The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-07-25


of stray articles tina, may have been
drown down the sinks of houses, or drop
ped through the loop holes in the streets.
They will at tunes travel for two or three
miles in This way, by the light of their
torches. aided occasionally by CLEAN Of
sunshine from the grating by the way
side-far under the busy thoroughfares OF
Cornhll, Cheapslde. the Strand, and
Holburn--very seldom able to walk up
right in the confined and dangerous vault,
and often obliged TO crawl on all fours,
like the rats, which are their greatest enc
mics. The articles they mostly find are
potatoes and turnips, or bones, washed
down the sinks by careless scullery maids
pence and half pence, and silver coins;
occasionally silver spoon or fork, the
loss of which may have caused conside-
rable distress and ll-will in some houses
above and not un(requently more valua-
BILE articles, which thieves, for fear of de-
lection, have thrown down when they
have been hard pressed by the officers of
Justice. 1t might be thought that life
amid the vilest filth, and amid SO much
danger and unpleasan,ness of every kind.
would allure but few but the hope Of the
grea, prizes sometimes discovered in this
miserable way, deprives it OF its terrors,
and all the principal sewers that branch
into the Thames have their regular fire.
quenters.-Were it not that the tide gives
them too little time FOR that purpose, they
would extend their researches TO the eX-
tremties of London; but, two or three
miles inland is the utmost bound Of their
peregrina,ions. Those who value their
lives will not be tempted 10 extend their
resea rches further lest they should be
drowned by the rising waters OF the river.
About two wears ago. these and some 9th
er particulars Of their mode of life, were
first elected in consequence of the follow
ing circumstance
An old man who had long pursued this
calling, was suddenly missed Every
search was made for him by The few to
whom he was known; and his wife and
family, not without many fears that he
had los, his way in the sewers, or had
been surprised by the tide, and drowned
in his efforts TO escape. made anxious in
quiries at every police Office in London,
bu. without receiving any lidings of his
fate. Months elapsed, and his name was
passing from the remembrance Of all but
those who had lost "A husband and father
by his disappearance, when young man
passing. with his torch up the Fleet, at
nearly mile distant from the place where
it discharges itself into the Thames, was
startled at seeing the figure of a man amid
the darkness, sitting at the Juncure of
smaller sewer with the main current Of
the Fleet. lie shouted, but received no
answer, and heard nothing bu, the rolling
Of the black and1etd water, and the splash
or squeak of the numerous rats he had
alarmed. Advancing nearer, he held the
light to the face of the silen, figure, and
beheld the ghas,ly counlenance of skc.
Teton. lie was not a man Of strong mind,
and losing his selfpossession in his hor-
ror he stumbled against it, and FELL
His light was exliuguished. His si,ua-
ton was now sufficiently awful but the
added horror of the total darkness recalled
his startled faculties instead Of scattering
them entirely. He knew his way by the
| ,har n( Oh
and CROPPED along cautiously, shouting as
loudly as he could. to keep up his own
courage, and to siar,le the rats from his
path, for fear tina, he should tread upon
one which would turn upon him and fast
en- on his flesh. Grating after grating
was thus passed, and he heard the carria-
yes rafting above whenever he came near
one, and at times the conversation of peo.
pie. Once he stopped under grating,
by the side of which an old woman sal by
her apple stand, and overheard her dis
course with her customers, and was temp
ted to give the alarm that no nigh, be
drawn up. This, however, would have
been the work of time, and he therefore
decided to 60 on. He proceeded accord
ingly, and arrived at the Thames without
accident-and Immediately informed his
companions OF The discovery he had made.
1t was surmised at once that the skeleton
was tina, Of the man who had been SO long
missing. Information was given TO the
police, and constable was despatched To
see the issue. lie would not, however
} venture up the sewer, but remained by the
, river side 10 await the return of the three
} Z" mud-larks," who went up with torches
and basket TO bring out the remains o
, the dead man. They found on reaching
the spot, that the discoverer. in his fright
. by falling agains. the skeleton had over
turned it from its sitting position. A
skull, mass of bones. with few but
tons and portion Of his shoes, alone re
mainod; his flesh and his attire havn,