The Washington times., 1905-10-15
First Section of Big Tun-
mel to Station Completed.
GIRL PIERCES LAST BARRIER
Miss Caryl Crawford Yields piickk EJpon
Earth That Blocks Sunlight.
Commissioners Delighted.


Caryi Crawford yesterday afternoon at
s:Za o'clock struck down the few re-
naming inches OF earth which stood
between daylight and the long tunnel
under Capitol Hill at First and c streets
northeast.
She tnen stepped through the narrow
opening. followed by the three District
commissioners and a party OF engineers
ana railroad officials. They had followed
her all the way through the tunnel. from
New Jersey avenue and D street south
east. distance of $500 feet.
Inc event was notable. II marked the
completion OF the first part of the monu-
mental underground passage through
Napitoi hih- II was the first outward
evidence the city has had of the re-
markaoie progress that has been made
on the gigantic. double-track tunnel that
VIII admit to the new Union station the
trains from the South.
Although known as the top drift" of
the tunnel proper. the opening Is a tun-
hei In itself. being very large in some
piaces SIX by eight feet a part of the
way From this drift" much of the
work VIII be done toward digging the
whole tunnel and roofing It II is in
some places forty feet beneath the sur
race OF the earth
The Party Assemblies.
At o'clock the party assembled at tbe
mouth or the tunnel fer the purpose of
giving some formal and official notice of
us compietion- In the party were Miss
Srawford. daughter Of Joseph Crawford.
general agent OF the Philadelphia. Balti
more and Washington railroad: Com
missioners Macfarland, West and Bid
uie' Robert Farnham. jr.. in charge of
me tunnel work for the Pennsylvania
railroad; E G. Williams. resident on
eineer Tor the New York Continental
Jewell Filtration Company; c. B. Hunt
engineer of highways for the District of
Columbia; A. L. Thomas. District in
spector on railroad work: Fred D. Nc
henney, solicitor for the Pennsylvania
railroad. and C. E. wann. yardmaster.
Iney took their seats on an i'm
provised passenger train" which was
without springs and without roof. re-
sembling somewhat a country wagon.
On the rear Of It were two long trolley
poles. and thus propelled the little party
flashed out OF the daylight into the elec-
trict lit tunnel. Scarcely two feet above
their heads were the two trolley lines.
each carrying a current Of electricity
powerful enough to kill man.
Trip Through Tunnel.
The ''train." which had two cars. took
the right hand portal OF the tunnel. both
of the portals being completed at this
point From the starting point to a
place which. on top of the earth, would
be few feet north OF Maryland avenue.
north. the right hand track and portion
Of the tunnel were virtually finished.
As the train rumbled through the sub
terranean depths with its unaccus-
toned load the visitors saw on each
hand walls built of huge blocks of stone
and beautifully arched with brick Be
meath them both sides were great
pipes OF compressed air which ventilated
the tunnel and was the power operating
the steam shovel. whose nose piowed
into the densely packed earth where
only the top drift gave access to the
other end of the tunnel
At street. under the corner of the
House of Representatives new Office
building, a ray Of sunlight filtered down
through a network OF tirnbers where the
roofing had not been completed At East
Capitol street the visitors passed
yentllating shaft that ran TO the top
OF the ground.
Perfect Order Prevails.
All along the route followed by the car
the most perfect order was seen. There
the ride was a pleasant one in every
respect.
Shortly before the train stopped IL
passed 100 italian laborers who stood
cyewn Up single file on each side of the
track. Then occurred a Sruesome
sight. Down there, forty feet below the
surface of the earth, beneath the arched
brick. the Italians began TO make signs
and 10 mutter as IL praying to an un-
rc.e1t:.C fate-
Mr., Williams explained the peculiar
actions. All tunnel workers are firmly
convinced that IL is unlucky for a
woman TO enter tunnel before il IS
completed. And there, on the very
front seat OF the train, her blue veil
floating like streamer behind her on
the treeze. sat Miss Crawford. the
only woman in the party. very de-
hance to Fate and dare TO all the III
luck In the world.
Dignity at a Discount.
After the party had ridden 2,5oo feet
the train came to stop beside the
huge steam shovel. A flight OF steps
led UP TO the top" drift. This is rooted
over and walled on each side with mas
sive timbers. obiiging the passengers Il
walk In 4 crouching position. IL is
800 feet long. and for this distance Miss
Crawford. bending down. led the way
while the Commissioners crouched also.
assuming positions that would not have
tended TO emphasize their dignity any
where else.
After the 500 feet of the top drift.
came goo feet more OF the almost com
pleted tunnel at the north end. AT last.
the party drew up before the wall of
earth The word was given to a gang
OF laborers waiting there. and. IN few
moments. they had reduced. with quick
and thunderous blows. the thick wall
TO q mere shell.
Mr. Farnham handed ordinary
plckax to Miss Crawford Then she
delivered the blow that let into the i'm
mense excavation its first ray of day
light. II was done The passage from