The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-21
THE CHALK RIFT TUNNEL.
Is THERE A NATURAL PASSAGE UN-
DER THE STRAITS OF DOYERf
nIr. Heaias Strange story Of Submarine
smuaalisg-How Napoleon Might Have
Invaded Great Britain -Reveiations that
tntsrest both France and England.

If the straneest histories OF this strange CEN
bury, and send II to you for what II Is worth.
During the Christmas recess OF Parliament,
gentleman Of CHI ,racter and influence Il am not
lure. but think Mr.. Butler tombstone OF Can
terbury was the person., called upon the Homo
Becretary and said he had communication TO
make to him OF the greatest importance to the
sountry and the Government, especially at that
particular time. Before he would impart what
he had to tell, however. It would be necessary
to obtain certain pledges from Mr.. Disraelis
Government and from That Of President Mac
Mahon, that the parties In possession OF the
secret should not be annoyed by prosecutions
OF ANY kind, nor be scandalized by unnecessary
publicity. They were persons OF consequence,
sespectablty. and wealth, guilty Of no crime,
and II would not be rational to expect them to
surrender this secret, which they were fully
nble to guard perfectly, unless they were irst
assured of entire immunity from annoyance.
They were not responsible for the uses this
secret had been put to, and should not bs In
jured In any way by making surrender Of It. In
fact, no crime at all was involved in the matter
proposed to be disclosed, but there had un-
doubtedly been some heavy frauds upon the
revenue by means OF which the predecessors OF
the present possessors OF the secret had gained
great wealth, and their representatives, were en-.
Toying the fruits Of it, These frauds had ceased
for some generations however and the perpe-
traitors were all dead. Still, undue publicity
would sc lndalize their memory, and this was
not desired by the holders Of the secret, who
were yet sincerely anxious to surrender Il to the
two Governments interested.
THE QUEENS MESSENGER.
Mr.. Cross received this mysterious commlni
cation with some dihldence, but when It was
unofiiciay limited to him further that the secret
had to do with the proposed tunnel under tho
channel, he promised to consider the matter.
A few days later Queens messenger, de-
spatohed to Paris on this business partly, re-
turned with unexpected promptness with
message from the Charge to whose discretion
the matter was unof1cially committed, report
Ing that the French Government had shown
very great eagerness to possess the secret, aud
offered to give any reasonable pledges In the
promises, strongly recon mending the Home
Secretary to dc the same. The Charge further
reported that he had been communi Gated with
by the very efficient French Ministry OF Public
Works, and that the Chairman OF the commits
sion then sitting to determine upon the feasi-
bility of a submarine railway told him that
and the com mission, he was satisfied that tue
secret proposed to be communicated WAS one Of
great import ,nce.
MT. Cross sent for his Canterbury visitor aud
assured him that tine possessors OF the secret
might feel peri, CITY safe In giving the Govern
ment any Information OF the sort proDosed and,
after some trining delays. and little more di
plOmACy. the Home secretary WAS introduced
tos Mr.. Fleetwood Head. senior p irtner OF tn Q
nrm OF Glyn, Jansen, GericA ut Head, bankers,
ls.rsnd. TINS house d been banking since
In the importing business Head was the sole
surviving partner Of the old concern, IN Of
much wealth and highly esteemed. The GYMS
were out Of the Arm long ago the Jansens.
Dutch family, mad long ago Withdrawn; the
Gsrcauts were dead except some Junior mem
bers Of tho family who lived In Paris. but still
had some dividends from the bank. Mr.. Heald
lived chiefly ia London, but was a native Of
Kent, and lad been born In old IN amor house
on the Downs OF Dover watch mad belonged TO
the Heads from time immemorisl. He I'D is a
man OF nifty Ave wears old, aud ia described to
me IA person Of strong claractor and great in
nusnce. He is member Of the CITY Of London
Club, and Is been eral times solicited 10 60
Into Parliam snt. out always refused.
THE SECRET OF "GERIcAurs HOPE"
Mr.. Fleetwood aid, on being introduced to
MIR. Cross, produced q letter dated week earlier
from Paris. and signed py dsricaut ane. saving
In effect that Mr.. Heald h al fun authority from
him, on the terms proposed, TO make tue com
municaton to the Two Governments respecting
the cavern called G ericluts Hope.
" AS am the only otner person interested,
said Mr.. Head, Il" TINS secret being made known
only to the eldest person Of eacn Of our lwO fam
lies Of Head and Gercaut atatlne. feel fully
French Governments. through you, the rather
starting fact tnLta family Of Kentish women
aud a family Of Picard MOBILES have been &c
nusnted with secret route under the English
channel since the year 1898"
Rather startling Indeed Mr.. Cross Ia a gentle
man OF the utmost dpdomb, but this matter-of-
fact comm unicatlon upset his eqlAnlmity COM
pletey. and my inform mt tells me that the Sec
rotary " strongly inclined 10 believe himse 4
In the company Of miuman.
Mr.. Fleetwood Head. however quietly went
on to explain that lie himself though proud to
be the representative and descenda mt Of lon
line OF Kent farmers, whose name he bore, was
also Discounted from some 81 the bluest o.ood
OF France. the de Ge.icaults OF ; INT Nlcole
met, a family that nd fought under Joinville
aud Francis L., under Henri Quatre and Cunde,
always Gu hOrseOack, ana always with honor.
Al the tim. Of the League tue de Gercaults be-
came Professionals, and continued to mold that
fhltn In tue later time. Al tho period OF the
Revocation Of tue Edict OF Nantes, the Old tower
and chateau 81 Gencault at ST. Nicole was
owned by tho sieur jules de Gtrrault, a bacne-
Tor, but his younger brother, Aruaud, was a
lawyer ~ Evreux, rocuriteur du roi In ths
Provincial Parliament, and married man with
alarge flmiy. Ills eldest son, Joscelin, an AT
dent youth, fresh from college. had got into Sc
Tious difficulties with the authorities owing L.
his active resistance TO The dr gonaolnK bru
talities practised upon the Protestant Smigres
tempt to arrest MIN. liz resisted, anu was so
unfortunate as to XIII lieutenant Of the Kings
Guard. Instant fight was his only Resource
aud by his fathers advice he took refuge witt
his uncle, the old bachelor Jules, VINO lived
solitary life In the tower.
= Joscelln's place Of refuge. however. was be.
tIayed, and he was ABOUT 10 be captured. when
Chateau, into pit or cell known as the dun
geoD" He lifted u stone from tue floor OF tina
cell and disclosed stone stairway. Descend
here said the seur. " Ihls stair leads you to
the most precious possession OF the house, The
cavern OF Gericault'4 Hope. II has been known
raids OF the Mortimer. 1t - refuge aud
shetering place In any gre At emergency, and no
one knows the depth Of It. 1t goes under the
sea, that we know. ID Descend these steps-yOu
have int and sto'l-at the foot Of the steps IN d
crypt you Will mud a lamp ready for lighting
There are torches also. Tonight will bring
YOU provisions ana news Here you VIII 10 safe
There Is a bed IN the room beyond the crypt
Done venture into the cave beyond where 1t ID
walled You might De lost.
FROM RlCARDY TO KENT DRY sHoD.
Joscelin descended the stair, his uncle clio SEQ
the trap ana left him IN horrible darkness. IL,
found the lamp, however, hguted II, ana tn ~
supplying himself with a loren, resolutely set
out to explore the cdv-In. After passing through
several chambers that had evidently been shaped
out by the hand of man. Joscelin came TO the
narrower part that seemed Ike "A mere series OF
Gssuers IN the chalk, clefIby Other hssuers AT
right angles, all descending at a sharp angle, 81
that the young man wished for a stan TO AID M.
steps. suddenly by deep hollow murmul
overhead. he felt sure that he was passing und ~
the sea, but rs tue path was stll pliln Dry, and
easy, ne continued TO descend until fatigue
made MIN stop for rest Ijy THIS time he mad
travelled several miles, and the cavern, or series
OF cavorns, no longer descended, but kept
level, or pretty near H. penetrating the chalk In
number Oi directions N chambers OF hssuers O
Irregular height. These were all perfectly ury
and the air was pure.
JObCelln returned toward the tower, hscended
the st-ps, and found that ms uncle had air. A IN
been there ana left him provisions, wine. and
oil for several days, with note sAyins he was
N.Naa