; Mr.. Blackington, OF Adams,
Mr. Kendall, with Clark & Warren, of Bos-
ton, who claims TO have been the first drum
mer through the mountain, and possibly
some others are included in this catego-y.
Those who need not be mentioned are q
satisfactorily small number of correspond
ents and reporters. and small crowd of men
and boys OF various conditions in life, in
cluding some who would be described in
court report as of no. occupation. The fact
is, that the completion of this great engi-
neering work has thrown ont of employ
ment large number of men who have Joined
this class. and there was murder last
night in Adams by man who was a good.
and faithful workman under Mr.. Shanly.
The track through the tunnel is of steel, as
has been previously stated. At present it is
mere propped up with rocks so as TO make IL
safe for construction trains to pass over it
without bending the rails or running of the
track. Nevertheless the train passed over il
at good rate of twenty miles an hour, and
1t seemed 90 smooth after the mornings ez-
perience that one could hardly help wishing
that the state would take out the ballasting
of it's line west of Greenfield and prop the
rails on rocks. 1t is not expected that amp
passenger cars will run through the tunnea
for some time yet. I'm certain parts OF It
pieces OF loose rock have fallen-not witain
a month or more II is true, but there is still
some little risk, and the wise course has
been taken OF allowing no others but work
men-to- day was an exception, of course-so
pass through. A serious accident, which In
certainly more than possible, would give
the tunnel bad reputation which 1t would
require years of successful operation to
overcome. Whether there will be any for
NAL ceremony of opening when the tunnel
is really ready for passenger trains has not
yet been decided.