Wichita eagle., 1888-06-16
SIGHTS In THE SEWERS.
THE SUBTERRANEAN WONDERS OF
OUR GREAT METROPOLIS.
Soma OF the Interesting Experiences of
Reporter-UrcanDy Sights and Un-
earthly Sounds-A Regiment Of Rats
Put to FLIGHT

earthly sounds-A Regiment Of Rats
Put to Flight.
One Of the workmen climbs up the wharf
and proceeds to open the manholes along
Canal street in order to give Us air as we
pursue our way along the interior of the
rewer underneath. The other workman
springs from the boa. into the mouth Of the
| outlet. Mr. Murray and l follow, each
holding lantern, and thus our little process
sion, with the man in advance, commences
the line OF march Equipped with rubber
boots, old clothing, SLOUGH hats and gloves,
we lack nothing requisite for the journey.
Tbe huge sewer presents all the appearance
Of a long tunnel, its strong bricks walls being
coated with Shiny yellow, gray or black
scum, varied at different points, sometimes
slistening end reflective, and at others dull,
tat and fuzzy. The atmosphere is heavy,
dark, oppressive, but not las the popular
idea has been) at all nauseous or disgusting.
What might be termed sour, stale odor pre-
walls, but the air Is preferable to what we
fnd In many tenements. Without ventila-
ton it would be sufocating, but with the
rnanholes above open We experience nothing
unpleasant. The new style of perforated
manholes now largely in use prevent all pos
Elbiiity OF the collection Of mephitic vapors.
Over the bottom Of the sewer flows a volume
OF liquor Less than two feet in depth With
the lantern rays cleaning over the surface it
looks blacl-inky black-but upon closer ex-
animation proves to be almost clear water.
with scarcely perceptible fragments or
grains OF refuse which cause the slight dis
celebration.
We had proceeded about three blocks, COM
nunIcat1ng now and then with our man on
Che street above, the other man, in our adj
vance, being visible in the dim distance.
When opposite the Varick street sewer Mr..
Murray presses my arm and we pause to scan
the surroundings STOPPING down we can
peer into this cross street sewer, which Is
about 50 x4 feet. 1t is very old, shows signs
OF rapid decay, and seems very thickly coated
with black and gray slime, and has dead,
DUH, oppressive odor. Mr.. Murray exerts
himself and shouts to the man far ahead-so
far that he seems only the size of boy. The
man beyond shouts in return, and the echoes
come ike the refrain of a requiem, subsiding
In hoarse Kissing or lisping whispers. The
refraction, repetition and multiplication Of
sounds is ine1plicable on the basis of all
acoustic principles The effect ON the nerves
is exciting It is more than solemn and
awful-it is horrible!
MIR. Murray swings his lantern, and at this
signal the man beyond begins to dance.
throwing his arms about wildly, shaking his
lantern and singing. Instantly there ensued
one of the most amazing phantasmagorial
effects imaginable. The echoes seemed filed
with the vibrations of score of mandolins
or guitars, or like a human voice singing
with the teeth pressed against comb There
also seemed to be myriads of Liliputians
thrown into all conceivable contortions,
dancing. writhing, twisting and turning. As
the man continued his singing and gesticula-
tons the effect became unbearable, and at
my solicitation Murray signaled him to stop.
Bitter, chilly draughts of air, as damp as
If forced through an ice moistened sponge,
sweep through past us-sweep with a sound
like the cadence Of mufled or suppressed
death song, ike the last expiring gasp of
some dying wretch, or the expiring wall Of
agony of an abandoned sinner, or the throt-
tied shrek Of lost soul on its downward
flight into the abyss Of despair. My good
friend Murray arouses me from my mesmeric
hallucination, and we go splashing along
again..
Now we are near Church street. Here is
the cross sewer, and again ere new novelties
revealed. Overarching US is fungus growth
depending from the walls and standing out
from the sides like trailing or climbing
vine. In some places it hangs in clusters or
lunches, and in others spreads out as fine
moss, from six inches to two feet In length.
Its color varies greatly-there are several
shades OF gray, purple, dark brown, and
an almost silvery white It grows more
luxuriantly as we proceed, until it becomes
dense, and resembles not little some of the
moss covered groves in various parts of our
southern states The light glistening through
this produces queer yet splendidly novel
effect, and reminds us much of theatrical
representations Of fairyland in spectacular
plays.
Our advance guard had Just turned into
the Broadway sewer and started upward,
Murray and following, and had gone but
few steps before he caught my arm again
and signifed that should STOP Pointing
his index finger forward, he uttered the two
words: ''Rats! Seel S-s-h-hl Watchl"
Sure enough; though when we first shaded
the light OF our lantern and peered into the
pitchy darkness ahead / could not dis
tinguish any living object, but then could
just make out row Of glittering green eyes,
like SO many pointers of phosphorus, gleam-
ing, glaring and swapping toward US. There
was regiment Of them, and they scanned
Us like staff officer making reconnaissance
in force. Most of them were quiet, but there
was more or less sQueahng, scampering and
splashing around In the water Three of
them acted as leaders, and they were of enor-
nous proportions-that Is, compared with
the largest ordinary rats that we are accus-
toned to see.
Our advance man, who had gone beyond
out Of view, unobeerved by US had ap-
preached the assemblage Of rodents in the
rear and hurled loose brick into their
midst Like fash Of gunpowder a panic
was instantaneously started With q dis
cordant chorus of shrieking squeals and
screams, which seemed to actually split
cur ears, they struggled, leaped, whirlsd
about and tumbled over each other, be-
ing ,confronted In front and rear, and not
knowing In which direction TO escape But
desperation selling upon them, one or two
made break in our direction, and that was
leader for the entire horde. There may
have been thousand Of thsm-st the mo-
r1ent it seemed to be million-but pei nell,
screeching, kissing, they bore down upon US
their scanrpering feet splashing the water
into foam and their shrill cries awakening
the echoes of pandemouium. They rushed
past like an avalanche, and although we
drew aside as far as possible, yet In their craze
Of fright. some leaped against Us or rushed
between our legs and over our feet
AS their rear guard" had passed by ]
whipped out my revolver and fired twice in
rapid succession This seemed to intensity
their terror, and, II possible, also TO acceler
ate their speed, for, amid the deafening rs
yerberatiops Of the explosions. there came
back TO Us renewed refrain OF walls and