Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-07
TUNNEL TRICKS.
Cumulative Testimony To-Day - b
Bad Work.

had WORK.
The tunnel court of inquiry began work ct
1880 this morning by calling Andrew Dorsey,
bricklayer, to the stand. His testimony - to
the work performed on the tunnel showed that
the packing was dry, without cement, as called
for by the specifications He then told about
some vacant spaces over the arch in the Cham
plain avenue heading in 1886. Dorsey seemed
very anxious witness, and gave his answers
with promptness that gave the court new
idea OF tunnel evidence. It really seemed that
the brass buttons and the glittering epaulets
OF the officers had but little of the be-
wildering effect that they have heretofore
appeared to produce upon the witnesses.
Witness said that he has done no work on the
tunnel this year. When the inspectors were
out Of the tunnel
THE PACKERS DID BAD WORK.
Witness was, at one time, boss Of the gang in
the absence of the inspector, and did his best
to get one Of the packers to do good work.
..But couldn't do nothing with him." con-
tlnued Andrew. He would cheat God out Of
Heaven II he could" Dorsey reported bad
work by the packers to Emory, the sub-con-
tractor, three times, but Emory would
not give him any satisfaction. In speaking of
Laycocks assertion that sometimes the two up-
per courses of brick in the arch were laid with
out mortar, witness said that the statement was
not true; that he would lay the upper bricks
loosely and then pour his "grout" over them.
This was the same kind Of work, he said, as that
he had done on the Pension building under
General Meigs. Witness had never reported
times saw it and ordered It fixed. This was
Boyce. The first and last bays were usually
well done and the middle bay neglected.
WATCHING FOR THE INSPECTOR.
Capt. Chester found out that the inspector
was sometimes absent. He was often away
while the second bay was being neglected, but
the men would watch for him. Two or three
times he discovered this going on and
stopped it.
ANOTHER BRICKLAYER ON THE STAND.
The witness was then discharged. and Nor
gan Dorsey called He is a bricklayer and
had worked on the waterworks tunnel, begin
ming in 1886 in Howard University heading,
then after two months went to Rock Creek east,
and afterward west. In the Howard Univer-
sity heading there were very few holes left in
the packing, which was usually put in without
mortar.
This witness testimony was but corroborative
OF what has been repeatedly told to the court
that the packing above the arch was badly
done, holes being left at every opportunity.
GOOD WORK WHEN LIEUT.. TOWNSEND WAS IN
THE TUNNEL.
After Dorsey had testified to this effect at
considerable length he was succeeded by
Fred Kendall, bricklayer. He said that in
the Champlain avenue east heading fully so per
cent OF the packing was dry in the side walls.
Above the arch there were spaces left in the
packing, but the sides Of the arch were gen.
orally 1illed up solidly. When Lieut.. Town
week, the work was well done. Two bays
would be keyed up, a fey stones thrown in,
and then when the third bay was keyed a
bulkhead would be built to the roof.
The spaces varied from 2 to 10 feet long, Har-
per was inspector, and was not present in the
tunnel during large part Of each day. He
never saw the spaces left, but would not have
allowed it if he had He would allow the dry
packing. John Fenan was foreman Of the
gang, and would tell witness how much work
to do. Fenall often keyed himself. All this
applied to the Howard University heading,
after which witness went to Champlain avenue
east. Lucas was inspector here, and the pack
'lng was about all laid in cement all around
Only one bay was keyed up at once. In May of
this year witness went to work in the same
mortar used witness said it varied, and that
when too much sand was used the mortar
would not set. The arch work was twO-ring
work. At Rock Creek the arch was sometimes
built with three rings, because the roof was so
high that the packing was too heavy. Kirlin
the PACKING DONE UNDER LUCAS
in Champlain avenue heading was good. There
were two gangs, one in the day and one at night
All the day work was good, the packing being
done up to the springing line during the day
From Champlain avenue witness went to Rock
Creek. In some places the packing over the
key was bad. Mcnamara was inspector and
often saw the bad work being done. As rule
the middle bays were left without sufficient
packing. McNamara was the only foreman
and gave all the orders. Often he has
called the packers down from the
keying before the packing was completed.
The frequency of this depended upon who was
present. Palmer was down about three or four
times day and was aware Of the bad work. He
used to chat with Mcnamara. After Palmer had
gone Mcnamara would call to the workmen to
pack everything solid. Then witness told about
the work in Rock Creek west, where there was
no difference in the character of the methods.
Whenever there was chance, when Kirlin was
not around, vacant spaces would be left. Nc
Namara was inspector.
sENTINELS TO GIVE NOTICE OF LIEUTENANT
TowNsEND's APPROACH.
Upon examination by Colonel Hodges, wit
ness said that the inspectors gave orders to the
workmen. The coming Of Lieutenant Town
send was always made known in advance by
colored man or by the inspector. Witness al
ways knew when the lieutenant was coming,
anu NC was the only Omcer ne ever saw down
there.
In replying to Col. Craighill witness said that
the dry packing was a mere weight on the
arch: Good packing would support its own
weight Gen. Ruger asked If with height of
2 feet over the key and6 feet over the launches
the packing would stand alone. Witness
thought not and concluded that it depended on
the height Of the roof above the arch whether
or not the packing was self-supporting.
When there were from to feet it would be
20.
At this point the south door Of the court
room was suddenly opened and dusky face
appeared.
"NEw YORK PAPERs!''
was the cry that startled the court The mes
senger hastily elected the intruder before he
had chance to make q sale. The court did
not seem to be at all interested in the outside
world.
Lieut.. Townsend subjected the witness to
sharp cross-examination. Among the facts
elected was that, in the opinion of the witness,
there were under O'Brien more holes left in
the packing than under Mcnamara, but that
the latters work contained more dry packing.
DIDN'T HAVE TINE TO DO HIS WORK WELL.
The witness was then discharged, and Pat
rick Carlin, q bricklayer, was sworn. Gen.
Ruger tried to learn if the witness considered
the oath binding, and Patrick gravely informed
him that he did not know that there was any,
difference between Oaths He had worked