Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-26
ENGLAND'S COAST DEFENcEs.
The Secrets Of Her Explosive Mines are Care.
fully Guarded.

In event of war no alien army could
approach English shores without i'm
periling its navy by encountering our
explosive mines. scores of which sur
round our coasts at all places likely ia
be selected for attack by a foreign
foe. The Thames is also carefully
shielded in the vicinity of Blackwell.
The precise locality of these mines is
however, for obvious reasons, kept a
dark and inscrutable mystery, and the
approaches to them are so cleverIv con-
structed and concealed that no one
save an expert would suspect their
real character.
An innocent looking cellar at the
basement of certain bridesmaids 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 Sc
cret chambers on shore by means of
electric wires
Each mine is controlled by a button.
over which is printed particulars relat-
ing 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 out
er door so closely resembling the wall
of the chamber that no one but those
in the secret could detect it's presence.
The chambers are 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 a few Of the very highest
officials are allowed to use these keys
and they are solemnly sworn to pre-
serve their secret rigidly. No persons,
apart from those especially empowered.
may inspect or visit any of the secret
chambers at any time, except by eX-
press written permit personally pro-
cured from certain high official. This
is exceedingly difficult to obtain, and
in fact, is rarely ever granted.
Prior to such a permit being issued
the officials assure themselves that the
poSSeSSor of the document bears
blameless character. is British born.
and has no Interior reasons for pre-
ferring his request This settled. he is
sworn to secrecy in the most solemn
manner, blindfolded. and conducted by
circutous 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 Off
calS.
Strange stories have been told Of at
tempts made by foreign spies to pene-
trate the privacy OF these mysterious
mines.
y 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 be
came engaged to charming young
French lady. of whom he was desper-
ately enamored. BY some inexpicabla
means, his fiancee got to hear of his
appointment. 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 a solemn vow of secrecy from
his lady love and getting her to don
the dress of a 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 We're
arrested by detectives. In some mys-
FERROUS manner the authorities had been
enlightened as to the proceedings on
foot. and We're 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 a spy in the employ OF the French
government, was conveyed back to her
own country with a caustic caution.
On another occasion German gem
tleman contrived to locate the entrance
to one of the secret chambers, and act
ually hired a member of the Bill
Skies fraternity to aid him in nego-
tiating the double locks one dark No
vember night. But so splenddly fitted
and fortified We're these appliances
both the visitors were doomed to dis
appointment. Returning from the rem
devious, both the plotter and his ac-
complete were arrested and imprisoned.
It'd Bits.