The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-08-31
DIAMOND
HEAD TUNNEL
CONTINUED froin PagS one.)

ed, there should be specimens in the
aquarium at Washington.
Are they all natives?" asked fair
visitor
Yes, they are all indifineous to the
SOIL" said Frank Thompson.
But Diamond Head was the revela-
ton, and then the tunnel. The great
mortars, eight of them, meant power
and the, defense of the greatness of
Americas western reach, but the tun-
mel meant mystery and many were the
questions asked concerning it.
why, l thought you were a peace
full people out bere," remarked a
Washington lawmaker, but these
guns don't look bit like it,"
Civilization means war to keep the
peace" answered comrade.
Artillerymen were put through a
gun drill for the edification of the dis
tinguished guests, local and mainland,
and the only thing lacking in the dem
onstration was the actual firing, the
flash, the roar, the recoil, the zip and
shrek as the shell would penetrate
the ether, and the smoke. Otherwise
the observers got q fine idea of how
quick the men behind the great guns
can act "Once every forty-five sec
onds," remarked an officer when
there's serious firing"
ooh, what is that? Where does
that tunnel go to-" These were ques-
lions fired quicker than once every
forty-fve seconds when men and wo-
men from the continent, and local
folks, too, saw the gaping nav of
the underground hallway
Metal dump-cars on narrow track,
operated by cable with the engine on
the inside of the crater, were stand
ing on the track at the fort entrance
when the crowd reached the ledge
above the battery. Anybody who
wished to get into the cars was invit-
ed so to do. But the ladies would
have soiled their gowns and the only
cable-car passengers were a couple of
Congressman from Missouri who had
to be shown"
The narrow railway leading through
the Diamond Head tunnel, which
track is entirely complete in all its
workings, has many spurs which
branch off to various parts OF the for
LITIGATION, and earth dug from the bed
of the crater is hoisted on the inside
up a steep incline to the inside mouth
of the tunnel and then sent down the
grade to be dumped over the maya
zines which are thus to be entirely
covered and finally dressed with ce-
ment so that an enemys bursting shell
will not be able to do harm to the
ammunition vaults from above.
Through the tunnel there is laid Z
board walk between the close rails OF
the track and on one side, on the
ground, is a water pipe, the laying OF
which has been completed. Above, on
one rocky wall. are insulated electric
wires, electric-light wires and, also,
presumably, telephone wires for one
of the fire control stations which is
being situated on the most elevated
tip of the ragged seward edge of the
crater, across the broad basin from
the inner entrance to the tunnel. The
lights for this tunnel have not yet
been installed, so it was almost COM
plete darkness that was encountered
by the visitors.
N'If we had only been trained to the
lockstep, it would be all right" said a
Washingtonian. Indeed it was some
what difficult, especially for the ladies,
to navigate on the small boardwalk
between the rails. Many held on to
each others coats and dresses, the
better to be guided Those in the
lead could see the light at the other
end and those ahead practically led
a long procession Of temporarily blind
folk through the awesome hole.
The tunnel is not braced or fortified
at all, being merely rough excava-
tion at present. Later it Will be beam
ed and boarded and strengthened, so
that the shock of the discharge of the
heavy mortars will not cause a cave
in.
One mainland lady, complaining of
weak heart, would not venture the
tunnel. There were others who did
not undertake the trip, though they
advanced no excuses.
Everywhere about Oahu's greatest
fertilization were signs of fastened
activity The work that has been ac-
complished since the last great pub
lie visit to the fort, that Of the last
Legislature in April, has been tremen-
dous considering the comparatively
small force of men employed This
is military operation and is going
forward with military precision, thor
cughness and perfection.
The fort is ready, even now, for ac-
tion;. ready to deal death to any chal-
lenger, with the almost unbelievable
chance of hitting a mark, unseen by