Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-08-24
OFFICIALS COT \ SCARE
Walking Through Truak Sewer When
 Candle Won't Out

City Engineer Cairns. Assistant City Clerk James R. Lawlor and Commissioners Finn, Nell. Walker and Dennison of the department of public works had an experience in the trunk sewer in South Brooklyn yesterday which they will not forget for some time. if ever. When they went down there they thought all they would have to do was take a stroll along the line of the conduit, look wise and then express some opinions on the character of the work. But in this they were sorely disappointed and if some of thenS had been aware of what was expect ed of them they would have found 1t convenient to remain away from the outing Everything went along all right while they were inspecting the experimental station on Benedict street, but the situation changed when they reached the conduit near the old ball field in Riverside park and MT Cairns stood at the entrance to the conduit and told his compan- ions to get ready to make the under ground trip as far as the work has been completed. The engineer had been there before and didn't mind 1t, but the clerk and the commissioners were new at the business and some of them hesitated about entering. MT Finn and MT Lawlor winked at each other and informed the engi- neer that they would meet him at the other end, while Commissioners Dennison and Walker complained of being troubled with slighs touch oi asthma and didn't think it safe to spend any time where the ventilation was so poor. Mir Niell-Commission CT Hartnett was not present-showed more courage than his colleagues and at once expressed his willingness to explore the subterranean passage and after a good deal of coaxing Mir Nell and the engineer disabused the others of the notion that there was any dan ger in walking through the conduit, and finally they ventured and the work of inspection commenced,s En. gineer Cairns lighting a candle and leading the way. Everything went along all right until they got long distance from the aperture, when the engineer, purposely, of course
 dropped the taper and the light ex' tinguished, leaving the place in utter darkness. All the commissioners don't kneel at the same altar, but when they found themselves severa hundred feet in that dark hole every one of them prayed to the same Goo and kept 1t up until the engineer lighted the taper again, and ther they wanted to return and get into daylight as quickly as possible. but the guide assured them that the shorter way out was to continue t( the other end, and after some nut
 terings of disapproval they followed the leader. The weather was warm and this, with the fear of being lost
 worked upon them so that when they got out Commissioners Finn and Den
 nison were almost exhausted; and the clerk and MT Walker were not much better. But they got bravely over i' and then talked of the experience al though they didn't mind 1t at all They were we'll pleased with tho character of the work-some of then never gave it thought while the. were where they could see it-ant were lavish in praise of the engineer
 who planned the whole system and under whose direction the work ii being done. One of the party told ( Democrat reporter to-day that it wal quite an experience to go through the conduit. He said that at timei his knees knocked against each othel and he could feel his hair lifting uI his hat, still he wasn't bit afraid
 The conduit is high enough to wall through without ducking your head and when the board makes the triI again none of them will be the leas
 alarmed over 1t.