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The Underground World: A mirror of life below the surfaceThomas Wallace Knox

The Underground World: A mirror of life below the surface

by OpenStories

Original author: Thomas Wallace Knox

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"The Underground World: A Mirror of Life Below the Surface" by Thomas Wallace Knox is a non-fiction work written in the late 19th century. The book explores various aspects of underground life, including mining, caves, and tunnels, providing vivid descriptions of both the natural formations and human activities that take place below the earth’s surface. Knox aims to unveil the mysteries and adventures associated with this hidden world, highlighting the challenges and dangers faced by miners and those who thrive in these subterranean environments." The beginning of "The Underground World" sets the stage for an in-depth exploration of life beneath the earth. It opens with a discussion on human curiosity about different ways of living and how much of existence occurs out of sight, emphasizing the rich resources found underground. The author reflects on the lifestyle of miners—experiencing constant darkness, potential hazards, and the isolation of their work. Knox shares anecdotes, including an account of a novice miner's reaction to descending into a shaft, which illustrates the mixture of wonder and trepidation that accompanies such subterranean explorations. This introduction ultimately establishes the book's intention to weave together fact and anecdote, creating a compelling narrative about the underground world.

The Underground World: A mirror of life below the surface, by Thomas Wallace Knox. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #57441.

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73 Chapters

  1. 1.Preface3,829 words
  2. 2.Chapter LXXI: War and Prison Adventures755 words
  3. 3.Chapter I: Below the Surface2,845 words
  4. 4.Chapter II: Discovery of Coal4,093 words
  5. 5.Chapter III: Borings and Shafts3,480 words
  6. 6.Chapter IV: Accidents in Shafts4,832 words
  7. 7.Chapter V: Silver Mines and Mining3,223 words
  8. 8.Chapter VI: Silver Mining in Nevada3,850 words
  9. 9.Chapter VII: Speculations in Nevada Mines2,907 words
  10. 10.Chapter VIII4,074 words
  11. 11.Chapter IX: Adventures of Divers5,294 words
  12. 12.Chapter X: Russian Mines and Mining4,122 words
  13. 13.Chapter XI: A Day in Pompeii6,149 words
  14. 14.Chapter XII: Vesuvius and Its Eruptions6,381 words
  15. 15.Chapter XIII: The Caverns of Naples3,715 words
  16. 16.Chapter XIV4,622 words
  17. 17.Chapter XV: Mexico and Its Mines4,404 words
  18. 18.Chapter XVI: Coral Reefs and Caves in the Pacific5,191 words
  19. 19.Chapter XVII: Burglars and Burglaries3,913 words
  20. 20.Chapter XVIII: The Earliest Excavations4,087 words
  21. 21.Chapter XIX: Experiences in Wild Life3,818 words
  22. 22.Chapter XX: The Green Vaults of Dresden3,931 words
  23. 23.Chapter XXI: The Catacombs of Paris6,210 words
  24. 24.Chapter XXII: Petroleum4,769 words
  25. 25.Chapter XXIII: Wine and Beer Cellars3,614 words
  26. 26.Chapter XXIV: The Bastille3,398 words
  27. 27.Chapter XXV: Diamonds and Diamond Mines4,651 words
  28. 28.Chapter XXVI: The Diamond Fields of South Africa4,260 words
  29. 29.Chapter XXVII: The Under-World of Paris6,546 words
  30. 30.Chapter XXVIII: The East River Bridge2,491 words
  31. 31.Chapter XXIX: The Inundation at Lalle3,269 words
  32. 32.Chapter XXX: Perils of the Miner3,059 words
  33. 33.Chapter XXXI: The Mammoth Cave7,689 words
  34. 34.Chapter XXXII: Insurance and Its Mysteries3,723 words
  35. 35.Chapter XXXIII: Railway Tunnels5,167 words
  36. 36.Chapter XXXIV: The Mont Cenis Tunnel4,106 words
  37. 37.Chapter XXXV: The Parisian Sewers7,563 words
  1. 38.Chapter XXXVI: Mercury2,744 words
  2. 39.Chapter XXXVII: Guano and the Coolie Trade4,565 words
  3. 40.Chapter XXXVIII: Avondale3,507 words
  4. 41.Chapter XXXIX: Iron and Iron Mines2,302 words
  5. 42.Chapter XL: Exiles in Siberia5,128 words
  6. 43.Chapter XLI: Lead Mines of Iowa3,122 words
  7. 44.Chapter XLII3,862 words
  8. 45.Chapter XLIII3,866 words
  9. 46.Chapter XLIV: Rapid Transit in New York3,458 words
  10. 47.Chapter XLV3,766 words
  11. 48.Chapter XLVI: Dungeons3,819 words
  12. 49.Chapter XLVII: Animals Under Ground3,264 words
  13. 50.Chapter XLVIII: Out of Prison3,629 words
  14. 51.Chapter XLIX: The Gambling Hells of Germany.54,859 words
  15. 52.Chapter L: Gaming and Gamesters Abroad4,580 words
  16. 53.Chapter LI: Subterranean Dwellings2,867 words
  17. 54.Chapter LII: Brigandage as a Fine Art2,298 words
  18. 55.Chapter LIII4,736 words
  19. 56.Chapter LIV: Underground in San Francisco6,374 words
  20. 57.Chapter LV: Gold and Its Uses4,097 words
  21. 58.Chapter LVI: Gold Mining3,326 words
  22. 59.Chapter LVII: Copper and Copper Mines2,827 words
  23. 60.Chapter LVIII: The Catacombs of Rome3,727 words
  24. 61.Chapter LIX: The Parisian Rag-Pickers3,080 words
  25. 62.Chapter LX: Brigandage and Piracy4,023 words
  26. 63.Chapter LXI: Buried Treasures6,058 words
  27. 64.Chapter LXII: Operations at Hellgate4,392 words
  28. 65.Chapter LXIII: The Early History of Mankind2,448 words
  29. 66.Chapter LXIV: Diamond and Other Swindles3,466 words
  30. 67.Chapter LXV: Perquisites4,692 words
  31. 68.Chapter LXVI: The Wieliczka Salt Mines5,002 words
  32. 69.Chapter LXVII: Explosions in Mines3,364 words
  33. 70.Chapter LXVIII: Mysteries of the Grand Jury7,224 words
  34. 71.Chapter LXIX: Borrowing and Borrowers3,831 words
  35. 72.Chapter LXX: Among the Detectives3,046 words
  36. 73.Chapter LXXI: War and Prison Adventures5,707 words