The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-12-12
A Might in the New York Sewers.
TIE FILTHY CAvERNs UNDER THE Me.
TRQPoIIs EXPLORED


The discovery of subterranean scavenger,
fresh from the terrible scenes and noxious
vapors of the labyrinthian sewers which honey
comb the site of New York city, with his bag
filled with valuable findings in gold and silver,
inspired the love of adventure in small body
ofmen, who made tour underground lately,
and printed an account Of their experiences
in the Times, as follows:
After two attempts to enter through the
manholes and basins, both of which were frus-
trated by the suspicious Police, who from our
characterization garb accounted us as question:
able characters, we found it necessary to enter
at some river-front opening We made two
attempts, both of which were dashed by the
river Police, who had more than half mind
to arrest us. At last we came to the opening
of the Fourteenth street sewer, on the North
River. 1t was at a late hour of the night
The tide was falling, and the water calm. A
bright moon, occasionally obscured by passing
clouds, rendered the scene, at times, as clear
as early morning, and revealed the black jaws
of the sewer gaping toward the cleaning
river, and exuding trickle of refuse water.
Our boat pulled towarl it with some caution,
for we were timid with the apprehension of a
possible star-breasted cynic, who might chal-
lenge our passage. But, without interruption,
the spot was reached. 1t was some distance
above our boat level, and we were obliged to
climb "tooth and naip up to it. Here came
the first experience of disgust. as our hands lands
clenched the Shiny brick-work and slipped
along the filth. A vigorous leap and grunt
brought US upon our knees, and sent us slid
ing like creased slug along the chamber
Instantly we regained our upright position.
Lanterns with the safety -gauze) were taken
in hand, pull at our "medicine' bottle en-
sued; our revolvers and bludgeons, pixies and
hooks, were examined; and we were ready
for foul air from below, rats, ghosts, and every
thing we could think Of. We had taken every
precaution that the gentlemanly Superintend-
ent of Sewers, Mr.. Perkins, and his men
"Paddy" and "Hughey," had kindly given
but we did not mind their positive commands
not to venture in. We looked out and bade
our boatman goodnight, gave glance at the
lights along tbs opposite shore, and moving
upon the water, and commenced our Jour
ney. 1t seemed like entering the approach to
some great catacomb. The brickwork that in
terpoSed between us and the earth around,
was of an oval shape, five feet high by six
feet broad, dripping with moisture and cover
ed with Shiny coating which did not black
en-, bnt rendered the brick of more intense.
ly red glow. At the bottom was a slight de-
posit OF dirt-not as much as the muddy he'd
bed of country brook, nor was it of filth.
but of dirt grit. Over this ran swift stream
of water about three inches in deptb- and
some two feet in width. 1. was not discolor-
ed, put clear. with some separate particles of
refuse floating away riverward with the cur
rent. There is declination of grades in the
sewerage system, adapted to the various dis
trlcts OF the city-all tending toward the riv-
ers. Darkness is no name for the piteh-black
night that prevails in these passages. A light
Is hardly visible, and as to the atmosphere
after you get some distance inward-it is in
describabie. Here it was not stencil, but
rank ouintessence of sour moisture that
pinched ones bones, and pricked ones lungs
as a flaw of needle points. The sensation
was that of powerful icy band and noisome
force. pressing within and without the whole
body.
We have gone block. We know that by
the cross-branch of the sewer, and take our
chalk to mark an arrow pointing our return
way, so that we shall not get lost. Another
and another block is thus traversed, and
our mark in the underground world made
upon the right side brick wall. On we 90.
Hark! It's heavy jar and rumble of a mar
ket wagon, rolling along the street over our
heads. The vibrations thrill through the ma
sonry foundation at our feet, and tremble up
in our bones. Suddenly our vanguard comes
straddling back toward us with leaps, his Ian
tern cllnking against the bricks, and his feet
sliding on the treacherous bottom. He gives
a last leap and shoots himself in ridiculous
sprawl at our feet. We raised him up, be-
smeared from top to toe. Imprecatingy with
terror, he gasps "Dogs! Dogs~ We laughed,
and say, mo, not dogs, rats" He is more