Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-03-11
MANY SECRET MINES.
ENGLAND'S COAST STUDDED WITH
THESE DEFENSES.

Their Locality. Approaches and Fir
Ing Points Are Mysteries That For
cign Spies Have often Tried, hut
Always In Vain. to solve.
England has the most formidable
navy in the world but she does not
rely upon il alone in the event of war
to prevent foreign force from landing
upon her shores London it'll Bits. in
an article on the secret coast defenses
of Great Britain. says
In the cent of war no alien army
could approach our shores without i'm
periling its navy by encountering our
explosive mines. scores of which sur
round our coasts at all places likely to
be selected for attack by foreign foe
The Thames is also carefully shielded
by similar secret mines. one of these
being in the vicinity Of Blackwall The
precise locality of these mines Is how
ever for obvious reasons kept dark
and inscrutable mystery. and the APP
proaches To them are so cleverly con
structed and concealed that no one save
an expert would suspect their real
character
An innocent looking cellar at the
basement of certain tradeSman' 5 shop
is the entrance to one important mine
but even the tradesman himself Is not
aware that the government rents his
cellar. nor does he ever surmise the true
nature of the operations carried ON
therein The mines are equipped with
explosives of the most potent kind and
admirably connected with the secret
chambers ON shore by means of electric
wires
Each mine is controlled by button.
over which are printed particulars re-
lating TO the location and character of
the mine This button is placed in the
wall of the secret chamber and covered
by double door. securely locked. the
outer door so closely resembling the
wall of the chamber that no one but
those in the secret could detect its pres
ence The chambers are double locked
and approached by passages protected
in a similar manner.
Every lock and key is specially made
for the government and is unlike any
other Only few of the very highest
officials are allowed TO use these keys.
and they are solemnly sworn to preserve
their secret rigidly. No persons apart
from those especially empowered may
inspect or visit any of the secret cham
bers at any time except by express
written permit personally procured
from certain high official This is ex-
ceedingly difficult To- obtain. and in
fact is rarely ever granted
Prior to such permit being issued
the officials assure themselves that the
possessor of the document bears
blamcless character is British born and
has no ulterior reasons for preferring
his request This settled. he is sworn
TO secrecy in the most solemn manner.
blindfolded and conducted by circuit
ous route Ia the secret chamber where
he is permitted to use his eyes. but not
his tongue. no questions being answer
ed by the attending officials.
Strange stories have been told of at
tempts made by foreign spies to pene-
tratc the privacy of these mysterious
mines
A young lieutenant in the navy,
whose honorable character won the con-
fidence of his superior officers some
years since. was accorded the privilege
of guarding one of these secret mines
and intrusted with certain information
concerning its character
Soon after his appointment he became
engaged to charming Young French
lady of whom he was desperately enam-
ored. BY some inexplicable means his
fiancee got to hear of his appointment,
and by alternate threats and persuasion
induced him To take her to see the Sc
cret mine under his care
On the evening arranged. after ex-
tracing solemn vow Of secrecy from
his ladylove and getting her to don the
dress of naval officer for the occasion,
he was about To set ont ON his secret
mission when. to his surprise and
alarm. he and his companion were ar
rested by detectives. In some mysterious
manner the authorities had been en-
lightened as To the proceedings ON foot
and We're in time to stop them.
For breach of regulations the
young lieutenant was subsequently
court martialcd and reduced. while his
charming companion who proved To be
n spy in the employ of the French gov
ernment. was conveyed back to her own
country. with caustic caution
On another occasion German gen
tleman contrivpd To- lpcIte the entrance
to one of the secret chambers #nd actu-
ally hired member of the Bill Skies
fraternity To aid him in negotiating the
double locks one dark November might
But So splendidly fitted and fort
were these appliances both the visitors
We're doomed to disappointment Re
turning from the rendezvous both the
plotter and his accomplice were arrested
and imprisoned