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The Fordwich Record, 1901-09-26, Page 6WHAT THE QUEEN'S CORONATION RODE MAY BE LIKE. .44..w.. 44100E49k4,-*.x+AwA4914“91(.**)..Awmciwilot A t • The o r I.........fi. • The t 4 o Wooing 5- ?,E . Of • # Constantin. 4 ..s.,,Kew..?4(ew...-36vr+44414.4,:+4+0.:,1•4>#4.+<. vii.44.imila*KAHE4014*. Red Witch ate without cessation. To him it was one of Mrs. Dundas's charms that she could always amuse- him. Presently she was good-tempered, she laughed too, and after that she ex- plained to him his fault, which only seemed to increase his amusement. "It's a judgment upon you. You see you oughtn't to lie, Don," said he. "Well, the whole , affair was hardly worth that frown of yours. Yolande is incapable of bearing mal- ice, even if site understood: which 1 am sure she didn't." ''Which I am sure she did. 1 watched her hands. A woman can command her eyes, but her fingers never. As you spoke elm clutched tightly a little fold of her gown. And good heavens! what a gown. sugges- tive of sackcloth and ashes! She must be doing pennance for your sins, my good boy." "You. pay her a compliment. You exonerate her from sins of her own." "As for that," said Donna; "it strikes me that she was 'rather glad to get us out of the way. She would a jest, a thing to laugh over with his cousin. Dut he could not! And gladness. Poor mother! With a —was it a 3est? There was no ele- wild longing she clung to each frail meet of amusement in it after MI, thread of hope held out to her. Her when one analyzed it. It was a mere child, her all, most be strong and nothing. Ile had met a woman rich in life; must thrive, and flourish, whom Ile felt he could have loved, and bloom by-and-by into gracious and had only discovered when too girlhood. All this she set her heart late that— upon, whilst that tiny object of her Pshaw! what he meant was that soul's desire lay pale and languishing he had discovered that she was upon her heart. "wooed, an' married, an' a'. " That Miisiod have pity upon all such was all. It was the merest trifle out mothers. of the talc of one's life, a Just matter, of now," went on Laity Varley, ten minutes or so. taking courage to express a fear, be- It was rather a bore, however, the cause of the encouragement ho had as„,,, in Which the whole scene „e.g. given her, "she is not looking her to him; he could not shake it off, hest. We think," smiling up at though ho would gladly have done O'Grady, who was a tall man, with so. It was only' a question of time, tin expression full of the heavenliest of course; and in, a day or -two he confidence, "she is teething; that is promised himself he would have so what is makes her so pale. You far forgotten •the episode that he think her paler' anxiously. would have to jog his memory before The child was ghastly. lie could bring to mind whether Lady "I dare say, as you have told me. Varley's hair was black, or brown, or it is only her. teeth," said O'Grady, red; or if her eyes. were hurriedly. ' This village doctor of They rose before him then. Great, whom you speak., he may not be very strange, sad yearning eyes, that efficient. Is there no other?" scented to reproach him-for his deter- "Yes; there is Doctor Griffin." She mination to obliterate them from his mentioned a Dublin physician whose memory. All the next day he scarce- shill with children's diseases was not ly thought of her, but on the secondte b questioned. "ITe has been hero h b e grew restless. On the fourth day before tosee baby. Last week, he was here. But it is only teething I assure you: only that," cried she, with a sharpness full of despair. "Nevertheless, send for hint again," said O'Grady. At this moment Mrs. Dundas, es- corted by Lord Varley, turned the his brow grew dark red as this fear corner and was almost within touch suggestdd itself—if, by any possibil- of them. Just so long as one might ity,. she had grown to believe he draw a heavy breath there was si- knew who she was all the time! Yes hence, then: he must go, he must see her at all "Ah, so glad!" exclaimed Donna, risks. He determined on walking to rustling towards Lady Varley with Araglin, though it was -six miles extended hands and a beaming smile. away; but a tramp through the awakening woods could not be other- wise than pleasant and would proba- bly be a rich treat.. He readied Araglin at last, and en- find Lady Varley nn this secluded toted it, not by the wide entrance walk, where it might reasonably be gate open to all, but by a side-gate supposed that no one would be, that led through a little bit of dense found? underwood, and so into a sidewalk. "I met Lord Parley on the oven- Before him lasy the lawn, and on his ue," she said, "and. when I found right .0 graveled path, where, as he you were not ,incloors, I determined looked, he could see a figuro moving on storming this part of your slowly and with care. grounds.. It occurred to nie, happily It was Lady Valley. Something that there might be a distant chance was in her arms. A little bunhle, of finding you here. I wanted so all white cambric and lace, that badly to see you, and consult with showed clear against her black gown. you about our Young Men's Chris- A baby! tian Association meetings." It was a very tiny bundle (though "Am I one of your young men?" it had seen six months of our sad asked Varley, laughing: who had and troubled life), and she held it caught her last words, but not the dose-pressed against her heart, as beginning of her speech. He spoke though it was so muds one with her in a general way, of course, as if in- that she could never let it go. She eluding his wife in his question, but was looking at the little thing and ho cast a swift, amused glance at her face was fair with the sweet flush Donna, who, howeVer (being wise in of motherhood. There was some- her way), declined to have anything thing of the divine in her expression. to do with it. Her whole soul seemed wrapt in the Lady Varley smiled faintly: fragile creature that she held; an al- "AS for the meetings," she said, "I most passionate love lit her dove- shall be very glad, of course, to help like eyes as she gazed ,on it; she an- in any way. To help -young men to peered to have oh thought beyond a better, a higher idea of life, to a the little mite that lay so quiescent, purer standard of thought and action so terribly quiescent, upon her what work can be nobler? Yes, I am breast. glad you came to consult me." She O'Grady came forward into the ful- strove to throw off the mantle of ler light. Lady Varley, seeing him, grief that was enveloping her. "It greeted him with a smile. It wits Was fortunate you thought of seeking the gentlest smile in the world, and me here, or perhaps I should have full of graciousness. O'Grady, en,- missed seeing you." couraged by it, came up to her, and She said this a propos of Mrs. pressed the hand she gave hini. The Dundas's remark that she came par- baby was lying upon her left arm peachy to this walk to find her. as calm as it, unfortunately, always .Lord Varley, who had been listen- woe. "I thought." said O'Grady, "that' ing, answered her. It was the merest chance," he I would come up to-day and tell you said. "It was, as I thought, the (I had no time then, had I?) how I last place in the world to dream of regretted the many absurd things I finding you. I thought you were in saidi to you, not knowing—" the village, and impressed that fact "As for that," said she; she burst upon Mrs. Dundas." out laughing carefully, as should a Donna did not change color. She married woman, yet merrily as a turned her expressive eyes upon a girl—"It was very strange, was it tall lily growing near, as if lost in not?" she • said. "But, of course, admiration of it, until the first su- you could not know! When I told prone moment or two was passed, Lord Varley of it. he said it was is and then she turned them upon Var- pity I had ever enlightened you. And, ley, and shot a glance at him that perhaps, yes; but when I heard , you should have slain—a little lightning were to stay in our neighborhood I affair that Lord Varley did not see, knew you Would have found out, no but that O'Grady did. matter whether I spoke or were si- Lady Varley was looking at her lent." . • husbaud. After a pause, during "Yes; it didn't matter at all." said which you might have counted Men- O'Grady. He was looking into her ty, she.said very gently: pure, beautiful eyes, and as he look- "You mistake, Frederic. Mrs. ed, he felt that nothing mattered, on- Derides knew I should be here. She ly that she was lost to him. Ho tells me that is why she came." struggled with himself, and regained Her manner and-expression were so presently his composure. "Yet I am calm that O'Grady was for a while glad you spoke, he said. deceived by it. Mrs. Pundits was "So am I," returned she gracious- not: She perfectly understood the ly; "otherwise you would not have meaning of Lady Varley'S words, and She moved to one side, thus giving a dismissal, and sank into a low. garden-chair. The nurse had moved she said, smiling at Lady Varley; towards the house with the child. and them "You will come?"' [She sat quite motionless until her "If you could excuse me," replied husband and Mrs. Dundas were out Lady Parley with extreme quietude. of sight; then she lose to her feet "I am not very well to-day and it is and confronted O'Grady with a ra- quite a walk there and back. Lord ther wan smile. Varley will show them to you, and— It hurt him to think that she afterwards I hope you will let me should thus pain herself in an at' give you as cup of tea?" - tempt to throw off care, to show Donna murmured a word or two, to him civility. This was treating him the effect that she feared if the walk like an ordinary acquaintance. .He was too long, there would be no time started as he came to this point in left for the cup of tea. They had his meditations. Could it be possl- gOne about a yard or two, when wh--- ble that he was less than an ordin- Lady Varley roused herself with an ary acquaintance—that he was a bare effort, and called to her husband. stranger? Could it lee true that he "Frederic," she said quickly, yet had seen her only once before? An without any undue haste, "a word absurd feeling that he had known before you go—I am sure Mrs. Putt- her all the days of his life had taken das will excuse me. Baby is not so possession of him. well to-day," she paled as she said "I forgot," she said slowly, "you this. "You will be passing the house too might have liked—to see the on, your way to the conservatories. flowers. They are," striving to re- will you not go into the library for gain the ordinary every-day tone, e. moment and telegraph to Doctor swell worth a glance. We have a Griffin to come down to-morrow? I wonderful 'man from Aberdeen, who would do it myself, but—it will not take you a moment," she said. "What is the matter with her this time?"- -asked Varley. There was some amusement and some no- nagons° in his tone. Lady Vas's)/ shrank beneath It: "It is her teeth—only her teeth," she said softly, yet with a haste that was suggestive of an anguish— long tune," she wont on as if ox-an ever present dread—that eke was 1 4 laining; "I always 'feel as if—as if perpetually bat ineffectually striving I must keep her in sight." She to 'force into the background., "Still sighed heavily, then looked at I am Uneasy." him suspiciously as though dreading Varley laughed good-humoredly; so the effect of her words. "I shall did Donna. She was a childless woo- send that telegram. myself," she said, "though you will understand that it is a mere freak of mine; at rather unnecessary caution." "I quite understand," returned O'Grady gravely. He turned with her, and went back to the house by a side path' that did not converge towards the walk by which Mrs. Dundas and Varley had gone. As these last had disappeared round the corner, and when she found they Were quite beyond view, Mrs. Pandas had stopped short and looked at Parley, a fine contempt in her eye. Her mind was fall of his fatal disclosure, anent the true mean- ing of her coming to the particular spot where Lady Varley was found. "I- do hate a fool!" she said dis- dainfully. Which piece of outspoken criticism so tickled Varley that he all hers seas centerea?'Phis was the roared with laughter for a full min- I QUEER BRITISH TOWN. NORTHWICH, THE CENTRE OF THE SALT INDUSTRY. It Rests Upon a- Mere Shell of Earth.—The Buildings Begin to Sink. Northwieh. the centre of the salt industry of Great Britain, is one of the queerest stowns in the country, says the London Telegraph. The schole underlying country is simply one mass of salt. When descending a shaft, one passes through successive thick strata of .the mineral. The mining of the salt constitutes the staple industry of the district, and froin Northwich alone 1,200,000 tons of salt are shipped annually.: The product is' obtained by two me- thods—quarrying and brine pumping., In the former case, which is the me- thod' generally -adopted, a shaft is sunk about 300 feet, and the salt rock blasted and excavated in the not accompany hue to .the usual manner. The brine-pumping, although it is itia continued on a• houses, she was too tired. That so- large scale, is gradually falling ants eluded walk was pleasant, let me toll disuse. When the industry Clint as you. And—that Mr. O'Grady—very started it was considered tt only good to look at." h "You are at fault there," lie said coldly. "For the future let us leave Lady Varley's name out of the con- versation." To be Continued. CLEAN RAILWAY - CARRIAGES. Some important recommendations for insuring the health of travellers have just been Sent by the French Minister of Public Works to the va- rious railway companies. it is sug- gested that the sweeping mid dust- ing of railway-carriages and waiting- rcoms should be entirely prohibited, and daily washing substituted. With this end in view the necessity for the substitution of linoleum or some similar substance for carpets, and the periodical disinfection of com- partments is emphasiied. Bedding and pillows- should be disinfected by but air process after each tourney. A decree has been in operation for some time to the effect that per- sons suffering from contagious dis- eases must travel in separate com- partments, which should be disin- fected after each journey. APPROACH OF ICEBERGS. -- The captain of an ocean steamer is often warned of the proximity of icebergs by the men in the engine- room. When a ship enters water considerably colder than that through which it has been going its proteller runs faster, and as such water surrounds the vicinity .'M ice- bergs for many miles the engineers know that when the propeller's ac- tion is greatly accelerated without any increase of the steam power Pee- how great • the care observed to bergs may be expected. 01 course, obviate subsidence, the building is the thermometer iu the most useful BOUND TO SINK indicator of icebergs. sooner or later. In one instance, a - DIPLOMACY. house that cost £6,000 to erect, ivies the roadway. It is no uncommon circumstance for a building to be constructed and have to be abandon- ed shortly after its completion. The inhabitants, however, endear your to mitigate the danger of their Both arrived at their destination without great exhaustion or cold, A CURIOUS BAROMETER. The proud girl scorned my suit; she was rich, 1 was poor.. But the next day her father lost all. We are in the same boat, now! said I jeeringly, but politely. Yes, but of course there are first and second cabins! said she, shiver- ing however, as if she something misdoubted. A CITY OF DRESSMAKERS. Poxis leads the world in dressmak- ing. It is estimated that there are 75,000 persons employed in the dressmaking establishments of the city, and if one includes the workers who design and make the materials used by the dressmakers, about 1,- 400,000 persons are engaged in 'the struggle to satisfy woman's love of chiffons. • NOT BRAVE ENOUGH. A. French scientist, who has been studying the antiquity of the human race, declares that man is 238,000 years old, remarked Cumso. tie would never dare say that of women, added Cawker. Tourist (in French restaurant)—I want some mushrooms. Waiter— Pardon. I not understand. Tourist —Mushrooms, mushrooms, and tak- ing- a paper he drew a sketch of one The waiter bearded with intelligence, and rushed off to execute the order. In a few minutes he returned with— an umbrella. • known who I was, mid" with a gen- tle smile, "I should not be indebted to you for this visit." "This is my little daughter," said she now, in a tone quite different from anything he had ever heard be- fore; there was a subdued but terrible passion of tenderness in it. She threw back the silken covering round it to let him more closely view her treasure. "You think?" she ques- tioned vaguely, yet with her eyes up- on him as if waiting for something. "She's charmingly pretty," said O'Grady, with touch presence of mind, stooping as he snake over the It was not until quite an hour at- little frail blossom. It was, perhaps ter O'Grady had parted from her the happiest thing he could have that he entirely understood the said—save ono. greatuess of the shock Lady Varley's "And—and healthy, too, eh?" said announcement had given him. He she, still with her eyes on his. They had wondered at, whilst admiring widened as she gazed, and a suspi- the calm self-possession with which etch of nervous terror grew within she young girl as he had deemed them. bee, a neophyte In the battle of life— "And healthy too, of course," re- had accepted his assistance at first, sponded • he, laughing, though in and afterwards seated herself, and in- truth laughter was far from him. vacs] him to share her lounge with Then something, perhaps the innate an open forgetfulness or disregard of that law of society that dwells on that within hims compelled him to add with a depreciatory shake formal Introductions between those e hitherto unknown to each other. But judge." head: -Not that I em a Lady Varley/—he was her guest. "An excellent one," declared she That she thought of only, and that quickly. "You agree with our (Me- lt was her duty to be gracious to see here. He says baby is strong. bins and delicately friendly, verystr soturgoenrg;evaneryd—d ., anaydthat she will O'Grady was angry with himself be because he could not treat his acci- dental meeting with Lady Varley as She smiled at O'Grady; she seemed SI•NOPSIS OF PRECEEDING CHAPTERS.— Constantia's cousin, Donna, after travelling abroad, re- turns home as Mrs. Dundas and finds that during her absence Lord Varley, an old flame, has married. While Garret Barry, a suitor of Constan- tia's is calling on her, Featherston, another suitor is announced. They discuss a ball to be given by -Lady Varley. At this ball O'Grady, cous- in of Featherston, falls in- love with his hostess not recognizing her. CHAPTER VIII. suddenly to grow full of unspeakable he permitted an idea, that up to that he had kept scrupulously in check, to start into life and grow. It was to the eiTect that courtesy compelled him to go to Araglin raid once again apologize to Lady Varley for the mistake he had . made. If— Queen Alexandria's coronation robes will, it is expected, soon be in course of preparation. T So many years have passed since a Queen Consort was crowned that records and precedents have had to be consulted in regard to the type of robe a Queen Consort must wear. Quite recently the robes of Queen Adelaide, Consort of William IV.„ were brought up from Scotland for the Queen's personal inspection. These robes, which are of black velvet, trimmed with gold, with large sleeves, became a perquisite of the Duchess of Gordon, who was Mistress of the Robes in 1831. They were kept for some years at Gordon Castle, and afterwards at Handy Lodge, and when the Duchess died she left them as an' heirloom to her relative, Brodie of Brodie. The robes have since been preserved at Brodie Castle. did not forgive her for it. She (cruel fear she kept in abeyance; hut Lady Varley—had, in a sense been !sometimes it conquered her—as now. ungenerous, but only because shed Of one thing O'Grady became as- would not submit to the thought sured as he watched her; that she that any woman (even the lovely, !loved the child better than the I a- lawless thing before her) could be her' ther! This explained the yearning in rival in the esteem of her husband. ,her eyes, the sorrowful curve of her "Well, she should see," thought Don- lips. Fear for the child—for her on- us, with all the vicious anger of a 'ly consolation! bad woman towards a good one; and I When she spoke, however, it was if she chose to ignore the truth, so calmly, and without a suspicion of much the easier and the quicker reproach. She seemed to pass over would the end come that should con- everything. "You will telegraph?" vine° the haughty woman of her— she asked, looking at Barley, ionna's—power. I "When I have shown Mrs. Dundee O'Grady rushed into the breach the houses," returned he lightly. with a pleasant common-place, and 'Then with a laughing allusion to the conversation was tossed lightly to child, "I dare say she will survive and fro for ten or fifteen minutes. until then." His manner was not ill- Mrs. Derides was particularly bril- natured; he could not see how his liant. Site *as Introduced to 0'- wile paled before that word "sur- Grady, and quite dazzled him with vivo," because his eyes were on her beauty. She, Indeed, devoted Donna. herself to him for the short time "Oh no," cried the latter prettily, they were together—only quarter of "you - must telegraph at once—at can hour altogether, yet long enough I once—do you hear? Why should I to betray to O'Grady' (who had seen !cause a delay? She turned swiftly to and studied many men in his time) Lady Varley. "He shall do it now— that Lord Varley grew restless as her this moment," she said, with a little smiles waxed kinder. air of authority, for which O'Grady The smile was excellently well got Lady Varley, on the contrary, could have willingly have slain her up, and yet there was something seemed preoccupied. Lady Varley threw up her head. about it that struck O'Grady as be- Presently, a break occurring In the "It is of no consequence at all," ing forced. Was she "so glad" to conversation, Varley turned to Mrs. I she said, "I beg you will think no Dundas, and said so»iething to her more of it. Go and 'enjoy—your about the conservatories. She hesi- :flowers." toted for a moment, and then declar- ed her desire to see them. "All the county talks of them," understands the culture of—" "Pray do not," interrupted O'- Grady earnestly. She stopped as if thankful. "You look very tired," he went on; "shall I take you back to the, house?" "Yes, that is it," she said feverish- ly. She looked passionately relieved. "I cannot. bear to leave her for any man. ..1-'When are you not?" said Parley, still openly amused. "And telegraph for Griffin again? She is an expen- sive little animal, isn't she?" He spoke carelessly. One could see at a glance that he cared little for the expense of. bringing down from town, twice in the same week, a physician so skilled in infantile di- seases that his fame was on the lips of all; but his tone was without feel- ing for the tiny, weakly creature for whom the great man was needed. It stung to the very soul the hither, whose every hope was in it. She flushed from cheek to brow—a flush that faded almost as it was born in- to a deadly pallor. Was she think- ing then, as her passion died, if it were now indeed possible for money to buy the,,t frail, sweet life in which one stratum of salt existed, and that was only a few feet below the sur- face. 'Fresh waler found its way into this extensive salt deposit, with the result that the salt dissolved like snow. . A huge subteSranean lake of water, charged with 26 per cent. of salt, was thus formed. Pumping engines were then installed to con- vey this brine to the surface to large evaporating peas, in which a heavy deposit of salt was left after thh water had eyaporated. The result of this extensive pumping is that Northwich now rests, as it were, upon a shell of earth, which at times proves insufficient to support the weight of the houses, with the inevitable consequence that the buildings are constantly SLIDING AND COLLAPSING in -every direction. .As the result of a subsidence a building fell over upon, its back in the course of a single night, and it is noteworthy that the house, owing to the care observed in its construction, tell over intact, not a crack being pro- duced in the walls nor even a pane of glass being broken. This. is by no means a single instance. Through- out the town the same effects are to be observed upon all sides. There is•scarccly a perpendicular wall to be seen ; in numerous cases. the doors and window frames of the houses are awry ; the roads are extremely uneven, and are often closet.: owing to the falling in of portions. Houses are being con- tinually condemned as unsafe fqr human habitation and demolished. The' depreciation of public property is enormous. No matter how sub- stantially a house may be built, or shortly afterwards sold for £1,700, The pick of your territory, insisted it had been so injured by subsiding. the Czar, when asked what he wants In some cases the sinking is very ed. gradual, while in others it is un- But the Empress Dowager was in- expected and instantaneous. One of dined to be evasive to-day. the principal thoroughfares took 40 Now that would be a pick, .Nick, years to sink fifteen feet, while an- for you, wouldn't it! she protested other grew appreciably wider every archly._ day. Examination proved that one Thisineident, apart from its great side of the street was slipping corn- historical significasice, shows very pletely away. In this Instance the plainly why it is that English is tak- foundations of the houses were three Mg the place of French as the lan- feet distant from.the buildings which guage of diplomacy. they originally supported. The shop of a dry goods merchant sank one- WONDERFUL SWIMMING FEAT. fifth of its height in ten years, and The Roman record in swimming in the subsequent seven years sub- has just been broken by two Italians sided another fifth. Several houses be nifty see, win the not for swiftness, but for the length ground floor n of the do which are ws of level with Of time they were in the water. Un- der a 'miming sun and with .a strong- ish wild they took to the water, Signor Montalboddi accomplishing twenty-five miles in 7brs. 85min, and Signor. Altieri the same distance in Mrs. 551ron. This means, of course, buildings collapsing by constructing continual swimming without a break. them upon the frame principle, with massive timber beams securely bolt- ed together. Hy this means if a sub- sidence occurs the house does not necessarily collapse, but heels over A curious barometer is said to be in toto. In this instance the house used by the remnant of the Araucars is raised to ite normal position once inn race which inhabits the southern- More by means of jacks, the' cavity most province of. Chill. It consists filled in, and, the building once more of the cast-off. shell of, a crab. The rests upon dead shell is white in' fair, dry wea- A FIRM FOUNDATION. ther ; but, indicating the approach Should another subsidence occur, of a moist atmosphere by the ap- the process of lifting is repeated. pearance of' small red spots, as the Yawning chasms are constantly ap- moisture in the air increases it .be- peering in the streets and in some comes entirely red, and remains so instances the cavities are so exten- throughout the rainy season. sive as to necessitate the closing of the thoroughfare. THE SAME BOAT-. The area in which these subsidings occur covers about two square miles. A few years ago the niatter was brought before the attention of the British Parliament, and the re- sult of their investigations showed that damage had been inflicted upon 822 buildings, of which total 686 comprised houses and cottages. Some idea of the extent of the excavations in this area may be gathered from the fact that as a ton of salt repre- sents one cubic yard, and 1,200,000 tons of salt are produced every year, therefore 1,200,000 cubic yards of solid material underlying the town is removed annually. The water from the ' RIVER ALSO GRAVITATES towards these subsidences, causing huge inland lakes, which aggravate the- danger. One of these lakes, locally called "flashes,"- covers no lass than 100 acres and varies from 40 to 50 feet in depth. Notwithstanding the frequency of these subsidences and that they are often unexpected, strange to say, not a single life has been lost. Havoc has been wrought among cattle, however, several animals having been completely engulfed. The tall shafts of the pumping station are also another source of danger, since they are gradually thrown out of plumb; the list continuing until the stack heels over, burying and des- troying everything in its path. A few years ago a compensation board was founded. This board levies a tax of threepence upon every ton of brine that is pumped to the surface, the revenue derived from this source being devoted to coin- , The biggest aerolite ever found pensating those unfortunates whose was discovered in Greenland in 1870. spird eoep.ecrty has been damaged by Sub- It weighed 23 tons.