The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-21
IN MURRAY HILL'S C4VERys.
Exploring the Underground Interior Of th
Downtown Distributing Reservoir.

Exploring the Underground Interior Of the
Downtown Distributing Reservoir.
mo, never wus down there, and they
tell me tits o fearful place, full o. rocks an
holes; and they say II your lignt goes out aud
you have no matches youll have Job getting
back" Thus spoke an aged Irishman. who sat
on box, turned end up, In the south gateroom
OF tho Murray HIN reservoir, at Fifth avenue
and Fortieth street. He addressed a Sun re-
porter VINO had Just expressed desire to eI-
plore the labyrinth OF passages and chambers he
knew TO exist benea'n the massive walls and
gay flower beds surrounding them. while
speaking, the old man was fumbline In a little
dark closet, whence he produced an oil lamp.
aud armed with TINS and plentiful supply of
toned his companion to descend tue iron Id
der that was thus disclosed To view.
At the bottom of the ladder the exploring
party found themselves surrounded by the
great iron pipes that distribute Croton water
over n vast area down town. Clamberng over
these by means OF short flights Of wooden steps,
the explorers reached low. tunnel-like open
ing In the thick wall tnat bounded the pipe
room. Ii was 50 narrow that they could only
Just squeeze through; and II Is certain that no
member uf the Fat Mems Association will ever
behold with mortal eyes what lies beyond that
dark portal
This passageway proved to be only about ten
feet IN length, and oeyond II Ia "A great echoing
vault OF solid masonry. The gray walls elittered
with moisture, aud rrched overhead AT height
undeterminable IN the feeble glimmer Of the
smoky lamp. In contrast with the terrible heat
ter auean chamber was that Il an Ice house.
For long distance the journey WAS through
succession of similar passages and chamDers,
which at length brought the explorers 10 great
square vault, much larger than anv that they
had been In, and from which they could at nrst
see no means of egress save the tunnel from
which they had Just come. At length anarrow
opening was discovered making right angle
with the otner; through II they walked. and
then started M Fifth avenue, although far from
sight and sound OF the avenues busy life. After
passing through several chambers and their
connecting galleries, the explorers steps were
arrested by the unusual sparkle OF light that was
rejected from ths hoOr, ceiling, and walls of the
chamber In which thoy stood. On examination,
the walls were found to he incrusted with a
glistening su Instance, ike crystalllzed lime from
the high arcn Of the roof gsteDed the points
OF embryo stalactites, and ut the explorers
feet there rose from the cement Of the floors
various cTeauy-whte eIcrescences, which the
guide called mushrooms, but which on inspec-
by the steady drip OF tho water from tho lime
little pools Of clear, cold water, % pleasant to
the taste Ms to the sight
The journey was continued through spacious
chambers and n lrrOw tunnels, now Slipping
down slight but sudden descent and splashing
into pool OF water, and then clambering over
the great bulk OF sOmeir pipe or brick sewer ;
untL al length all four sides Of the square had
been trayerssd, and the explorers finally craN led
up through the grated top, and stepued ny in
into the glare and heat Of the upper world, wet
and begrlmed, but we'll satisfied with tnelr trip
through the dismal cayerus underlying the sum
nit of Murray Hin.