The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1870-11-17

WAS -ptiHE III CtN5tiidhC ~ StNtiui Vi h'9
Parisian friends, they ridlculed me upon
coHid be any such place.
Abnnt nine O'Clock in the morning We
assembled to the number of forty. and
with each wax candle IN his hand, pre-
csely at ten clock descended by steps to
the depth of $50 feet perpendicular We
had likewise a number Of guides with
torches. which We found very useful; but
even with these assistants We were several
time. under the necessity of halting to OK
anime the plans the inspectors keep Of
these quarries, thai we might direct our
course in the right road. | was dlsap-
pointed in not being able to obtain one OF
these plans, which would have given the
dearest idea of this most extraordinary
place Attic entrance the path Is mar
row for considerable way : but soon We
entered the large and spacious streets, all
marked With IA mes,s the same as1n the
city; different Advertisements and bills
were found as We proceeded, pasted on
the walls, so that it had cvery appearance
{ of large town, swallowed up in the earth.
The,senera height Of the roof is about .
nine or ter feet but in some parts not
less than thirty, and even forty. In many
places there is liquor continually drops
ping from it. which congeals Immediately
aud forms, species of transparent stone,
but not so fine and clear as rock crystal. As.
We CONTINUED our pregrimation we thought
ourselves in no small danger from the roof,
hich VIC found butindlfferent propped in
some places with wood much decayed. In
der the houses, and many of the streets,
however, it seemed to be tolerably secured
by immense stones set In mortar; other
parts, where there are only fields or gar
! dens above it, was totally unsupported for
considerable space, the roof being per-
tectly level OF plain piece of rock.
After travcrsihg about two miles we
again descended about twenty steps, and
I here iound some workmen, IN very cold
and damp place, rropplng up a most dan,
| gcrous part, which they were fearful
would give way every moment We were
] glad to give them money for, some drink
aud 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 sioop considerable.
| By this time several of the party began
of the damp and cold air we frequently
experienced, But; alas. there was no re-
turning.
Ga walking some little distance further
We entered into kind of saloon, cut out
of the rock. and said to be directly under
/ the Egiisc de st. Jacques. This was il
| Illuminated with great taste, occasioned an
agreeable surprise, ami made us all ample
amends for, the danger and difficulty We
had Just before gone through At one
end was a representation in miniature OF
some of the principal forts in the Indies.
with the Notifications, drawbrldges, &c.-
Cannons were planted, with couple of
soldiers to each ready to fire. Sentinels
were placed in different parts OF the garrl-
son, particularly before the governor 5
house and regiment of armed men was
drawn up in another place with their gen
erai in the front. The whole was made up
of kind of clay which The place affords.
was ingeniously contriyed, and the light
that was thrown upon it gave it very
pretty effect.
table set out with cold tongue. bread and
butter, and some Of the best Burgundy [
ever drank. Now every thing was hiarity
and mlrth; our fear was entirely dispelled :;
and the danger we dreaded the moment
! before was no longer thought Of In short
we were all in good spirits again, and pro-
ceeded on our journey about two miles
further. when our guides judged it pru-
dent for US to ascend, as We were then got
to the steps which led up to the town.
We here found ourselves safe at the Val
dc Grace near to the English Benedictine
convent, without the least accident hav
ing happened to any Of the party. We
immagined we had walked about two
French leagues, and were absent from the
surface Of the earth between four and five
! hours.
After we had thanked tho inspectors and
guides Tor their very great civility polite
ness and attention, We took our leave to
visit the English Benedictine convent, in
whose courtyard, and within few yards
oftheir house, the roof Of the subterrane-
Gus passage had given away and fallen
in the depth Of one hundred and ninety
| three feet
| Though there was some little danger at
tending our rash expedition las some PEG
pie were pleased to term it), yet it was
most exceedingly agreeable and so pcr
tectly a noreie scene that we were all
highly delighted, and thought ourselves
amply repaid for our trouble. ....-.
l regret much that did not. take
thermometer ard barometer. do,-n with
me, that might have had an opportunity
OF making some remarks on the tempcra>
tuie anu weight OF the air. Certainly,
however, it was colder at this time than on
the surface of the earth. Mr. Smcathman
informed me that when he de-
seconded the last winter, in the
long and hard frost, he found the
air much more temperate than above
ground, but far from warm Neither
had he a thermometer with
him. lamented, too, that | had not
time to make more remarks on the petri-
faction, &c.
Mr. ; mcathman observed, that when he
descended he found very sensible dih
Guilty of breaking in some of the passages
and cavsrns, where the superintendent
rock was low and the company crowded.
This no doubt was increased by the nuns
Der CT persons and of wax lights, bat
he does not apprehend that the diff ty
would have been 80 great in rooms of equal
dimensions above ground We remarked,
toe,> when We descended, that there was in
some degree a depression of respiration
throug bout the whole passage.
There were formerly several openings
into the quarrles. but the two have men
toned VIZ the Observatory and the Val