Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-28
MANY SECRET MINES.
ENGLAND'S COAST STUDDED WITH
THESE DEFENSES.

Incfr Locality. Approucnes anu FIR
ing Points Are Mysteries That For
eiEn Spies Have Often Tried, but
Always In Vain, TO Solve.
England has the most formidable
navy in the world, but she does not
rely upon it alone in the event of war
to prevent 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
be selected for attack by a foreign foe.
The Thames is also carefully shielded
By similar secret mines, one of these
being III the vicinity of Blackwell. The
precise locality of these mines Is, how
ever, for obvious reasons, kept a 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 a certain tradesman's shop
is the entrance to one important mine,
but even the tradesman himself is not
aware that the government rents his
cellar, nor does ne 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 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 il
fact is rarely ever granted.
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 preferring
his request. This settled, he is sworn
to secrecy in the most solemn manner,
biindfolded 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 officials
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 con-
fidence 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 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 Sc
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 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-
lightened as 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 |
companion, who proved to be |
a 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 to locate the entrance |
to one of the secret chambers and actu
ally hired member of the Bill Skies
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 accomplice were arrested
and impriSoned.