The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-06-03
Hinder Lnpdan.

A writer in the London Dat7u Mems
who made trip through the sewers of
London last month, thus describes what
he saw:
Through the kindness of Mr.. Haywood.
the engineerto the city, we had been
handed over to an experienced and prac-
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 tlowsers to
the hips are covered by equally long,
creased boots, with turnover flaps, like
those worn by the bold smugglers of the
stage. To stout Guernsey shirt is add
ed smock or pinafore of blue flannel
fast-fan-t tail hat, like that favored by the
dustman of the period, togeather with q
pair OF thick wooden gloves, completed
the costume of the two strangers, who.
with select party of professionals. came
out Of the Guidhall, and drew themselves
up by the trap door in Gresham street,
to the intense delight of the loungers at
the public house opposite
A descent of twelve to fourteen feet,
hand over hand, by and on the iron rings
already mentioned, and we are at what
looks like the entrance to a wine cellar.
Candles stuck into the ends of long sticks,
and fiaring and sputtering untidily while
| carried In the hand, much as they are in
fasting vaults, strengthened the v;nous
analogy; and we proceeded down some
steps and througha narrow passage, with
a vague impression that we should short
ly come upon bins and vats, and be called
upon to express an opinion criticallyu upon
| vlntages. A few steps further, and the
use ofthe stout, strong boots, is apparent,
tor we are ankle-deep in stream, and are,
| in fact, In the middle of the Gresham
street main sewer. A brick tunnel, with
ample side space for ont person to walk
in, and in which you can stand nearly
erect-a tunnel which is we'll ventilated.
| and where the bottom current is sufi.
ciel:tly strong to carry all before it.
Such is the sewer We walk up it In
dian file, as far as the General Post Of
fee, first exploring black hole at the
side which necessitated stopping double.
Similar holes to the right and left, each
contributing their subsidiary streams,
represent the various through fares.
That's Aldermanbury." There
| Wood street," remarked our guide, O.
we pass the entrance to the various tun.
nels representing those places; while al
| intervals, and when we were near open.
ings, light and sound come down to us
from ABOVE, and fragments of conyersa-
ton, the hoarse rumbling of wheels, and
and the busy tramp of footsteps-all tel.
ling of the active city life beneath which
we were burrowing. 1t is dark and
damp, but not more unpleasant thar
might be fully expected.
| Wall, roofs, and sides are moist and
Shiny, and your footing is often soft and
slippery, that is all. Our chief guide had
a strong faith in the wholesomness OF
sewers. 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 may raise must be put
down to fastidiousness or inexperience,
is with him strong article of faith.
We took the air close by ST.. Martin
le-Grand, and went below again at New.
gate market, where we visited large
under-g ground tank, from which water is
let down four different sewers, cleansing
and purifying all before it. 1t was quite
empty during our sojQurn. ard the ma
chinery for working it.iron doors open
ing by huge screws worked from above
was easily and comfortably examined
We say no rats, and learned that the
drain pipes used now have CONSIDERABLE
diminished their numbers.