The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-30

the dredger and steamers close ar hand
chaarAd Justify. while in the distance
could be heard the answering shouts or
the ueouie az the vent of the long pipe
line. II was exactly n-.S O'Clock when
Miss Zoe Semple moved the lever. ard
within five seconds the first spray OF
water came through the Joints of the
poutoon lire and one minute later water
began TO flow from the discharge end.
AS Miss Sernple stepped from the block
of wood after having performed her part
OF the programme. her father claimed a
kiss as did Mrs. Ames. who is Mr.. Sem
pies sister.
The Dredger's Teeth Take Hold.
Mr.. Green now took charge of the lev
ers and In a few moments set the big
dfrr-cutter TO work Immediately there
was a grating sound and. as the first hole
was made in the tide fats. the substance
extracted was fred swiftly along the pipe
line 20 the point Of discharge, 2.715 feet
away The clear, sparkling spray that
had come out from the first joint Of the
pontoon line suddenly turned black. and
a moment later ceased runnfngs at all
The grinding continued and the dredger
swung slowly around. All of sudden
there was a wild yelling ar the vent end
Of the line, which told in unnista kable
language that mud, black mud, was fly
ing Manager Horner stood on the upper
deck, happy as he could be. while ali the
people were rernarking about the Won
derfully successful starting OF the work
The party Immediately boarded tie
steamers and were landed at the dry dock
from which they went directly 10 the
place selected for the other exercises or
the day.
One of the incidents OF the day that did
not come to light until the rejoicing was
all over was the way in which d. y. Baz-
-< sta tsarxr -
company, did not reach the Gredger. He
calmly seated himself on the steamer
Gen. Candy, expecting to be carried TO
The drsdger at the same time as the other
peopIe. The Candy failed TO get up steam
and OF course, Mr.. Baxter was compelled
10 see the beginning OF the work from
distance. that did not lend enchantment
to the view.
The Concert AT the P.-I. ONCE.
While the waterway officials and their
guests were occupied as narrated above,
Others interested in the canal were do
ing their part toward the celebration.
AS the hour of 10 o'clock drew near peo-
pie began TO assemble in front OF the Post
Intelligencer Office on Cherry street, and
when the First Regiment band under
Theodore II. Wagner drew up in position
for the concert large crowd had gath
cred. The music led off with Asher s
sparkling Observation-Disclosures March," and
an excellent programme Of patriotic and
classical selections was given. When the
musicians. at 10:39 O'Clock, finished the
concert and started for the Commercial
street platform TO take part in the cere-
monies at the end of the pipe line, they
were followed by hundreds Of people. who
formed into a long procession eager TO
catch sight of the first dirt thrown in the
enterprise of digging the canal Many
comments were TO be overheard as to the
progress of the work, what had been
Gone, what IL was intended to do ana
how long a time would be required; and
on every hand people were congratulate
ing each other that at last the dream of
the infant city was changing into reality.
81 hope the South canal men will make
big money out of it." said one of the
throng. ''They deserve it for the good
the undertaking will do the city,
Before IL o'clock the docks and rail-
road tracks in the vicinity of Charles and
Commercial streets, near the end of the
pipe line. were fairly covered with ex-
pectant citizens. They stationed them
selves at every point of vantage. from the
open dock in front of the Washington
planning mill clear round to Moran's foun-
dry and the Variety Iron Works, a space
large enough TO accommodate thousands.
In response TO request the band, which
had been stationed on the platform,
March," In the meantime the crowd
grew larger and larger. until the space
fronting on the pipe line was a vast con-
course of humanity. everybody with eye
on the 1s-fnch hole from which the black
ened sand was to pour. A number of row.
boats were passing up an down in front
of the vent seeking the most ad Vantage
ors point from which to catch a view of
the first dirt.
Welcoming the First Dirt.
At last just as the hands of the watch
pointed to II 80 there was faint silvery
stream noticeable at the mouth of the big
pipe. 1t was greeted by a tremendous
cheer and a moving forward of the great
crowd that fairly made the docks CULVER.
The band struck up 'The Star Spangled
Banner" and from whistles on all sides
came triumphant salutes announcing that
the work was fairly under way. In a sec
ond the stream OF clear water was given
an added impulse, and ii filled the large
diameter to the highest point of the
circle, bubhling forth in the variegated
green and dazzling white of the salt sea.
II was not long to remain so. for after
little while the stream became slightly
discolored. and the dash of black an
nouncing the sand called forth a re-
doubled cheer. Then the stream became
blacker and blacker until it seemed TO
burst out of the vent IN great blotches Of
liquid mud.
AS the blowing of whistles was heard,
heralding the first beat OF the Anaconda's
machinery, an adventurous laborec
climbed out TO the end Of the black line
and leaning over, caught I'm tin vessel
a pint or so Of the first mud" his effort
being greeted with cheers. He was fol-
lowed by small boy who allowed his
hands TO become shattered with water
and sand. All at once he drew
ha 81 nd haf tn fsrr
view OF his comrades a squirming, wrig-