Underground, or Life below the surface. Incidents and anecdotes beyond the light of day, startling adventures ... mines, and the mode of working them, etc

Front matter

UNDERGROUND OB LIFE BELOW THE SURFACE INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS BEYOND THE LIGHT OF DAY ■ STARTLING ADVENTURES IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD; MINES AND THE MODE OF AVORKING THEM; UNDER-CURRENTS OF SOCIETY; GAMBLING AND ITS HORRORS; CAVERNS AND THEIR MYSTERIES ■ THE DARK WAYS OF WICKEDNESS ; PRISONS AND THEIR SECRETS ■ DOAVN IN THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA; STRANGE STORIES OF THE DETECTION OF CRIME. BY THOMAS W. KNOX. AUTHOR OF "CAMP-FIRE AND COTTON-FIELD ; " "OVERLAND THROUGH ASIA," " THE BOY-EXILES," ETC. LONDON: SAMPSON, LOW & CO., 1873. PEEPACE In presenting this volume to the public the author would say that it has been his endeavor to make a book in which he could describe the life, not only of the miner, but of all Avho Avork under ground — whether literally or metaphorically. By interspersing the story Avith numerous anecdotes aud incidents he has hoped to render its perusal less fatiguing than it might be had he restricted his labors to collecting a mass of dry details, and making a liberal use of technical terms.

A glance at the table of contents will show how far he has travelled out of the beaten track in his effort to throw light upon dark subjects, and draw attention to a topic that might be wearisome if treated in its most restricted form. He has not confined himself to any one part of the globe, and the most of the incidents which he narratesare noAV for the first time given to the public. The author has not hastily performed his work. Neither has he relied solely upon his own efforts and information, as he well knows that no one person, hoAvever industrious, can gather all that may be knoAvn upon any important subject. Remembering the adage that two heads are better than one, and supplementing it Avith the assertion that ten heads are better than two, he has employed all means in his power, and secured the assistance of others, in order to make this book as comprehensive as possible.

He has consulted many books on mining matters and kindred subjects, and devoted much time to a careful investigation of the works of various scientific and popular writers. He has been

Preface

. specially indebted to Professor Simonin, the author of La T te Souterraine, and has relied upon him for many facts and figures, especially in reference to the coal mines of France and other countries. Numerous books of travel have been examined, files ot newspapers have been searched, and many individuals, fnmiliar with subjects which it was proposed to treat, have been consulted in the author's wanderings after light. He trusts that his labors will not prove to have been in vain. Several literary gentlemen have aided the author in his enterprise. He is permitted to mention, as among these, Mr. Junius Henri BroAvne, of New York, and the late Colonel Albeit S. Evans, of San Francisco. In preparing the matter for the press, it has been found con- A-enient to make use of words borrowed from the French and other languages, and also of terms more or less technical in their character.

They are not numerous, and are so well understood either by context or by popular use that a glossary is not considered necessary. The author takes this opportunity to thank the newspaper press and the public for the generous reception accorded to his preA'ious publications, and, in the language of the business card of the period, he hopes to merit a continuance of the same. T. W. K. Astor House, New York, May, 1873. ;e 27 7 CONTENTS. i. BELOW THE SURFACE. DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE. — WHAT THE WORLD BELIEVES. — MUNGO PARK IN AFRICA. — WHY THE NATIVES PITIED HIM. — EXTENT OF UNDERGROUND LIFE. — DISTRIBUTION OF THE EARTH'S WEALTH. — VALUE OF MINES. — THEIR EXTENT AND IMPORTANCE. — COAL AND IRON. — MYSTERIES OF MINES. — EXPERIENCE WITH A NOVICE. — CHANGES OF SEASONS TO A MINER. — DANGERS IN MINES. — LIFE IN CAVERNS. — UNDERGROUND IN METAPHOR. — SOCIAL MINING. — OBJECT OF THIS VOLUME. . .

Pag< II. DISCOVERY OF COAL. SAVAGE THEORIES ABODT COAL. — EXPERIENCE OF A SIBERIAN EXPLORING PARTY. — BURNING BLACK STONES. — MINERAL FUEL AMONG THE AN- CIENTS. — THEIR MOTIVE POWER. — CHINESE TRADITIONS. — CHINESE GAS WELLS. — HISTORY OF COAL IN ENGLAND. — A ROYAL EDICT. — CURI- OUS STORY OF THE MINER OF PLENEVAUX. — EXTENT OF COAL FIELDS THROUGHOUT THE GLOBE. — THE QUAKER AND THE YANKEE PEDLER. — THE FIRST ANTHRACITE. — BELLINGHAM BAY AND THE CHINOOKS. — HOW COAL WAS FORMED. — INTERVIEWING A REPTILE. — THEORIES OF THE ANCIENTS. — RIVERS OF OIL OF VITRIOL. — ANCIENT AND MODERN FIRE WORSHIPPERS. .37 III. THE CAVERNS OF NAPLES. EXCAVATIONS NEAR NAPLES. — POZZUOLI. — VISIT TO THE CAVE OP THE CUMEAN SIBYL. — ACCIDENT TO AN ENGLISH TRAVELLER. — HUMAN PACK-HORSES. — DARKNESS AND TORCHES. — THE LAKE OF AVERNUS. — DROWNED IN BOILING WATER. — A DANGEROUS WALK. — IN NERO'S PRIS- ON. — INSTRUMENTS OF TORTURE. — USE OF THE RACK. — THE IRON BED- STEAD. — BROILING A MAN ALIVE. — TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. — AN ANCIENT FUNERAL. — VIRGIL'S TOME. — CONSTRUCTING WINE CELLARS. — NOVEL PLAN OF ROBBERY.

CONTENTS. 79 IV. OPERATIONS AT HELLGATE. HELLGATE AND SANDY HOOK. — ENTRANCES TO NEW YORK HARBOR. — THE HELLEGAT AND ITS MEANING. — STORIES OF THE OLD VOYAGERS. — EDI- TORIAL JOKES. — MAILLEFERT'S OPERATIONS. — DEEPENING THE CHAN- NEL. — GENERAL NEWTON. — THE AUTHOR ON AN EXCURSION. — BLOW- ING UP COENTIES* REEF. — HOW IT IS DONE. — AN ACCIDENT WITH NITRO- GLYCERINE. — THE AUTHOR'S NARROW ESCAPE. — DIVER'S EXPERIENCE. — ASTONISHING THE FISHES. — RECEPTION AT HALLETT'S POINT. — GOING UNDER THE REEF. — THE MEN AT WORK. — AN INUNDATION. HOW THE REEF IS TO EE REMOVED. — SURVEYING IN THE WATER. — A GRAND EX- PLOSION. 63 V. BORINGS AND SHAFTS HOW COAL MINES ARE DISCOVERED. — OUTCROPPINGS. — SCIENTIFIC RE- SEARCHES. — HOW A MARLBE QUARRY WAS FOUND. — BORING A WELL, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. — A LOCAL BEBATING SOCIETY.— INTIMATE RE- LATIONS OF COAL MINES AND THE STEAM ENGINE. - — STRIKING OIL.

"DAD'S STRUCK ILE." — THE UNHAPPY MAIDEN'S FATE. — COAL INSTEAD OF WATER. — THE TOOLS TO BE USED. — A DEEP HOLE. — TERRIBLE AC- CIDENT, AND A MINER'S COOLNESS. — SINKING SHAFTS. — AN INGENIOUS APPARATUS. — ACCIDENTS IN SHAFTS. — REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW. . VI. ACCIDENTS IN SHAFTS. ADVENTURE OF THE AUTHOR DESCENDING A SHAFT. — A MINUTE OF PERIL. — LIFTED THROUGH A SHAFT BY ONE LEG. — A COLLISION IN MID-AIR. — SENSATIONS OF THE DESCENT. A MINER'S VIEWS OF DANGER. PICTU- RESQUE SCENE AT A DESCENT. OFFERING PRAYERS. SCENE AT A RUS- SIAN MINE. — SAFETY CAGES. — THEIR CONSTRUCTION. — A LUDICROUS INCIDENT. HOW A MAN FAILED TO KEEP AN ENGAGEMENT. DOWN IN- THE SALT MINES OF POLAND. —A PERILOUS DESCENT. — "PLENTY* MORE MEN." — ACCIDENT NEAR SCRANTON. — " PUTTERS." — HOW GIRLS WERE USED IN SCOTLAND. — MAN ENGINES THE LEVELS. — AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY RATS. . 9J VII.

SPECULATIONS IN NEVADA MINES. MIXING SPECULATIONS. — SWINDLERS IN NEW YORK AND BOSTON. — THE AU- THOR'S EXPERIENCE. — HOW HE WAS CAUGHT. — THE HOOK AND THE WAY CONTENTS. TO BAIT IT. — LIMITED INVESTMENT. — THE ADVENTURER'S STORY. — FACTS AND FIGURES. — THE ROMANCE, AND THE SUBSEQUENT REALITY. — ONE HUNDRED PER CENT. A MONTH. — IRISH DIVIDENDS. — EXPLOSION OF THE BUBBLE. — THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FATE. — NANKEEN TROUSERS IN WINTER. — AN- ADVENTURER'S EXPERIENCE IN LONDON. — HOW HE CAUGHT A CAPITALIST. — HELD BY THE GLITTERING EYE. . . . 106 VIII. BURGLARS AND BURGLARIES. REMARKABLE BURGLARIES. — UNDER GROUND FOR DISHONEST PURPOSES. — WONDERFUL ADROITNESS OF BURGLARS. — A REMARKABLE ROBBERY. — OCCUPATION OF A LAWYER'S OFFICE. — LABOR UNDER DIFFICULTIES A TROUBLESOME POLICEMAN. — STRANGE SCENE IN COURT. — THE CULPRIT'S REPLY. — ROBBERY BY COUNTERFEIT POLICEMEN. — THE OCEAN BANK ROBBERY. — RAPID AND THOROUGH WORK. — AN ASTONISHED WATCH- MAN. — BAFPLING THE POLICE. 116 IX.

ADVENTURES OF DIVERS. GOING UNDER WATER. PEARL DIVING. — COSTUME OF THE DIVERS. HOW THEY DESCEND. — OBTAINING THE PEARL OYSTERS. — DIVING- B.ELLS. — HOW THEY ARE MADE. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES. — ADVENTURES IN DIVING-BELLS. — SUBMARINE ARMOR. — ITS CON- STRUCTION AND USE. — A DIVER'S ADVENTURE. — A HORRIBLE SIGHT. — THE DIVER'S STORY. A PEARL DIVER AND A SHARK. — A NARROW ESCAPE. — STRATEGY IN THE WATER J29 X. EXPLOSIONS IN MINES. THICKNESS OF COAL SEAMS. — STUPIDITY OF A TURKISH MINING SUPERIN- TENDENT. — THE RESULT. — BLASTING IN MINES. — HOW IT IS DONE. — TERRIBLE ACCIDENTS. — MINES ON FIRE. — SCENES OF DEVASTATION. — EFFECT OF SUBTERRANEAN FIRE. — EXPLOSIONS OF FIRE-DAMP. — HOR- RIBLE ACCIDENTS. — STORIES OF SURVIVORS. — LOSS OF LIFE. — SCENE INA WELSH MINE. — EXPLOSIONS IN ENGLISH AND AMERICAN MINES. — MODES OF RELIEF. — STORY OF TWO BROTHERS. — HOW THEY WERE SAVED. — THE SAFETY'-LAMP. — ITS CONSTRUCTION. — THE FIRE-WALLS OF CHINA. — THE PENITENT AND CANNONEER. j^q CONTENTS. 188 XI.

A DAY IN POMPEII. A VISIT TO POMPEII — NEAPOLITAN HACKMEN. — AN INTERESTING ADVEN- TURE. — HOW TO AVOID A QUARREL. — BEGGARS. — BEGGARY AS A FINE ART. — A PICTURESQUE SCENE. MAKING MACARONI. TRICKS OF AN OLD ROOSTER. — POMPEII. — ITS HISTORY. — DISCOVERY OF THE BURIED CITY. — A SCENE IN THE STREETS. — AN ANCIENT BAKERY. — HOW THE MILLS WERE TURNED. — INVESTIGATING AN OVEN. — A WONDERFUL DIS- COVERY. PRESENT CONDITION OF THE HOUSES. ADVERTISING IN OLD TIMES. — POMPE1IAN PERSONALS. — A PICTURE OF THE DESTRUCTION. OBSCENE OBJECTS IN THE CITY 152 XII. VESUVIUS AND ITS ERUPTIONS. THE GREAT ERUPTION OF VESUVIUS. WHAT IT DID. — THREE CITIES WIPED OUT — LAVA AND ITS CHARACTER. — GOING TO THE MOUNTAIN. — SKIR- MISHING WITH GUIDES AND BEGGARS. ARCHITECTURAL STEEDS. A HORSE WITH A HAND RAIL AROUND mil. — COAT-HOOKS TO LET. — A MOT- LEY CROWD. — HOW AN AMERICAN WAS MOUNTED. — A NEW MODE OF SPURRING. — THE ROAD FROM RESINA. — BURNING LAVA. — CROSSING THE LAVA BEDS. — CLIMBING ON FOOT. — HAPS AND MISHAPS. — AN ENGLISH- MAN'S ACCIDENT. — LIGHTING A CIGAR AT THE CRATER. — SUFFOCATED BY SULPHUR FUMES.

DOWN AMONG THE ASHES. A LONG FALL AND SLIDE. — IN HERCULANEUM. — UNDERGROUND BENEATH THE CITY. — "LOOK HERE." — HOW THE CITY* WAS DISCOVERED. — THE ERUPTION OF 1872. HORRIBLE SCENES. — EXTENT OF THE DESTRUCTION 169 XIII. PERILS OF THE MINER. NARROW ESCAPE OF THE AUTHOR. — CAUGHT IN A LEVEL. — SETTLING OF THE ROOF. — BREAKING TIMBERS. — A PERILOUS PASSAGE. — FALLING OF A ROOF. — THREATENING DANGERS. ADVENTURE OF GIRAUD, THE WELL- DIGGER. CAUGHT IN A FALL OF EARTH. THREE WEEKS WITH A CORPSE. — ONE MONTH WITHOUT FOOD. — HOW HE WAS RESCUED. — A MINER COVERED WITH COAL. HIS RESCUE. AN IRISHMAN'S JOKE. INUNDATION. CURIOUS THEORIES OF THE MINERS. EFFECT OF STRIK- ING A VEIN OF WATER. — DRAWING THE MEN IN A MINE. — THE SEA BREAKING IN. CLOSING THE SHAFT. A TERRIBLE STORY EXPERI- ENCE OF A FRENCH ENGINEER. — CASUALTIES AND THEIR NUMBER. — SUF- FOCATION OF THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY ONE MEN IN ONE MINE. .

CONTENTS. 11 199 211 XIV. INUNDATION AT LALLE. INUNDATION OF A MINE ON THE LOIRE. — HOW THE MEN WERE SAVED. — SONG OF THE PUPILS OF THE MINING SCHOOL AT ST. ET1ENNE. — TERRI- BLE FLOOD OF A MINE AT LALLE. — BREAKING IN OF A RIVER. — COUR- AGE OF AUBERTO, A WORKMAN. — SAVING SIX LIVES. — PLAN FOR RES- CUE. — DISCOVERING THE WHEREABOUTS OF THE PRISONERS. — ONE MONTH'S WORK IN THREE DAYS. — OPENING THE DRIFT-WAYS. — SIXTY FEET OF TUNNELLING. — IN THE DARKNESS WITH A CORPSE. — STORY OF THE RESCUED. — THIRTEEN DAYS OF PERIL. — FINDING THE BODIES OF THE DEAD. — ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE MEN DROWNED. — SAVING A CHILD. EATING WOOD AND LEATHER TO SAVE LIFE. — A HORRIBLE SIGHT. XV. THE WIELICZKA SALT MINES. THE GREAT WIELICZKA SALT MINES, THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD. — THEIR HISTORY. — EXTENT AND PRODUCT. — DESCENT INTO AND EXPLORATION OF THEM.

WHAT IS TO BE SEEN. MINERS AT WORK BLINDFOLDED. WONDERFUL CHAMBERS GLOOM CONVERTED INTO SPLENDOR. — BAN- QUETS IN THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH. — THE INFERNAL LAKE. — HUMAN DEMONS. — AWFUL APPARITIONS. — EXTRAORDINARY NARRATIVES. . XVI. CORAL CAVES IN THE PACIFIC. ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN. — CORAL REEFS, AND THEIR FORMATION. ROMANTIC STORY OF A CAVERN. — HOW IT WAS DISCOVERED. — AN ELOPE MENT, AND EXERCISE IN DIVING. LOVE AND TURTLES. A FEEJEEAN VENUS. — A DISTRACTED FATHER, AND WHAT HE DID. — WAR AND CANNI BALS. A BATTLE IN THE WATER. KILLED BY SHARKS. A MAIDEN'S GRIEF. — THE PERIL OF A LOVER. — VICTORY AND MAGNANIMITY. — SUR PRISING A FATHER-IN-LAW. — END OF A SUBMARINE COURTSHIP. — "BLESS YOU, MY CHILDREN, BLESS YOU." 229 XVII. DUNGEONS. LIFE IN THEM. — ANCIENT DUNGEONS. — THE PRISON OF ST. PAUL. — THE DUCAL PALACE. — " SOTTO PIOMBI." — THE POZZI. — SHUT UP IN THE DARK CELLS.

A NIGHT OF HORROR. — A GUIDE'S BLUNDER. — DUNGEONS OF ST. PETERSBURG. — PETER THE GREAT TORTURING HIS SON. — A PRINCESS DROWNED IN PRISON CONTENTS. 292 XVIII. UNDERGROUND IN SAN FRANCISCO. CHINESE OPIUM DENS. — PISCO. — EXPERIMENTS IN LIQUORS. — SATURDAY NIGHT AMONG THE CHINESE. — COCOMONGO. — MURDERER'S ALLEY. CHINESE MUSIC. — THE THEATRE. — BETEL AND ITS USE. — THE BARBARY COAST. — CHEAP LODGING-HOUSES. — A DYING VICTIM. — A DEN OF THIEVES. " THE SHRIMP." UNDER THE STREET. A REPULSIVE SPEC- TACLE. OPIUM SMOKING. ITS EFFECTS. SAMSHOO. ITS PREPARA- TION AND QUALITIES. —