Evening star., 1938-10-09
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

Washingtonians were becoming dis
turbed half century ago by persistent
runors and charges
Lydecker Visits that work on the now
Trrr.l famous Lydecker
tunnel was being care
lesslv executed, and the many excuses
made by Major Lydecker, in charge of
the project. for not going into the
acqueduct himself did not tend to
reassure the public. On October /, l88S
Mai. Lydecker broke down and made
a trip into the tunnel, performance
which brought the following editorial
comment in The Star of the next day:
Maj. Lydecker has gone down into
the tunnel These were the astounding
words that electrified the community
Yesterday. They thrilled every manly
heart as showing that the days of
chivalrous and reckless bravery have not
passed, when duty calls. 1t seems that
Maj Lydecker had for several years con-
tempIated this daring adventure, and
had been carefully preparing for It,
Yesterday he decided that the time had
come to execute his great resolve.
"Encasing himself, according to wild
rumor. in an Arctic suit, with chest
players padded bib and wire mask, and
diving armor outside, and taking fearful
leave of his club Army friends, he threw
himself with gallant dash into his
aqueduct bureau buggy and headed his
grand supply and Life-Saving Service
train for the tunnel. Successive bulletins
of his progress as he swept on, surmount-
ing in a dash the most formidable
obstacles, even Connecticut avenue t
rails tramway. created the widest public
excitement. Arriving at the tunnel, with
scarce an hours pause Tor rest and re-
freshment, he donned his eyeglass and
with steady nerve placed his foot on the
first step of the ladder going down into
the tunnel What we're his feelings at
that supreme moment can only be
imagined. His pale, impassive face gave
no sign. Such might have been the SEN
sation of Gen Israel Putnam when he
descended at the end of rope into the.
VOLTS den, or of Stanley when he
plunged into the fearful .wilds of Africa.
But Maj. Garrett j. Lydecker had no
thought of retreat. With the same un-
faltering nerve he took another step
down the ladder. then another and an
other and presently he was at the bottom.
Maj. Lydecker had gone down into the
tunneli
"Pausing moment to grasp the strange
scene as it evolved slowly from the plu-
tonian darkness the eye Of the great
explorer lighted up with the rapture OF
a momentous discovery. as if he were
ready to exclaim. somewhat after the
fashion of the famous Inland Secretary
Of the Navy when he first looked down
f1atchway of ship: Why, the demmed
thing is hollow, doncherknow! The feat
had been accomplished, the great dis
covery had been made, and Maj. G. j.
Lydecker came forth in triumph from
the tunnel and returned to his club
house to receive the congratulations OF
his admirers.
And now Maj Lydecker will doubtless
report the results Of his investigations
to Col. Casey and Col. Casey will report
the report of Maj. Lydecker to the Sec
retary of War with Endorsements and
recommendations, and the Secretary OF
War will report, with Endorsements and
recommendations, Col. Casey's report,
with Endorsements and recommendations
of Maj. Lydecker's report, to the Prest-
dent, and the President. perhaps, will
proceed to promote Maj. Lydetker to
be general, and designate him to some
soft service for life at Washington. For
Maj. Lydecker has been down in the
trnneli'