Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-10-26
DAYLIGHT LET in.
THB SHORTER UNION BRIDGE TUNNEL IS
THROUGH TIKI HILL.
A Blast Lei OF About Halt-Past One in The
Afternoon, Does The Work-Ths Long
Tunnel Almost Through.

There was big sensation abOut the
Union bridge tunnels yesterday afternoon.
1t was caused by the discovery, after q
series Of blasts rad been let of, that day
light had been let into the southern end Of
the shorter tunnel, and that it wss practi-
cable for q map possessed OF little nerve
add who did not care for triae Of mud,
to make his way into the outer world from
the inside Of the tunnel
As soon a. the breach in the heading Of
the tunnel was discovered Foreman Louis
CAisar made a rush for the opening, and
after scramble and a squeeze be sue
ceeded in getting his head above the sur
face OF the ground Outside, sud gave a yell
Of triumph, which was answered by other
workmen both from within sud without
the tunnel. In very short time most Of
the workmen who we're digging and drill
ing in the southern end Of the shorter tun-
mel had scrambled through the hole into
the ravine, while those at work at the
headingon the ravine side, went the other
way and passed through the hole into the
tunnel. Word was at once telephoned to
the office of the contractors and the rail-
road company, and later in the afternoon
kilograms were sent to President Cochran
and Col Paige.
About an hour after the blast which
broke through the end OF the tunnel had
been fired a reporter of the REGISTER Wis
it'd the raviue. sad started on hunt fos
the opeaing A, htst he was unGble to
locate the small end Of the hole, but
while looking over the cutting made by
the men who are preparing the south pOr-
tai. be was little ssJOnisned to ees mans
head protrude from the surface, between
two small rocks. The head looked around,
toe mouth opened aud let out q yell, and
then the man attached 10 tne head
crawled out Attention being thus direct
ed, a small, Irregular y-shsped oT.ioe was
visible, and the reporter started for It.
On the way Msssrs. LIE Dlke and Frank
Moran. the latter chs tunnel contractor,
we're met, and the Two gentlemen extended
An invitation 20 make a personal inspection
of the hole 10 the gronnd. Mr.. Moran
dropped into the bOle. which was about the
diameter Of D flour barrel, crooked, damp,
and dark. aud of er some little wiggliug,
disappeared from view. The reporter fol-
lowed and slid feet foremost into the
darkness. followed by Mr.. lie Duke. The
latter Is somewhat inclined 10 portlinees,
and bad a tight lquetzs of it, but finally
AL three emerged from tine barrow into the
| tunnel. and found iO)unE On top OF the
/ bench" at the extreme southern end Of
the working. After tue eyes became ac-
customed 10 The faint light, 1t was seen
that the centre blasts in the heading had
I forced an opening through the ten Ut twelve
/ feet of rock between the heading and the
| breast Of the cutting ia the r. yiue, and let
m the light for the first time. The rock
Al the part of the heading had been great
| lv shattered, and a few more blasts vii,
l Knock ont the entire end Of the heading,
leaving a hole twenty or twentgty feet
wide, and six or eight feet high, marking
I tie SIZE Of the drift.
The heading gang was at once given a
| half dsy of, at.er the opening was dlscoy-
.red. and they ret ahout celebration.
While half dCzsn of the men went after
beer. others procured lot of dynamite
cartridges. and repaired to the summit OF
the hill over the tunnel, where rafting
salute was fired about three clock, awak-
eniug the echoes Of the valley for mile or
more. Soon the kegs of beer put in nm
appearance, aud there was lively time
about the mouth Of the tunnel for half
hour or so. The opening OF the tunnel
was the occasion for general reioicicg
among both contractors and their men.
By this morning the opening into the
ravine will be considerably enlarged, and
It will be possihls 10 pass through the
tunnel. from the Top mill. without much
inconvenience, but it will be about two
weeks before the full SIZE Ct the tunnel can
he carried through, "a there remains q
good deal of material TO be taken out OF
the bench below the heading. The
tunnel is at present completed for about
$50 feet.
At the long tunnel, running beneath Mt.
Wood, the men have but sbOut fifty feel
more to blast ont before meeting They
expect TO cover this interval IN sbout
week, "a they are working at il from both
ends. The men hsve gotten into the bill
about 525 feet on the ravine side, and about
the same distance on the end next the
creek This tunnel, when completed, will
be about / 100 feet long.
The false work for the first span Of the
bridge across the river Is completed, and
piing is being driven Tor the fslse work IL
the channel span. The pile-dIiver Is
working FROM the West Virginia side out
towards the middle Of tue rver, snd the
pills are now in for q distance OF fifty OF
sixty feet west OF pier NJ >. The work
Of getting mp iron for The first spSn Will
soon be commenced.