Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-12
DOWN A SALT MINE.
A Fantastic Inferno Full Of Scenic
Wonders.

Slanic and Doftana. One of the
mines at Slanic dates back to the time
of the Romans, whose methods were
not SO scientific as those of their mod
ern successors. They made bottle
shaped excavations quite close to one
another with the result that the wedge
of earth between bottles constantly
threatened to subside. Indeed, the
other day an enormous mass. weighing
am afraid to say how many tons,
came down with crash. and the old
mine had to be abandoned. Modern
methods avoid any such danger. In
stead Of burrowing down again into a
new mine, you cut horizontal galleries
into the rock. huge pillars Of salt are
left standing to support the earth, and
fresh caverns are followed out. Thus.
without any extra amount of labor. it
is possible to extend the mine almost
indefinitely. and the pillars serve to
confirm the ecclesiastical effect Of the
great subterranean basilica.
saw the old Roman mine from one
Of the upper galleries. which was
reached by strange. almost endless.
tunnels, Illuminated with gay Chinese
needed to complete the illusion of the
gardens of Aladdin. The impressions
afforded by the view from this gallery
were so unique and SO marvellous that
I hesitate to attempt to describe them.
Some minutes were necessary to grow
accustomed to the twilight. A few
braziers containing shavings soaked in
petroleum were flaring up in feverish
manner, and as I looked over into the
of Dore's version of Dante looking over
into the uttermost depths of hell.
What struck me most was the inse-
curity Of my position. There was. Of
course. no danger whatever, and the
ledge on which 1 stood was fairly
broad. But it possessed no parapet.
and in order to look down it was neces-
sary to come very near to the brink.
What added most to the sense of inse-
curity was a kind of pier or commence
ment of a bridge which projected over
the abyss. do not know whether it
dated back to the days of the Romans
but at any rate it was almost prehis-
toric in aspect. l did not need the
advice of my companions to discourage
any attempt at walking the plank
along this road to destruction, but
have seen few places capable of afford
cidal inclinations.
Suddenly a signal was given and
enormous bonfires were cast down
from the roof of the mine. Several
long seconds elapsed before they fiz-
zlad out in the pond of salt water hum
dreds of feet below. The effect was
extraordinary. First the gray walls
were illuminated as the huge molten
mass blazed past them; then they were
overcast with fieeting. ghostly shad-
Ows, and at last plunged once more
into darkness which was only en-
phasized by the Pickering lights above.
Perhaps the prettiest object in this
OLD mine was common tub which had
been placed some years ago upon the
ledge to receive the droppings of salt
water. I tasted this water and found
1t so salt that it almost bit and solidi-
fed my tongue. AS the drops fell the
greater part of them Immediately crys-
talized with incredible rapidity. The
original tub was no longer to be seen.
1t had been covered up entirely with
glistening encrustations. which gave IL
the appearance Of huge snow foun-
tain adorned with the most exquisitely
artistic designs. It was now about six
feet high and several feet in thickness,
while piece of string which had been
suspended above it had now become a
rope Of molten pearls
Returning along the tunnel we passed a
little trap-door about two feet square.
This was pulled up and was privileged
to look down into the new mine and be-
hold one of the most remarkable sights to
he found in the world. Hundreds of feet
below. upon a rugged field Of dazzling
whiteness, suggestive Of the ice-pack In
the Arctic regions. herds Of mel. each
apparently as large as a chcese-mite.
moved shout feverishly like the occupants
Of an ant-heap. Here and there points of
electric Hight shone like suspended stars.
The general Impression was that Of a
nest Of inse cts veiewed through a Brob-
maenifying glass
A hushed Thinking noise came up from
the depths like fairy music. thought
should never tire of watching the grace
sects. II almost EeE1ns to fancy that they |
mat belong to another planet, and such |
vas the extraordinary fascination exer- |
cised by this marvellous sight that !
|ound It q painful wrench to tear myself |