The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-09-14
lie wATrR MAIN nrHsr.

TIE WATER MAIN BURST
from the hydraulic pipes are succeeded
now and again by the grinding crash
of huge powders and tons Of earth
which. giving way 10 the insidlous ne
tion OF the water, fall pellmell into the
valley.
The sun is waning, and soon dark
ness will mean cessation of labor. A
huge block of earth, thousands Of tons
in weight, is being operated upon. The
workmen labor as II for their lives, for
20 detach this monster piece OF earth
from the mountain side means the cul-
mination OF many days anxious work.
The pressure on the hydraulic pipes Is
enormous the great tube, or tunnel. %
feet i'm diameter, is dischargiug every
second hundreds of tons Of water The
gauge Is rising gradually. indicating an
enormous pressure. when suddenly
there Is an ear splitting crash, "a coll
umn sc water spouts high Ia the air
and homSe cries Of dismay and terror
echo an every hand.
The water main has burst, Frantic
men rush hither ana thther Ruin.
destruction, perhaps death stare them
I'm the face
How eau The water Doe arrested only
10y closing tie sluices m the bottom Of
the reservoir a huge hricked tube
like sewer leads down ~ tie na-
ehuerv that CONTROLS the sluices The
descent to Tire bottom Is gradual and
at the bottom Itself q perpendicular
SHAFT leads up 10 the top Of the reser-
voir.
who viii 60 along ami operate the
machinery
The chief mining engineer steps for
ward lie Is John Suulau, au Eng
hshman WHO has sppnt many years of
his NE IN quest Of the golden metal In
Siberia He seizes a lantern and
rope and prepares o. gas h dirty The
sgfetr tbe mine. Tile lives I'D IiIs fel.
loW bnan rest n fhe lalaue
lle lEes DIS way t he slauting
shuft tt Sis feet of More M anme
ter und dtcnds Tor uaFls lngur
OF mf His luate1 s lghpl
Hgrit Wishes t8r l acccss puur
upon him from an sides arid he come
mcncos hts task
Down lhp steep aud Shiny PAS
sage hc cautiously creops Everything
Is dark, nuisomo and foul lie slips
and stumbles along, hoping against
hope that the water. which has already
burst the pipes, will not overflow into
the shaft
He reaches the bottom and rests his
lantern on ledge. Before him he sees
the windlass OF the great sluice. Like
n Trojan he labors at his task. The
sweat pours from him In streams. and
his breath comes In gasps. The work
Is heavy. but he falters not, and a sigh
OF qualification escapes him when the
windlass viii turn no more and he re-
allies that the sluiccs are closed and
the encroaching waters damned back.
With cheerful heart he picks mp his
lantern and prepares 10 retrace his
footsteps when suddenly his face
blanches and his legs tremble beneath
him even as the splash OF water sounds
IN his ears.
What has happenedl He raises his
lantern and gazes around. Water is
falling from the sides OF the perpendic-
ular shaft The reservoir itself has
burst. and, although the distributing
pipes are closed. the water will force
its way through the shaft and all his
efforts Will be In vain.
He must hurry TO the entrance. close
the gates and so keep the water back
He hurries up the incline NJ his top
most pace. Assistance must bc Sc
cured TO barricade the gates. for. strong
~ they might be, the water may prove
the stronger.