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Pickaxe and Trowel
Attheexpirationofthefirstmonththewellhadattainedthedepthassignedforthatlapseoftime,namely,112feet.ThisdepthwasdoubledinDecember,andtrebledinJanuary.
DuringthemonthofFebruarytheworkmenhadtocontendwithasheetofwaterwhichmadeitswayrightacrosstheoutersoil.Itbecamenecessarytoemployverypowerfulpumpsandcompressed-airenginestodrainitoff,soastocloseuptheorificefromwhenceitissued;justasonestopsaleakonboardship.Theyatlastsucceededingettingtheupperhandoftheseuntowardstreams;only,inconsequenceofthelooseningofthesoil,thewheelpartlygaveway,andaslightpartialsettlementensued.Thisaccidentcostthelifeofseveralworkmen.
Nofreshoccurrencethenceforwardarrestedtheprogressoftheoperation;andonthetenthofJune,twentydaysbeforetheexpirationoftheperiodfixedbyBarbicane,thewell,linedthroughoutwithitsfacingofstone,hadattainedthedepthof900feet.Atthebottomthemasonryresteduponamassiveblockmeasuringthirtyfeetinthickness,whileontheupperportionitwaslevelwiththesurroundingsoil.
PresidentBarbicaneandthemembersoftheGunClubwarmlycongratulatedtheirengineerMurchison;thecyclopeanworkhadbeenaccomplishedwithextraordinaryrapidity.
DuringtheseeightmonthsBarbicaneneverquittedStonesHillforasingleinstant
