Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-10-31
ONE OF THE WEiRDEST SIGHTS
IN ROUMANIA TO BE FOUND
IN THE WORLD.
An Atmosphere Which at First In
vigorates a Person and then
Parches.

Inei'e are four salt mines in Rouma-
MIA, two quite close to one another, at
Slanc 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 modern sue
cessors. They made bottle shaped exca-
vations quite close to one another, with
the result that the wedge OF earth be-
tween bottles constantly threa tened to
subside.
Modern methods avoid amy sucA dan
ger. Instead OF burrowinx down az; ilI
into new mine you cut horizontal gal
leries 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 la
bor. it is possible to extend the mine
almost indefinitely and the pillars serve
to confirm the ecclesiastical effect Of
the great suhterranean basilica.
l saw the Old Roman mine from one
of the upper galleries, which was
reached by strange, almost endless.
tunnels Illuminated with gay Chinese
lanterns. A little verdure alone was
needed to complete the illusions of the
gardens Of Aladdin. The impressions
afforded by the view from this gallery
We're SO unique and SO marvellous that
l hesitate to attempt to describe them.
Some minutes We're necessary to
grow accustomed to the twilight. 4
few bra1iels containing shaVings soak
ell i'll petroleum We're 1aring UP IN i;
feverisll manner, and as / looked over
into the darkness. of the abyss l was
reminded Of Dore's version of Dante
looking into the uttermost depths of
ha.tes.
What struck me most was the inse
curity of my position. There was. Of
course, no danger whatever, and the
ledge on which I stood was fairly
broad. But it possessed no parapet,
and III order to look down it was nee
eSsarN 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 Il bridge which projected over
the abyss.
90 not know whether it dated back
TO the days of the Romans, bat at any
rate it was almost prehistoric in as
,,ect did not need the advice of my
companions to discourage any attempt
at walking the plank along this road to
destruction. but l have seen few places
capable Of affordiils more temptation
10 those With suicidal inclinations.
Suddenly a signal was given ana
enormous bonfires were east down from
the reof of the mine. Several long sec
ontls elapsed before they fiZZled out in
tie pond of salt water hundreds of
feet below. The effect was eXtraor
.inarN. First the gray walls We're llu-
minated as the huge molten mass
bIazed PAST them. then they were over
east with iieeting, ghostly shadows
and at last plunged once more into
darkness which was only emphasized
by the fickering lights above.
Perhaps the prettiest object in this
old mine was a common tub which had
been placed some wears ago upon the
ledge to receive the drppngs of salt
water tasted this water and found
! it so salty that it almost bit and solidi-
fed my tongue. As the drops fell the
gre;tter part Of them Immediately crys-
tailiZed With Incredible raplity.
The original tub WAS no longer to be
seen. 1t had been covered up entirely
with gistening incrEstations. Which
gave il he appearance of a huge s!loW
fountain adorned with the most eX !U
sitcly artistic designs. It N'as nDw
about SIX feet high and several feet in
| thickness. while Il piece of Sti,.lg Wiic!!
hI been sass emitted above it had Row
; bet"}tt!c a ro.,c of moitt} pearls.
! Returning :; ,ong the tunnel. we E2sse
a Iiji" trIpt!o)r about two feet square.
This Was pulled UP. and | was pTivi-
legged f. look down Tito Ii" ncN nine
and be!ioil one o1 the n.0st remarkable
S gllt; to be found iii the world. iI'in-
dreds of feet below. Upon Il ragged
fed of dazzling "hte3rsS suggestive
of the ice park ii the arctic regions.
herds of men, each apparently q 1a.@e
as Il cheese mite. moved ABOUT fever
islly like the occupants Of an ant hea''.
Here and there points Of clecjIic l. -hi
shone Ike suspended Stars. The gen
Grdi impression WAS tlat OF Il Et:>t q,
insects viewed through a Brobdingn;
gian magnfying glass.
\ hushcd tinkiing noise came ue
from the depths. like fairy Music
thought should never tire of wat J.
ing the graceful movements of ties.
remote human insects. ] almost ieE N
to fancy that they must belong 10 an.
other planet. and such was the c::-
traordinary fascination exercised hy
this marvellous sight that l found ii :,
painful wrench to tear myself away. |
could have remained crouchiNg over
this peephole for hours. and | felt quite
annoyed With the director Of the mine
when he patiently reminded me that |
still had much to see before the depar-
ture of my train.
SO we returned along the gallery and
tntered one Of lie powerful HTS which
are employed to hing ~ t.ecl.s Of salt
from the bottom If tsc mice. IT," Ill
rector assured re Win ~. ;lc. ;Aat