The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-15

An Instance in Which Water Added to the
Persistence of the ConaRgration.
From TIE Chicago Record.

An Instance in Which Water Added to tho
Persistence of the C"ndagration.
From tie Chicago Record.
Ono OF the most exciting stories / have
heard is about the fro In Johnsons tunnel
down on the Santa Fe line. where it pierces
Bill Williams Mountain. Bill Williams was an
old-timer. one OF the first settlers Of Arizona.
and great man ia his way. A monument has
been erected to his memory ON the side OF the
mountai u that bears his name; He discovered
the hest pass over the Rockies in this zone
and the results OF his enterprise and intelli-
Sencs ' are seen In every direction =, There is a
B WILLIAMS and rY B % r. xs az so% Bill Williams
Johnson was one of the engineers who laid
out the ariGinai right Of way for the Atlantic
Fe. and IN running line through the. Bill VIII
liams caNon he struck place whore the
mountain protected over il 50 that 1t could not
bridge SO Johnson bored tunnel. 326 feet
long, through the solid granite ard built It up
II happened to be. however. q limestone
formati ton. and the limewater that trickled
in spots. The matter was reported several
times at headquarters and the superintendent
at Alhuluerlue sent up the material for q new
be rust proof II happened that at Just about
that time there was tremendous lot of
row several engines to help haul it's freight.
The extra engines burned soft coa and
up 9tS one Of T9tgh
had eaten in the lining OF the tunnel and set
the wood that was under II on fire.
IL must have been smoulderlng week ortwo
before II was discovered. The engineers re-
ported that there was n good deal Of smoke in
the tunnel. but 1t was not considereda matter
OF any importance until the iron sheeting got
so hot that It could be noticed by the people in
the trains that ran through, Then all exam
nation was made. and at the request Of the
section boss they hauled up lot of water in
tanks from tn. nearest sunFly point which was
thrown on IL slakcd the lime and made the
Gro worse than ever. All traffic was stopped
for q week on the whole length Of the road. and
OF the road wore up there TO fix things.
As soon as the tunnel was cool enough they
sent in every man who could be hired to work
there. They tore out all the old lining and re-
placed Il with new wood plankinG and gal
done and nicely finished Tho lahorers were
oil sent away. the debris was all cleaned up a nd
disposed 81 and the trains had resumed their
schedule tiEle about one day. when the opera
tor sent telegram to overtake the superip-
him that he tunnel was on fire again. 1t had
caught before his special train was out Of sight.
PERHAPS one Of the old timbers was caTelassly
left smouldering: perhaps the new pbers
happened il wac burning a week before the men
could go back into the tunnel again. and II
took two weeks TO clear II out and put in 4
lining that was fireproof The workmsn de-
manded $40 Il dag wages, 50 great was the
danger from gas and lime and falling rock ,.
and so intense was the heat, The superintend-
ent OF construction was killed hy falling rock
while the repairs were going on, Several other
men were permanently disabled 10y similar
accidents. and the cost OF repairs was several
the earnings that were lost by the suspension
of trafnc while the Johnson tunnel was on Ere.