The herald., 1894-10-21
MINE OF LAGER BEER
1T WAS LOCATED IN BALTIMORE'S
FAMOUS OLD HILL.

When 1t Was Uncovered, Residents of South
Baltimore For Three Days Drank For
Nothing-A Saloon In Federal Hill which
Evaded the Sunday Closing Law.
Famous old Federal hill, over in
South Baltimore, was not always as it
is, and many still remember its insight
ly appearance when it was private prop
erty and sand and clay were dug from
it to supply the glass works and potter
les. This was before the war, but Gen
eral Butler stopped the undermining
when he camped there in 1862.
The only excavation that has been
since made there was the magazine built
by Colonel Duryea of the zouaves in
1868. This magazine was dug by John
Fl. Walton, called "Groundmole" from
the fact that for over 80 years he had
been burrowing into Federal hill for
the sand and clay.
In the early part of 1850 one Of the
periodical spasms of rigid enforcement
Of all laws swept over the local police
department. in virtuous wave, and the
order for Sunday closing went forth.
After the populace had gone dry for
almost two months couple of young
men felt that duty called them to the
rescue of suffering humanity, and hav-
ing by hard work succeeded in laying
by few dollars they invested it in beer
for the public veal. They selected a
cave having its entrance on Hughes
street, near Covington, they walled up
the sides Of the entrance, stout oalen
door was put in place, and they took out
license and opened saloon in the
bowels of Federal hill.
As the summer months approached
the Underground" became more pop
ular, as in the darkness Of the cave it
was always cool and dry, and the flicker
of the tallow dips made weird scene
which was a novelty. On Sunday the
big door was tightly closed and pad
locked, and no violation of the law was
noticeable. No other cave on Hughes or
Covington street near the entrance to
the Underground" connected with it,
and no one ever entered there on Sum
day. But around on Warren and john
son streets occasionally some one would
enter the caves. There was no saloon on
that side, however, and the police were
not suspicious. Those who entered the
hill went by many different tunnels to
the northeastern part, and there they
found, in large amphitheater, lights
and tables and many jolly party tell
ing stories and drinking in the cool, dry
atmosphere of the cavern. From one of
the many passageways that led off from
this large subterranean room walters
came with the foaming glasses. Fifty
feet down this passage was the bar. The
business thrived for two years
In the summer the air in the cave was
cooler than it was outside, and in the
winter it was warmer AL the year the
Underground" was the favorite re-
sort The two young men made money,
and they increased their liquid stock.
Toward the close of the second year
they had $4,000 worth of beer stored
away near Federal hill.
One night in April, 1859, there was
terrible thunderstorm. About 4
o'clock in the morning crash shook
the whole neighborhood, and when
Adam Biddle went to his saloon under
Federal hill the next morning he found
that the door had been burst open by
the weight of loose sand that had fallen
and choked up the entrance. The huge
paddock had been thrown across the
street by the force, and IL, with the
broken staple, was picked up and is
still i'll possession of Robert Henderson,
who was then mere boy.
Biddle, on discovering the ruin
wrought by the storm, sought out his
partner, George Snyder, and they tried
to effect an entrance to the "Under-
ground" through the other passages,
but it was useless The amphitheater
was filled up and all the passages with
in 100 feet of it, The whole northeast
ern corner of the hill, at Covington and
Hughes streets, had settled down.
With many regret the buried beer
was abandoned and in time forgotten.
Biddle and Snyder went into other lines
of business and afterward left the city.
One Sunday morning in the fall Of
1858 two boys, one of whom was David
Clark, now living at 22B Cross street,
were playing on the hill. A fresh slide
had occurred during the night and left
an opening which seemed to be the top
of cave. With boyish glee, unmindful
of the danger, they proceeded to explore
the cave. They climbed down into the
darkness, and as their eyes became
used to the gloom they found themselves
at the entrance to quite cavern. They
explored it and found it filled at one
end with barrels half covered with sand.
They soon climbed back out of the hole,
and reaching the street told of their find
to some young men standing ON the cor
ner of Hughes and Covington streets.
The news spread like wildfire. A
"rescuing" party was formed, big
barrel was hauled from the cave, glasses
appeared as if by magic, the bung was
driven, and the amber fluid escaped, the
thirsty residents Of South Baltimore
drinking their fill There was no stint.
Beer flowed like water truly, and as
fast as one barrel was empty another
was rescued (" The beer had aged and
was heavy. The cool earth surrounding
it had kept it sweet, and people came
from all parts to drink at the fountain
which flowed for them without money
and without price.
For three days the oarousal was con-
tinued. Then another cavein occurred,
and the beer was again buried, this time
probably forever, as no part OF 1T has