The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-31
CITY CARVED N salt
For Almost a Thousand Years
a Worlds Wonder.
MINES IN POLISH AUSTRIA
All Modern-Life Utilities Found
in Their Depths,

center of the salt industry Of Polish Aus
tria, says a writer in the Strand Magazine
Men have worked in its hollows for cen
turtles, leaving it as a legacy to posterity
Horses have been brought to life and have
died there, without seeing the light Of day
1t is silent and dark, except when voice:
Of people echo through its countless, tor
tuous halls. and the candle of the guide
or the flash of the Roman light discover:
! its massive and glittering wonders. II il
! city hewn in salt.
The mines are under the direct contro
of the Austro- Hungarian Minister of Fl
nance. Here the wonders spoken of may
! be seen, as they have been seen by people
for nearly thousand years. During that
time the skilled hand Of the laborer in the
WielicZka salt mines has been at work
turning the depths Of darkness into a REIN
of beauty It has created ball rooms,
chapels, alters, statues. restaurants, rail
ways, chandeliers. staircases, pillars and
thrones in the bowels Of the earth, and
the grandeur of these has excited the ad-
mirauon Of the world.
The mines date back TO 1914, and now
have a length of over two and three-quar-
ters miles, Above stands a large. gray
building, containing the Offices of those in
charge OF the mining operations. This
building is interesting principally because
it contains large number Of Gaps and
uniforms worn by various royal persons,
Austrian and otherwise, who have des-
cended into this subterranean city. They
are each labeled with the name Of the
visitor and the day Of descent. In eacly
times this descent was made In a shaft
worked by horse power, but a hydraulic
lift is now in use. Some visitors prefer.
however, to descend on long, Standing
stairways cut in the solid salt.
Almost blinded by the darkness, and
frightened by the eeric echo Of his own
footsteps the visitor frst enters some
laborer in the ordinary course Of mining
after a plan laid down by some master
mind. He almost loses himself in the ex-
panse of the Letow ball room, which with
its solid mural decoration, Illuminated gal
leries, stalwart pillars and shining chande-
Tiers, is indeed a fit and welcome chamber
for lovers of the dance. In It's history,
which dates back 10 1850, when it was
dedicated to Letowski, the chief of the
mines at that time, it has witnessed many
remarkable gatherings. These have taken
place on royal visits, or for the entertain
ment ofdistinguished guests. One end of
the room is adorned with colossal Austrian
eagle and with transparencies painted on
slabs of salt. In an alcove at the other
end of the room stands a throne of green,
the crystals Of which flash a green and
ruby-red. 1t is on this that the Emperor
sits when he comes to the mines. The bah
room lies at a distance Of 216 feet below
the surface. being the first of seven stories
in the mine. Three of these stories only
are open to visitors, as they alone contain
the marvels visitors go to see, and are
called Bono" KAISER Franz" and Err
herzog Albrecht" respectively, the last two
being named in honor of celebrated Aus
TRANS.
From the scene of gayety and splendor
It is but step to the home Of quietude
and prayer Hree, off one OF the main
Chapel, the resort of thousands of the
devout since 1t was hewn in 1898 The
vestibule TO this chapel contains SYM
metrical archway, figures at the sides.
The interior is beauufed by an alter show
ing the Cruciiction, and on the steps of
the alter are the forms Of two kneeling
monks. On the sides OF the chapel may
saints. Many times each year the priests
of the district perform their pious duties
in this simple chapel, not only in memory
Of ST. Anthony himself. but as a tribute
to the miner who, unaided and persevering,
built the chanel as il stands today The
hfpTlyc Of sol 10 lie
appeared. but the life work Of the name
less laborer may last till the end OF time.
One mass in particular is annually cele-
brated on the Sd Of July with considerable
pomp and earnest devotion. The priests
in their picturesque robes descend the mine
in state. bringing with them a large body
Of the devout from miles around. In the
wake Of these w0rshipers usually follows
a crowd Of sisatseers. who make a point
of coming TO the mines or this particular
day. The chants OF the priests and the
sweet voices of the singers are solemn
and impressive, and the stately saints OF
salt look down upon the kneeIing crowd
with mute comparison. After the Mas has
been celebrated a breagfast is served. for
which the material IS taken down in large
quantities. On the day before. so one who
intends visiting the mines should neglect
to be present on this day. The celebration
may not approach IN splendor that which
takes place on August IS The birthday Of
the beloved Kaiser Franz Josef. but Il ex-
ceeds the latter ceremony in point OF
genuine impressiveHess. L would be hard
indeed, 20 exaggerate the grandeur Of
the music sung by the faithful. as il rolls
-1q~,rf-~, p,
ing corridors CO salt.
Il is not a. all strange THAI the RELIGIOUS
feeling Of olden times should be reflected
in the chambers and passages through
which We are now in immaginalior pass
ing. Hard by 81. An-h0ny's Chanel TIE
torch OF the guide eliminates q n,aeatf-
cent shrine and archway hewa IN one os
the passages. Again, saints IN attitude OF
prayer an5 q few minor roSens which we
pass hurri5iy through bear the names y
martyrs. The Queens Chapel. with It's
alter. carved WIKI expert skin
in solid sslt. contains On one Of its sides.
q view Of Bethlehem. Tradition has &,
that one man spent many months of silene
fort in This picturesque sculpture. now
town 70 every visitor as one u the lesser.
out interesting. curiosicies Of the mines. -
we ;urn from It The beautiful chande-
lier in the chapel catches our eve. and
makes Us marvel that such a delicate con
ception with 50 many pendant chains u
wcite should have 50 long resisted the
wear and GEAR OF time When Illuminated
as & often IS. this chandelier with Is
myriad lights. is indeed beautiful 20 see
The descent from the FIRST 20 the second 1
story Is made onG q long series OF steps 81 (
solid salt. A. the FOOT 81 This remarkable !
staircase the slghtsser * facina,ei by 2
beautiful sight The glant chamber Nc s
halowice" lies before hiul-vas;. fsarsome
and observation-disclosures n I76f after -
years OF daily labor. II u,sssu ~ e 80.