New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-05
TIE BEDLOE'S ISLAND EXCAFA7IONS.

WORK TO GO ON TO-DAY-wHIsKEY IN THE CON-
CRETE FOUNDATION
Under the pressure which General Stone has
brought to bear upon tle contractor 1t is probable
mat the excavations Bedloes Island will be
pleted tonight. st WAS found impossible to finish
w the work last night, and as 1t is considered
WORK OF the most absolute necessity, the contractor
appealed to bis Italians and they agreed readily to
surrender their day of rest. The work has been de-
Iayed somewhat because the new hands were tmid
ana ala not work heartily, being evidently afraid
them. Curi0usly enough for the first time since the
beginning OF the excavations wall did fall without
giving any previous warning. and the panic-strlcken
men fed out of the pit in oil directions, amid the
shouts and Kisses of the old band of Italians, wbo
In strong Italian pdOis. upbraided them for their
cowardce. They came back again quickly, how
exer' ana went to work. but In half hearted way.
although nobody was nurt. and Mr.. ChenowIth. the
contractor, WAS the only ore who was thrown
down For tho brunt of the shock Was borne by
the tifnDefs forming the temporary road along
which the carts struggle. The wall that fell was
the last fragment Of the subterranoan stone bomb
proofs which were built for storing provisions and
We're utilized for coal cellars.
When the workrnon attacked the bed of concrete
anon which this wall fell they came upon some
the crow-bars. There was u cry Of aMonetal
Moneta!" money and all the mon with crow-bars
hurried to the spot and began labering IN freuzlcd
way. But the foreman detecting @ peculiar odor,
shouted to them 10 hold their hands, whio ho
made an investigation. He found that the work
mon who built the fort in 1914 had placed in the
concrete foundation stone jar of whiskey holding
probably quart and Hat bottle cont aiming half
plat. Both vessels had been smashed by the
crow-bars and all the liquor had run cut. Nothing
but the odoI remained of whiskey seventy years
old. Tho Italians who do not care for sprituous
drinks. were unable to sympathzo with the anguish
OF one OF the Irish teamstcrs, who almost wept
the disaster, and held fragments OF tho shattered
object 70 his nose with pitcous dismay.
On Monday the borings will be made TO test
definitely the quality OF the bottom, and machinery
ana engines will he brought upon the island The
laying OF tho concrete will be begun and carried
with the utmost dispatch. Weatherwse men say
that early fross may be anticipated. that 1t Is
probable that tho electric lights will be used and
eral feeling among the Executive Committee that
scisntiho men ought to interest themselves more
about matter OF such i'm portance, especially with
regard TO the stone for the pedestal. Granite 10
naturally the stone which would be selected hut
whoo the color which the statue III assume is con-
sldered. granite does not seem altogether suitable.
Tho equestrian statue OF George Washington In
Union Square IL considered good case ia point.
IL Is to all lntcnts aud purposes black. So will tho
Bartholdi Statue of Liberty be In few years. for
II Is made Of green metal bronze. which rapidly
darkens. stone ought 10 be selected, 10 Is said.
which would be "a nearly az possible OF the same
tone the statue and this is hard to find. basalt
Is dark-ln fact nearly black-but IL IS coarse
stone. There some limestones which dark
also. But these blush black while the statue
will be greenish black. Moreover, there seems
TO he little information 10 the durability OF this
material. and something Is required as lasting as
the red syente Of tho d. ramids Although the stone
work Will probably not be contracted for until next
spring the interval, 10 IL thought may be proftably
spent III finding out a suitable stone material.