The water broke into the Thames Tunnel with irresistible violence last night, about twenty minutes before seven o’clock. Some doubts of the soundness of the roof being entertained, Mr. Brunel, a week or two ago, made numerous borings, from which it was ascertained that the superincumbent soil was at the thinnest part about seventeen feet thick. At the moment that the water burst in, last night, there were luckily no persons in the tunnel but the workmen. The first indication of danger was a tremendous noise, and the rush of the water immediately followed. The men employed in the archway escaped with difficulty, but they did escape, and it is extremely gratifying that, on being mustered as soon after the accident as possible, not one was found missing.
About 160 men were engaged in cutting the tunnel, when the alarm was raised that the river had broken in. Tallet, the under engineer, and Messrs. Brunel jun. and Gravatt, the principal engineers, remained for several minutes, using every endeavor, at the imminent peril of their lives, to stop up the cavity through which the water oozed ; but all their efforts proving unavailing against the increasing rush of the water, they were forced to retreat towards the shaft. The instant the accident occurred, a general consternation prevailed amongst the workmen, and they simultaneously rushed towards the shall — sauve qui puet was the sentiment, and in their hurry several ludicrous accidents took place. The engineers, and particularly Tallett, narrowly escaped drowning. At a quarter before seven o’clock, the twelve shields or frame works were in the act of being propelled forward at the end of the tunnel, to enable the workmen to excavate more securely ; and, at that time, the tunnel extended 580 feet under the Thames. The workmen, employed in propelling No. 11 and 12 shields, observed the soil to give way between these shields, and in a few seconds afterwards the water poured in through an aperture about six inches in diameter. Tallett, the engineer, was obliged to swim a considerable distance. A workman named Guttis was also in the water for some time. Tallett, being a good swimmer, remained at the top of the water about ten feet below the top of the shaft, till Messrs. Brunel jun. and Gravatt came to his assistance. Mr. Brunel jun. plunged into the water, and affixed a rope round Tallett, and he was drawn up in a state of exhaustion to the top of the shaft. From the time the water first broke in, till the tunnel and shaft were filled to the level of the river, twelve minutes elapsed.
May 21.
Further Particulars. At low water this morning Mr. Brunel, sen., Mr. Brunel, jun., and Mr. Gravatt, descended in the diving bell to the bed of the river, in order to ascertain the efficacy of the measures which have been adopted to remedy the difficulty which has arisen in the prosecution of this important undertaking. In addition to large quantities of strong clay, some bags filled with the same composition, have, with the help of long spikes, been lowered into the river, and laid in such a position as would best answer the purpose intended. Messrs. Brunel this morning descended principally to ascertain whether these bags had been properly placed. On the bell being hoisted up, the engineer declared that every thing had been done in the most proper manner, and ordered additional quantities of clay in bags to be lowered on the place where the aperture previously was.
The Massachusetts Spy and Worcester County Advertiser, Worcester, MA, July 4, 1827