Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-04-11
MANY sECRET MINES.
fNolaNp's COAST STUDDED WITH
THESE DeFENses.

THESE DEFENSeS.
fAetr LEGALITY. Approaches aad rtP-
snG Pelnss Are Mysteries That Fer-
eign spies Have Often Tried. bat
Always ~ vsin. % selve.
England has the most formidable
navy in the world. but she does not
rely upon Il alone In the event Of war
10 prevent q foreign force from landing
upon her shores London Tit-Bits. in
an article ON the secret coast defenses
Of Great Britain. says:
In the event 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
he selected for attack by a foreign foe.
The Thames il also carefully shielded
by similar secret mines. one Of these
being in the vicinity Of Blackwell. The
precise locality of these mines IL. how.
ever. for obviors reasons kept dark
and inscrntable mystery. and the APP
proaches 81 them are 80 cleverly con-
structed and concealed that no one save
an expert would suspect their real
character
An innocent looking cellar Mt the
basement Of certain BRIDESMAIDS shop
In the entrance TO one important mine,
but even the tradesman himself Is not
aware that the government rents his
cellar. nor does he ever surmiss 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 No closely resembling the
wall n the chamber that no one hut
those in ths secret could detect its pres
ence The chambers ara double locked
and approached by passages protected
in similar manner
Every lock and key IL 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
hers ut any time except by express
written permit personally procured
from certain high official This Is ex.
ceesiingly difficult to obtain. and IL
fact is rarely ever granted
Prior 10 -uch permit being Issued
the officials assure themselves that the
preseason of the document bears a
hlameless character. Is British born and
has no Interior reasons for preferring
his request This settled. he Is sworn
10 secrecy in the most solemn manner.
blindfolded and conducted by circuit
Gus ronte To the secret chamber. where
he is permitted tn 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 10 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 soiue
years since. was accorded the privileg
Of guarding one Of these secret mines
and intrusted with certain information
concerning its character.
Soon after his appointment he became
engaged 10 q charming young French
lady Of whom he was desperately enam'
ored By some incxplicable means his
fiancee got To hear Of his appointment.
and by alternate threats aud persuasion
induced him To take her 10 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 20 don the
dress OF naval officer for the occasion,
he was about to set out on his secret
mission when. to his surprise and
alarm. b. and his companion were ar
rested by detectives In some mysterious
manner the authorities had been en-
lightcned IA To the 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 b
q 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
tleman contrived 10 locate the entrance
10 one of the secret chambers and actin
ally hired q member Of the Bill Skies
fraternity to aid him in negotiating the
double locks one dark November night
But 50 splendidly fitted and fortified
were these appliances both the visitors
were doomed to disappointment. Re-
turning from the rendezvous. both the
plotter and his accomplice were arrested
and imprisoned