The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-07-29
THE TUNNEL HORROR.
A HerO'S Death.

The story of the accident itself is simple
and SHIRT The method of construction of
tho turnel is told in detail elsewhere. 1t
e anouob to say here that the entrance to
the tuDnel proper is through circular per-
nendicular shaft thirty feet in diameter,
about sixty feet deep. This is a working
shaft. the bottom Of which is used for the
rocention Of waste matter, as it is eXcavated
and before it is taken away. Thirty feet
bploy the surface of the ground is an ''air
lock which is the sole means of commu-
rication between the tunnel and the outer
air 1t is necessary to keep the air inside
the tunneI sufficiently compressed to main
tain pressure of seventeen pounds to the
souare inch, and the ''air lock" serves a
similar purpose to the lock of canal,
eouaIizing the pressure of the air to those
n4ssing in or out as canal lock balances
the level of the water. AS a matter of
course there are two doors, one at either
end of this lock, only one of which can be
,aeped at once. while the lock itself is tif-
teen feet long by six feet deep ard six
vide. allowing for the passage in case of
Necessity of thirty men at once.
Twenty-eioht men, as stated. were at
work. Fourteen Of them had just returned
from their lunch, and the other fourteen
we're about to 90 to theirs The men re-
turning had passed inside through the air
lock and the others had quit their posts
preparatory to leaving. 1t Is probable that
ifthev had delayed this for even a minute
the accident would not have happened, for
the fatal leak, which was discovered just
100 late, might easily have been stopped if
discovered in time. As they stood togeth-
Il. Just at the moment Of shifting, pecu-
lar Kissing sound was heard with which all
we're familiar. Itmeant leak, and leak
meant DEATH
Back, and stop the leak!' shouted Wood
and and the order was obeyed almost
before it was given. As many as could
get there jumped for the place where all
! knew the danger was greatest. 1he loln-
ing of the temporary roof of the tunnel
With the wall of the shaft was necessarily
/ imperfect 1t was intended to make all
irm with three foot wall of brick and
cement, but it was impossible to get the
.oundation of this brick work until after
I the circle of the funnel should be compile
ted, 50 that this imperfect jointure was
0ntinually watched With reasonable dill
sence it was easy to keep it closed, and
he material to close it was a plenty and at
and. The chinks were kept closed with
The silt of which the river bott )m is largely
0mpOsed-a clayey mud of the consistency
d Gputty-and a man was supposed to be
antinually watching the chinck. At II
clock midnight there was 20 leak and
lone was reported until just at the moment
! 1entioned.
A TERRIBLE STRUGGLE.
/ 0t the terrible struggle which followed
-ld which could have not lasted more than
No minutes it is impossible to give clear
4 %ofy. That all was done which could be
\ lone no one can doubt. The men were
''F7ed by a knowledge of the peculiar dan
4 ef Of their position. Not man but knew
4 lat he carried his life in his hand whenever
e Went to his work, and not man failed
Know that the supreme moment had
@ae That they all worked as well for
~llte as men could work cannot be
4 lubted.
l was too late. The leak that one man
'a have stopped if he had been there at
light moment was now wide enough for
Ioul current of corruption and death
Io" IN from the river bottom, and the
! safety was in flight. Between the spot
ne open air there were two locked
.'lS only one of which could be opened
Ipce. The little rift above them became
4ngasm. The compressed air escaped un-
re was no longer pressure enough
4ost within to maintain the portion of un-
lana 1eo work. 1t broke. and water and
-. closed in around them. The
3pic light by which they worked was
1spbSu'shed. All was darkness. Even
rsi It nad In moment become a doubtful |
7qd ma mat mement one man played the hero |
'e' hero's death. Woodland stood |