Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-11-09
THE EXCAVATIONS UNDER PARIS.
The CaCac0mbs as they were Eish. J
"a Dn-

THE EXCAVATIONS UNDER PARIS.
The Catacomhs as they were Eighty
| SIX Years Ago.
The ground under Paris is mined TO 2
vast extent with ancient quarries, from
which the stone vas taken which was used
to build the houses on the surface. We
suppose that the Prussians have no means
of finding access to these by subterranean
passages leading to them from without the
walls, or they might blow up the town in
stead of bombardrng it. Of late these
duarries have been made cataeombs. Be-
fore they were such they were sometimes
visited by curious travellers. In volume
printed at London in 1871, entitled
Twenty Essays" we find the following
letter describing them:
A SHORT ACCOUNT OF AN EXCURSION THROUGH
THE sUBrERRANEoUs CAVERN AT PARIS. BY
MIR. THOMAS WHITE, MEMBER OF THE ROYAL
MEDICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH, &C., &C.,
IN LETTER To HIS FATHER.
From Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical
Society of Manchester.
PARIS, July 29, 1874. II Yesterday visited
most extraordinary subterraneous cav
ern, commonly called the Qurries. But
before give you the history of my expe-
dition it will perhaps be necessary to say
a few words concerning the observato;re
royal, the place of descent in this very re-
markable cavern. This edifice is situated
in the Faubourg st. jacques, in the high
est part of the city. 1t takes its name from
its use and was built by Louis XIV. in
1867, after the design of Claude
Perrault, member of the Academy
of Sciences, and first architect to his
Majesty. It serves for the residence of
mathematicians appointed by the king to
make observations and improve astronomy.
The mode of building it is ingenious and
admirably contrived, it being SO we'll arch
| ed that nither wood nor iron are employed
in its construction. All the stones have
been well chosen, and placed with uni
formity and equality which contribute much
to the beauty and solidity of the whole
edifce. 1t is reckoned to be about eighty
or ninety feet in height, and at the top
there is beautiful platform, paved with
flint stones, which commands an excellent
view of Paris and its environs. In the
different floors of this building there are
number of trap dooro placed perpendicu-
| larly over each other, and when these are
opened the stars may be very clearly dis.
tinguished from the bottom of the cave at
MONDAY. e
At this place was introduced to one of
the inspectors (persons appointed by the
king to superintend the workmen) by my
| friend MIR. Smeathman, who had used great
application and interest for permission to
inspect the quarry, and had been fortunate
enough to obtain it. For as this cavern
extended under great part of the city Of
Paris, and leaves it in some places almost
entirely without support, the inspectors are
very particular as to showing il, and en-
deavor 10 keep it as secret as possible, lest,
if it should get generally known, it might
prove source of uneasinese and alarm to
the inhabitants above. For what is very
remarkable, Notwithstanding the extent of
this quarry, and the apparent danger many
parts of the city are in from it, few, even
of those who have constantly resided at
Paris, are at all acquainted with it, and on
my mentioning the expedition was going
! to undertake to several of my Partisan
| friends, they ridiculed me upon it, and
told me 1t was impossible there could be
any such place
| About nine o'clock in the morning we
assembled to the number OF forty. and
with each wax candle in his hand, pre-
cisely at ten o'clock descended by steps to
the depth of $50 feet perpendicular. We
had likewise number OF guides with
torches, which we found very useful; but
| even with these assistants we were several
! times under the necessity of balting to
! examine the plans The inspectors keep of
| these quarries, that we might direct our
course in the right road. I was 0isap-
pointed in not being able to obtain one of
these plans, which would have given the
clearesJ idea of this most extraordinary
place. At the entrance the path is narrow
for a considerable way; but soon we enter
ed the large and spacious streets, all mark
ed with names, the same as in the city;
different advertisements and bills were
found, SIS we proceeded, pasted on the
walls, SO that it had every appearance of a
large town, swallowed up in the earth.
The general height OF the roof is about
nine or ten feet; but in some parts not less
| than thirty, and even forty. In many
places there is liquor continually drop
ping from it, which congeais Immediately
and forms species of transparent stone,
but not so fine and clear as rock crystal
AS we continued our preregination we
though ourselves in no small danger from
the roof, which we found but indifferently
propped in some places with wood much
/ decayed. Under the houses, and many of
the streets, however, it seemed to be toll
erably secured by immense stones set in
mortar; in other parts, where there are on
ly fields or gardens above, it was totally
unsupported for 81 considerable space, the
roof being perfectly level, or plain piece
rock.
After traversing about two miles we
| again descended about twenty steps, and
here found some workmen, in very cold
and damp place, proplng up a most dan
gerous part, which they were fearful would
give way every moment. We were glad to
give them money for some drink and make
our visit at this place as short as possible
The path here is not more than three feet
in width, and the roof So low that we were
obliged to stoop considerably.
By this time several Of the party began
to repent of their journey, and were much
afraid of the damp and cold air we fre-
quently experienced. But, alas there
was no returning.
On walking some little distance further
. we entered into kind of saloon, cut out OF
the rock, and said to be exactly under the
Eglise de st. Jacques. This was iliumina-
ted with great taste, occasioned an agreea-
BILE surprise, and made US all ample amends
| for the danger and difficulty we had iusi
, before gone through. At one end was g
representation IN miniature of some of the
, principal forts in the Indies, with the forti
: fcations, drawbridges, sc. Cannons were
planted, with couple of soldiers to each
ready to fire. Sentlnels were placed il
different parts of the garrison, particularly
, | before the Governor mouse; ana q reg
ment of armed men was drawn up in an
other place with their general in the front
! The whole was made up of kind of clay
which the place affords, was ingenio lsly
contrived, and the light that was thrown
6 upon 1t gave it very pretty effect.
On the other side OF this hall was lon&
table set out with cold tongues, bread ant
butter, and some Of the best Burgundy
7, ever drank. Now everything was hilarit.
! and mirth; our fears were entirely dispell
ed; and the danger we dreaded the momen
before was now no longer thought of. Il
short, we were all in good spirits again
and proceed on our journey about tw
miles further, when our guides judged
; prudent for US to ascend, as we were thel
' got to the steps which led up to the town
We here found ourselves safe at the Val d
:. :. Grace, near to the English Benedictin
convent, without the least accident havin
bappered to any of the party. We imae
8 ined we had walked about two Frenci
y leagues, and We're absent from the sisrfac
q of the earth between four and five hours.