Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-06-26

the river, knee-deep in the slime, with basket
upon their backs, or slung over their arms
picking up pieces Of wood that have been LEI
behind by The tide, or bits Of coal that hav,
fallen from the numerous coai-barpes tina
come up laden from the Pool, where the col
lei vessels are moored, to discharge thei
cargoes Mt the wharves further to the west
These "mud'larks," as they are sometime.
called, bear generally bad character, bein.
accused OF not contenting themselves will
the prizes they find on the shore, but OF rob,
bmg the coal-barges or other vessels OH board
oil which hey can creep at nightfall without
detection However this may be, their func-
lions do not end with the shore, but in the
sewer. With torch in hand, to preserve them
IRON the attacks of numerous large and fero-
ci"rs rats, They wade, sometimes almost up
10 The middle, through the streams of foul
water, N search Of stray articles that may
have bee, thrown down the sinks Of houses,
ordroppeG through the ,oopi oles in the s,rsess
They will at times travel for two or three
miles in this way, by the light of their torch
es, aided occasionally by CLEAN of sunshine
by the way-side, far under the busy thorough
fares OF Cornhill, Cheapside, the Strand. and
tioborn, very seldom able to walk upright in
the confined and dangerous vault, and often
obliged to crawl on all fours, like the rats,
which are their greatest enemies. The arti-
cles they mostly find are potatoes and tur-
nips, or bones, washed down the sinks by
careless sculerylnaids pence and half pence,
and silver coins, occasionally silver spoon
or FORK, the loss of which may have caused
considerable distress and ill-will in some
house above; and not unlrequently more va
liable articles, which thieves, for fear of de-
lection, have thrown down when they have
been hard pressed by the officers of Justice
II nigh! be thought that a life amid the vilest
filth, and SO much danger and unpleasantness
OF every kind, would allure but few; but the
hope oil the great prizes sometimes discover
Ell in this miserable way deprives it of its
terror, and all the principal sewers that
branch into the Thames have their regular
frequenters. Were it not that the tide gives
them too little time for that purpose, they
would extend their researches 10 the extremi-
ties Of London; bu. two or three miles in
land is the utmost bound of their peregrina-
tons. Those who value their lives will not
be tempted 10 extend their researches further.
lest they should be dro Sned by the rising
waters of the river.
About two years ago these and some other
particulars of their mode of life were elected
in consequence Of the following circumstance ::
An old man who had long pursued this call
log was suddenly missed. Every search was
made for him by the few TO whom he was
known; and his wife and family, not with
ont many fears piat he had lost his way in
the sewers, or had been surprised by the tide
and drowned in his efforts TO escape, made
anxious Inquiries at every police office in
London, bu; without receiving any tidngs of
his fate. Months elapsed and his name was
passing from the remembrance of all but
those who had lost their husband and father
by his disappearance, when young man,
passing with his torch up the feet at nearly
mile distant from the place where it discharg-
es itself into the Thames, was startled at see
ing The figure Of man amid the darkness
sitting at the juncture of smaller sewer
with the main current Of the feet. He shout
ed but received no answer, and heard nothing
but the rolling of the black and feld water,
and the splash or squeak of the numerous
rats which he had alarmed. Advancing near
er, he held the light 10 the face of the silent
figure, and beheld the CHASTITY coun,enance Of
skeleton. lie was not a man of strong
mind, and, losing his self-possession, in his
terror he stumbled against ii and fell His
light was exlinguished. His situation was
now sufficiently awful; but the added horror
OF the total darkness recalled his startled ia
culties instead Of scattering them entirely
lie knew his way by the number of iron
gratlngs at intervals above, and groped along
cautiously, shouting as loud as he could, TO
Keep up his own courage and TO starle the
rats from his path, lest he should tread upon
one which would turn upon him and fasten
on his flesh. Grating after grating was thus
passed, and he heard the carriages rafting a
bove whenever he came near, and at times the
conversation of people. Once he stopped
under grating, by the side of which an old
woman sat at her applestall and overheard
her discourse with her customers, and was
tempted to give the alarm that he might be
drawn up. This, however, would have been
work Of time, and he therefore decided to
go on. He proceeded accordingly, and ar
rived at the Thames without accident, and i'm
mediatelv informed his companions of .he
discovery he had made. 1t was surmsed at
once that the skeleton was that of the fnan
who had been so long missing. Information
was given TO the police, and constable was
despatched TO see the issue He would not,
however, venture up the sewer, but remained
| by the river side to await the return Of the
''mud larks," who went up with torches and
basket to bring up the remains of the dead
man. They found, on reaching the spot, that
the discoverer, in his fright by falling against
! the skeleton, had overturned it from its sitting
! position. skull, mass of bones, with a
few buttons and portion of his shoes, alone
remained; his flesh and his attire having been
devoured piecemeal by the rats. fine re-.
mains were collected and brough. out with
out accident A corouer's inquest was held
on the following day, and identity was esta-
! blisLed by the buttons the on1v rnes,s b1