The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-11-28
Mysteries of Paris.

lies MYSTERIES de Paris by Eugene Sue,
approaches the style of some fairy history,
but we might now supply three hundred thou
sand examples of the nouveaux mysteries de
Paris which are no less fantastic and chime
rical.
We have seen a village souterrain inhabitid
by thieves, some of whom have lived there for
FIVE years situated at the end of the carriere
d'Amerique. This carriere d'Amerque, or
American quarry, as we might term it, which
noveIists have so often explored. is large
plaster quarry, in the Nineteenth Arondlsse-
ment OF Paris, and gives the name to the sew
enty-ffth quarter.
1t is so called because the plaster which is
extracted in considerable quantity is princi-
paIly exported to the new world. 1t is en-
barked on the canal, transported to Havre,
from thence TO the other side of the Atlantic,
and more than one clean looking cottage or
white villa residence of Kentucky or Florida
owes its clearly appearance to the materials
extracted from this extensive quarry.
La carriere d'Amerique covers an area OF
more than six acres, the upper surfacels $780,
600 square yards, and the lower 120 600.
More than SO lbs of gunpowder are used
there every day, and more than one hundred
men are employed.
There is nothing more imposing and horri
bly superb than the interior of these vast cata-
combs The massive pillars left at regularin
tervaIs to support the roof Of the cave. the
light of the torches coming and going in the
midst of the pitchy darkness, the water trick
ling down from the top into the pools below
with musical sound. the distant singing of the
miners, all have distinctive character in these
black uuarries Sometimes the cry is heard
| '.Sauve qui peut !" Instantly the lights are
seen flying hurriedly to the right and left, a
dead silence ensues for almost minute, then
an explosion shakes the place to its founda-
lions, and any one visiting the place for the
/ first time would believe that some great catas-
4 trophe had happened. Immediately after the
/ explosion, however, the lights reappear, and
the miners songs are again heard more clearly
than before. A train of powder had been
| fred to blast the rock.
There are, however frequent accidents
| the quarry has its victims as well as the bat
! tle-feld, and one needs to see in order to re-
alze the alarm which is occasioned when the
aborers leave their post and run to the spot
| from which the cry is heard, "Un homme
dams la moutarde " In all subterranean ex-
cavations there are found here and there in
the inequalities of the soil what may be termed
huge basins, some lower in position than 9TH
ers. The upper ones being filed, discharge
their superhuous water into the lower ones.
The water in these becomes stagnant, and the
detritus from the works mixing with it soon
forms kind of liquid mud, which the work
men call moutarde. Woe to him who should
take false step and fall into this mixture. He
sinks Immediately, having neither earth OF
water to support him. If help be not quickly
at hand, he is suffocated in very short time,
Tn homme dams la moutarde is worse of
than man overheard.
When night arrives, particularly in the win
ter, one may see cautiously approaching la car
rere d'Amerique number ofndividuals who
have neither lodging nor fire to sit by, the re-
Gently liberated felon, the professional thief
the beggar, the young street Arab, zand even
the honest workman, victim of long struggle
with poverty. All, rogues and unfortunates
lodge themselves here as they best can, seek
ing out the warmest and darkest corners, thai
they may escape the vigilant eye of the Pc
lice, who sometimes make an inspection of tht
place, and drives them all out.