original level.
As we have said, the plan for the San Diego work was to build a dam across
the canon, and keep the waters from flowing away.
The engineers thought that if they could only take this huge mass of rocky
hill and drop it into the canon, it would make their work very much
easier, as the task of getting enough stone down to the bottom of the
gorge to build their dam was by no means an easy one.
They thought the matter out, and finally decided to try and move the
mountain-side into the canon.
They laid their plans, and for two months were busy preparing for the
great move.
They tunnelled the hillside in all directions over the section which they
desired to move, and in these tunnels laid mines of giant powder or
dynamite.
These mines they connected with electric wires, and when all was ready,
the various wires were gathered into one bunch, and taken across the gorge
that was to be filled up.
When the explosion was about to take place the workmen and engineers moved
ever so far away, until they were at a safe distance from the explosion,
and one man, the foreman, was sent to the edge of the canon to touch the
wires, and start the firing of the mines.
When he received the signal he touched the wire, and then ran away to
safety as fast as he could go, while the others watched the explosion.
It seems to have been a most wonderful sight.
Bowlders and masses of rock rose from their beds on the hillside, and
little tongues of dust and smoke shot out from the earth in all
directions. Then there was a terrific growl, which seemed to come from the
heart of the mountain, the earth shook, the men who were watching were
thrown to the ground, and with a roar and a rattle the side of the
mountain moved and began to fall.
There was a shower of stones which continued to fall for over an hour, and
the dust was so thick that it was impossible to see; but when it finally
cleared, it was found that an enormous slice of the side of the mountain
had been blown into the canon below.
The engineers said that one hundred and fifty thousand tons of rock had
been moved, and to their great pride they found that it had fallen exactly
according to their plans, and had bridged the canon and formed the bulwark
for the support of the dam.
* * * * *
The past week has been one of great anxiety for Greece and the Greek
cause.
The Turks have been steadily gaining ground in the Eas
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