Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-06-11
A CITY Under Ground.
THE SEWERS OF LONDON.

The London Daily News give the follow
ing interesting account by writer who
has explored the sewers of London
Through the kindness of Mr.. Haywood,
the engineer to the city, we have been
handed over to an experienced and practi-
cal guide, who, with staff of workmen,
proceeded to introduce us to the sewers OF
London. Before visiting these places, you
must dress for the start. Long, thick
WOODEN stockings drawn up over the trow-
sers to the hips, are covered by equally
long creased boots, with turn-up flaps, like
those worn by the bold smugglers of the
stage. To stout Guernsey shirt is added
smock of pianafore of blue flannel, fast.
ened at the waist by a leather belt. A fan
tail hat, like that favored by the dustman
of the period, together with pair of thick
wooden gloves completed the costume of
the two strangers, who, with select party
of professionals, came out of the Guild
hall, and drew themselves up by the trap
door in Gresham street, to the intense de-
light of the loungers at the public house
opposite. A descent of twelve or fourteen
feet, hand over hand, by and on the iron
rings already mentioned, and we are at
what looks like the entrance to wine Gel
lar. Candles stuck into the ends of long
sticks, and faring and sputtering untidily
while carried in the hand, much as they
are in tasting vaults, strengthened the
vinous analogy; and we proceeded down
some steps and through narrow passage
with vague impression that we should
shortly come upon bins and watts, and
be called upon to express an opinion
critically upon the vintages. A few
steps further, and the use of the
stout, strong boots is apparent; for we are
ankle deep in black stream, and are, in
fact, in the middle of the Gresham street
main sewer A brick tunnel, with ample
side space for one person to walk in, and
in which you can stand nearly erect; a tun-
mel which is we'll ventilated, and where
the bottom current is sufficiently strong to
carry all before it. Such is the sewer. We
walk up it in Indian file as far as the Gen
eral Post Office, first exploring back hole
at the side which necessitated STOPPING al
most double. Simple holes to the right
and left, each contributing their subsidiary
streams, represent the various side thor
oughfares "That's Aldermanbury, {"
"there's Wood street." remarked our guide
as we pass the entrance to the various tun-
nels, representing those places; while at
intervals, and when we are near openings,
light and sounds come down to us from
above, fragments Of conversation, the
hoarse rumpling of wheels, and the busy
tramp of footsteps-all telling of the active
city life, beneath which we were burrow-
ing. It'll dark and damp, but not more
unpleasant than might be fairly ex-
pected. Wall roofs and sides are
moist and Shiny, and your footing is
often soft and slippery, that is ALL
Our chief guide has strong faith in
wholeson4eness Of sewers That there is
nothing unhealthy in their smell, and
nothing disagreeable in their interior, that
the people employed in them enjoy good
health, and that any objection strangers
Hess or inexperience, is with him q strong
article of faith. We took the air close by
st. Martin sic Grand, and went below
again at Newgate Market, where we visited
large underground tank, from which water
is let down four different sewers, cleansing
and purifying all before it. It was quite
empty during our sojourn, and the ma
chinery for working it-iron doors opening
by huge screws worked from above-were
easily and comfortably examined. We saw
no rats, and learned that the drain pipes
used now have considerably diminished
their numbers. 1t being no part of our
present purpose to describe what has been
often told already-namely, the system
upon which the sewerage of London is
carried away-shall conhne ourselves to
saying simply that we were taken under
harrington street west. Here the Fleet
Ditch was running in two swift, black
streams, almost below the footway on each
side, some three feet six inches deep, and
with SO strong current that we were as
sured it would be impossibleto save the life
of any one who stepped or slipped into
them.
These foul streams recalled the ancient
StyX, and made one hold back with some
thing like a shudder. In the course of
our inspection we saw more flushing gates,
artificial falls of water, traps and locks ; but
We were below ground, not to examine or
report on these, but to realize the strange
fact that there is G complete city under the
city, and that every street or lane has its
below, up which you may wan
der, while shut out from the world above,
rs If you were temporarily in your grave.
Men have been lost in the sewers-not
workmen, but fellows who have stolen
down the man-holes for predatory pur-
poses, and who have been as grievously
as the people who came to
London fancying it paved with gold
There is something almost awful in the
thought of wandering alone dumbfounded
and despairing in these vast solitudes,
hearing the sounds of human life above
you, and failing to make your agony heard
But to visit sewers under such guidance as
we enjoyed is simply to attain novel ex-
Derience, and come to the surface be-
'mirched and dirty, but without accident
Or risk.
Two Boys Torn to Pieces by q Panther.
man living in fancy county No., re-
GENTLY sent his how to mill q distance of