The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1899-02-11

prOdCQcS 10 GQ6m are SO ClGVorly COZ
structed and concealed that no one save
an expert would suspect their real
character.
An innocent looking cellar at the
basement Of certain bridesmaid shop
lis the entrance to one important mine,
hut even the tradesman himself is not
Aware that the government rents his
Cellar, nor does he ever surmise the true
snature of the operations carried on
therein. The mines arc 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 q double door, securely locked, the
outer door 80 closely resembling the
wall Of the chamber that no one but
those in the. secret could detect it's pres
ence The chambers ara double locked
and approached by passages protected
in 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. 49,.
Prior to such permit being issued
the officials assure themselves that the
'possessor Of the document bears a
blameless character, is British born and
has no Interior reasons for preferrine
his request. This settled, he is.sworn
to secrecy in the most solemn manner,
blindfolded and conducted by circuit
GUS route to the secret chamber, where
he is permitted to use his eyes, but not
his tongue, no questions being answer
ed by the attending oficiah
Strange stories haye 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 con-
fdence 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 a charming young French
lady of whom he was desperately enam-
ored. BY some inexplicable means his
fancee got to hear Of his appointment,
and by alternate threats and persuasion
induced him to take her to see the &C.
cret mine under his care.
On the evening arranged, after ex-
tracing a solemn vow Of secrecy from
his ladylove and getting her to don the
dress Of q naval officer for the occasion,
he was about to set out 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-
ightened as to tho proceedings ON foot
and were In time to stop them. .
For ''breach of regulations" the
young lieutenant was subsequently
court martialed and reduced. while his
charming companion, who proved to be
spy in the employ Of the French gov
eminent, was conveyed back to her own
country. with caustic caution.
On another occasion a German gen.
t1eman contrived to locate the entrance
to one Of the secret chambers and actu-
ally hired q member of the Bill Skies
fraternity to aid him in negotiating the
double locks one dark November night.
But so splendidly fitted and fortified
were these appliances both the visitors
were doomed to disappointment Re-
turning from the rendezvous, both the
plotter and his accomplish were arrested
and imprisoned.