Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-03
ENGLAND's COAST pEFENsEs.
The Secrets of Her Explosive Mines Are
Carefully Guarded.
TTl6 RitS

carefully Guarded.
It'd Blts.1
In event of war, no alien army could
approach our shore without Importing
IT'S navy by encountering our explosive
mines, scores of which surround orr
coasts at all places likely to be selected
Ior attack by a foreign foe. The
Ihames Is also carefully shielded in the
Ylcinlty or Blackwell. The precise To-
CAVITY of these mines is. however. for
obvious reasons, kept a dark and IN.
scrutanie mystery, and the approa ches
10 them are so cleverly constructed and
concealed that no one save an expert
would suspect their real character.
An lnnocent-lookinE cellar at the
basement OF certain tradcsman's shon
10 the entrance to one important mine:
put even the tradesman himself is moi
aware that the government rents HE
ceiiar' nor does he ever surmise the trua
nature OF the operations carriad on
.hereon' The mines are equipped with
explosives Of the most potent kind. and
admlrably connected with the secret
wires. eieceric
Each mine Is controlled bv n hu,tor,
over which Is printed particulars reiot'
ing 10 the location and character of tho
NINE. Ihis button is placed in tho wall
OIL the secret chamber and covered Nv
oouDle door, securely locked, the outer
door so closely resembling the wau Of
.ne chamber that no one but those in
the the secret could detect Its presence.
The chamber is double locked and
approached by passages protected in =
similar manner. Az q
Every lock and key Is specially made
LOT the government, and is unlike anv
otner. Only few of the very highest
olllcials are allowed to use these Keys.
and they are solemnly sworn to IRE,
i1id
apart from those especially emnow,
efeo, may inspect or visit any of the
secret chambers at any time. except nv
express written permit" personaily
procured from a certain high Official
This Is exceedingly difficult to obtain
ana. IN fact, Is rarely ever granted.
Prior to such permit being issued
the officials assure themselves that tha
possessor of the document bears n
DlamelesS character is British horn
ana mas no Interior reasons for prefer
ring his request This settled, he Is
sworn to secrecy, In the most solemn
manner, blindfolded. and conducted bv
clrcuitous route to the secret cham
Der. where he is permitted to use his
eyes, but not his tongue, no questions
being answered by the attending ON
cials.s
Strange stories have been told OF at
tempts made by foreign spies to pene
trate the privacy of these mysterious
mines.
a young lieutenant in the navy.
whose honorable character won the
confidence of his superior officers. some
years since was accorded the privilege
OF guarding one of these secret mines
and entrusted with certain information
concerning its character.
Soon after his appointment he became
engaged TO charming young French
lady. Of whom he was despera telv
enamored. BY some inexplacabqe, means
his flancee got to hear of his appoint
ment. and, by alternate threats and
persuasions, Induced him to take her
to see the secret mine under his care.
On the evening arranged. after ex-
tracing solemn vow of secrecy from
his Qady-love, and getting her TO don
the dress of n naval officer for the oc-
casion, he was about to set out on his
secret mission, when. to his surprise
and alarm he and his companion were
arrested by detec tives. In some mys-
terious manner the authorities had been
enlightened as to the proceedings on
foot, and were In time to stop them,