Page:Walker (1888) The Severn Tunnel.djvu/277

166 He was constant in his visits to the works, and when there made the most minute and particular inspection of every part of them, riding in a skip-trolley, or walking through the headings, dressed in miner’s costume, and keeping the most wonderful run of all the details of every particular part of the works in his head.

His son and partner, Mr. J. Clarke Hawkshaw, took, under Sir John, the principal charge of the works. His visits were of course more frequent than Sir John’s, and every ordinary question with reference to the works was brought before him by the resident engineer.

Mr. Harrison Hayter, the third partner in the firm of Hawkshaw, Son, and Hayter, arranged all the details of the contract when it was first entered into; and during Mr. Clarke Hawkshaw’s absence in South America from the beginning of September, 1885, to the end of January, 1886, Mr. Hayter had, at a very difficult time, to enter upon the charge of the works, and to work out the details of the new pumping machinery and steam-power to be provided to pump the Great Spring.

The originator of the scheme for constructing a tunnel under the Severn, Mr. Charles Richardson, was born on the 29th August, 1814. He was the third son of Mr. Richard Richardson, of Capenhurst Hall, in Cheshire, a well-known landowner in those parts, and Deputy-Lieutenant for the county, and Chairman of the Quarter Sessions at Knutsford.