The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-24

at some time or other this chapel was
used by band Of zealots whose creed
was prohibited In this country, so they
had perforce to worship In secret below
the earth's level. But underground cham
bers such as that described exists in other
parts of London. If you go down the
sewer in Bucklersbury and crawl through
n hole In the wall which your guide will
show you, you will emerge into hand
some Roman bath. This bath shares with
a similar bath under the Strand the dis
tinction of being the oldest structure In
the metropolis, and 1t was discovered
when the sewer was being made. There
must be a subway somewhere by means
Of which the Romans reached this bath,
but up to this time the most diligent
search has failed to reveal 1t. Not many
Londoners are aware that exactly under
Ludgate Circus there Is a waterfall where
every day thousands Of tons of water
rush down decliyity OF some Is feet into
the river. The river which flows under
Ludgate Circus Is. of course, the Fleet.
which has cost London more money to
keep within Its bounds than the Thames
itself. The Fleet River rises at Hamp
stead, and many smaller subterranean
rivers flow into 1t before In its turn 1t
joins the Thames.
The Fleet Is now arched In and In wet
weather so great Is the pressure of water
that It Is impossible for any human be-
Ing to ascend Into the arch, much less
live there. 1t Is only fitting that military
relics of past warlike ages should be re-
covered from the site where the new war
office Is being erected In White Hall,
which has always been the militia dis
trict of London. Here a few weeks ago
one of the first bayonets used In the
British Army was discovered some fifteen
feet or so below the surface. The age OF
this bayonet Is probably about 100 years,
for although the bayonet was invented
In Bayonne In 1910, 1t was not until
about the beginning of the eighteenth
century that 1t was used In this country
for fixing to the outside of the rife bar
REL all bayonets having formerly been
made to fix to the inside. Another curious
relic dating from about the same period
Is one of the wide blade swords which
were used In the army during the Geor-
gian times whilst only separated by q
few feet Of earth was a cannon ball OF
the type used by Marlborough at Ramil-
lies. 1t Is calculated that an average Of
eighty OF these old solid shot were fred
for each man killed, somewhat different
from the terrible death-deaiing conical
shells used at present
There are some who believe that In the
prehistoric ages this country was COW
cred by the sen, and they certainly have
reason for their logic. inasmuch as sea-
shells of endless types are often found at
n great depth far inland. Such a shell
was found short time ago at Westmin-
ster at so great a depth as to preclude
all possibility Of Its having been acci-
dentally buried. How long this shell has
been buried In London's heart no man
can tell, but II 1t was deposited by the
sea, as one Is inclined to suspect, then 1t
must have been there at least 10000
years!
But not long ago an even greater curl
osity was discovered at Westminster
when a well was being bored. When
piece of rock was brought up from q
depth of nearly hundred feet one OF
the workmen, after examining Its beau
tiful crystal formation, threw 1t aside,
when, to his Amusement, 1t split In half
and revealed a frog alive!
This creature was Identical with the
reptiles which thrive in our gardens to-
day. except that 1t was perfectly white
and to all appearances blind. But that
frog had lived In It's coffin Of rock perhaps
for untold thousands OF years. and now
when 1t was released and given Its free
dom It died within the space Of q few
moments.