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1867-68
Outside of tunnel No. 6 is a precipice on the east side of the tunnel where during construction days men were let down with ropes.
Two and one half miles
this side of Cisco foreman named Tompson engaged in placing the right of
way found crevice in the cliff that blocked the road and decided to use
this crevice to save drilling and poured many kegs of powder into the crack.
Finally, unable to reach bottom, he ordered everybody out of the way, lighted
a piece of fuse and threw it down the hole. The explosion that followed
not only moved the cliff but dug such a hole that they had to build a bridge
to get over the hole.
Palisade. A pile
of black powder about 700 tons had
to be moved to the front. Powder boy named Jake was given four mules and
a wagon with which to do the work. Jake worked fast and every once in a while
would break a keg so that before the job was finished there was a heavy trail
of powder between the wagon and the piles of explosive. Jake would smoke
inspite of repeated warnings of its danger. One day he fell down with his
pipe in his mouth and set fire to the powder. Four wagon wheel tires was
all that was found of powder boy, wagon or mules.
See Bowsher about John Hays Hammond and his brother Dick.
April 1st wired Sparks
to load engine No. 1 for shipment to Truckee with one box car and three
flat cars from equipment stored at Dodge.
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Outside of tunnel No* 6 Is a precipice, on the east side of th#tunnel where during construction daye men were let down with ropes
Two and one half miles this side of Cisco foreman named Tompson engaged in placing the right of way found crevice in the cliff that blocked the road and decided to uae this crevice to save drilling and poured many kega of powder into the crack, Finally, unable to reach bottom, he ordered everybody out of the way, lighted a pi´*ce of fuse and threw it down the hole. The explosion that followed not only moved the oliff but dug such a hole that they had to build a bridge to get over the hole. I t % i
Palisade. A pile of black powder - about 7oO tons - had to be raov´4' vto the front, Powdeff b´y' named Jake was givers, four mules and a wagon with which to do the work* Jake worked "fast and every o&Qe in a while would break a keg so that beforo.'^iio Job was finished there was a heavy trail of powder between the wagon and the piles of explosive, Jake would emoke in spite of repeated
wa´$%gfu of its danger* One. day he fiXI down with his pipe in his
mouthV^rtd-V9et fire to the powjier* Four wagon wheel ^irea watt all
thai was found of powder.boy, wagon or mules.
Bowahei* about John Hays Hammond and his brother
ne No* 1 for ahlttmenV-^o
fron^equipment stwed
Courtesy of the Lynn D. Farrar Collection.
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum
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