The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-09-25

feet thick, and the height has been
estimated at IS feet. 1t became a
still more formidable barrier from be-
ing, as it were, heightened and pro-
tected by the ditch, which can still
plainly be followed. Authorities sup
pose the ditch to have been some 40
feet wide and Is feet deep; it accom-
panied the wall it's entire length, and
was excavated and built irrespective
of rock, bog or sand. Large blocks
of stone tell still of the toll and labor
used in their removal, Over the wall
as a whole the chief in command was
the 'DuX Britanniarum" Ga Roman Of
fetal of immense pOwer). Many auxil-
larry troops served on the wall
1t was the Roman policy not to
make slaves of conquered nation,
but civilize them, and, when proficient
in the art of war, to draft them to
take part in conquests abroad. The
young British soldiers excited much
surprise when trained to fight with
the Roman army abroad. Tacitus de-
scribes them as being of great stature,
with large limbs and muscles, and
having easy management of powerful
weapons. He also remarks: They
are half foot taller than the Gauls
and the Gauls are bulky race COM
pared to the Italians"
AS the young trained Britons were
carried abroad, so other conquered
tribes We're brought to Britain. Span
ish cavalry, Balearic singers, Par
THAN bowInen and swarthy Numidians,
all probably helped the Roman and
Latin infantry in manning the wall.
Every four miles on the south side of
the great barrier was a big station or
camp, covering several acres, with
guardrooms, barracks, stables, gov
ernor's house, etc., and four gates
north, sOurth, east and west, the roads
from them crossing in the middle of
the station. There were % such sta
tons. There were also castles, joined
to the wall-these were known as
mile castles" being in almost every
case Roman mile (seven-eighths of
an English mile) distant each from the
other. A mile castle, however, always
protected any specially weak place.
On the wall, also, every fourth part
of mile, turret, or watch-tower,
was placed about ten feet square;
thus, on given alarm the whole wall
could be in arms from one end to the
other. The military way" wonder
full road south of the wall "a protected
passage from station to station and
castle), ran the whole length of the
wall, insuring quick journey for
troops, horses and provisions; part of
this road is still in use and in excel
lent preservation. It was originally
is feet wide and raised some IL inches
towards the middle. The foundations
can be seen after heavy rain, the
stones placed edgeways.
On the same side of North Tyne as
the bridge, but some three-quarters of
mile distant, further west, is a fine
piece Of the wall at Brunton, where
the owner of the property kindly gives
permission to pass through his gar
den and inspect it. The wall is eight
feet high here, mortar still binds it to
gether and trees are growing on the
wide top. The fosse, which may be
plainly traced In early summer, is
beautiful with its variety of wild flow.
ers and tangle of bramble and fern.
A turret is seen on the south side in
fine preservation, the wall of it eight
feet high. Crossing the river we come
to the remains of the other abutment
of the bridge and the wonderful ex-
cavations of the station of Cilurnum.