The evening times., 1895-11-07
M. GOLDENBERG.
92S Seventh ST.,
Near Mass. Ave.
consequently capped by a wall, as is
also the south side.

From the Buddhist temple long ascent
brought US To the southwest gate of the
fortress, frum which We Obtain a mag
nificent view of the sea and islands, surle
forty miles distant, while the Hau River,
which connects the port and the capital,
Seoul, by its eighty miles Of uncertain wan
dering, lay like a great snake extended be-
fore US. At this place again we had re-
freshments set before us by the priests,
and party of dancing girls were sent
from the temple to assist in our entertain
ment. This gate leads direct to the city,
and an attacking force would not be apt
to attempt to pass it The gate could very
easily be held by mere handful of men.
''Its approach is a steep, rugged defile
between two mountains. the path follow.
ing a serpentine course SO narrow that
travellers must go single file and in places
for a considerable distance a misstep
would plunge one down a deep precipice-
In many places also there are paths
made around high hill OF granite sand.
With a few shovels a retreating party
could destroy the path and get inside
the gates by this route while the pur-
suers were finding an uncertain path
lower down. The path in general use
seems TO be left in as rough and neg
lecied condition as possible in order to
make it less useful to an enemy should
one attempt invasion. Judging by the
trouble we experienced in travelling the
dizzy path tt is a good thing for the
royal family that they have a private
passageway prepared for their safety
1.-The kings means OF reaching this
formidable hiding place is through an
entirely undeveloped country, of which
there is much in Korea. 1t is partly
tunneled, and partly leads along a bed of
pounded granite sand. OF course, 1t is
tunneied at the entrance ways at each
end-that furnishing exit and entrance
at the Seoul palace and that at the old
fortress.
"This tunnel is said to have been construct
priests hired by the crown, as in America
we hire a gang Of Italians to work in our
railroad tunnels. But here the occasion was
one that made il necessary that the Men
should work in absolute secrecy-a consid-
erable difference.
The rrigning king agreed to allow them
a pension so long as they lived for this
service. and at the same time swOre ven-
geance on their religion should the pas
sageway ever become known to his sub
jects- The laboring .priests are, further
more, said tn have been cautioned not to
make any sort of record of the existence
of the passageway If they wished for the
welfare of their God in Korea.
II once passed through TINS pain IN COM
pany with the queen and the crown prince.
The trip, though IL was not attended by any
of the fright which excites the tourist in
approaching the fortress in the usual way,
was II anything more interesting. 1t gave
an impression of the character of ancient
Korea mot entirely unlike that impaired
by the ruins found in Egypt. Although this
rough channel uf broken rock exhibits none
of the delicate art of the Egyptians. this
tunnel work shows that the Koreans had
some engineering skill IN times most likely
prehistoric.
II was allowed to inspect the palace
erected for the king in the interior of
this queer old Fortress. to be used in case
of necessity: and found it well furnished
with storehouses supplied with rice and
other kinds of food in such quantities as
would be necessary for witbstanding a
long siege. saw several attendants moving
about. and soon discovered that they were
mutes-which, of course, is necessary
precaution.'
The discovery of the existence of this
secret hiding place of the King of Korea.
In addition to its bearing on the fate of
the queen, will suffice to explain any mys-
terious disappearance of the royal Koreans
that may be reported hereafter.