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Matthias
Location: Victoria. B.C. Gender: Male Total Likes: 0 likes
| | | Re: Under the Garden City: Victoria B.C. secret tunnels. < Reply # 3027 on 5/1/2010 6:57 PM > | Reply with Quote
| | | Last weekend I was lucky enough to get a tour of 'the Hudson'/the old bay building. I always wondered about passages running to the building/coal tunnels and the like, and even though there is barely any of the original character left on the inside, he basement revealed some interesting finds. I didn't get a chance to take my camera, as the situation was more of a "you wanna check it out?" and "yeah! let's go!" kinda thing. The person who took me through had mentioned a plan to fill in the coal storage area with pea gravel, when we descended to the bottom level it was apparent that the door to that room had been sealed. In fact, the whole floor level had been raised above the entrance. Poking around a bit, we found another opening in the wall, in a 10 ft pit- going into the coal storage. Details: The entrance to the coalroom and basement of the floor extends below the city sidewalks. The coal rooms themselves start at end of the sidewalks and occupy a space below the street, on the north side of the building. The rooms, of which there are two, each have an entrance, I entered through the one on the right, the left door was buried. The rooms connect in the middle, and at entrance level have iron beams running north south to walk along. wood has been placed as a walkway across the beams. As much as I could see, the beams are only present in the right hand room, I was therefore unable to get into the western coal storage chamber. Above you, the cement chamber is maybe 15-20 feet high, with cement beams running along the ceiling to support the st. the room is only 15 ft north south but maybe 25 30 east west. My assumption is that the western room has the same dimensions. Below you, starting at 10 ft down is water, black with coal dust and contains things such as a floating ladder and firehose. Rocks dropped into the water hint at depths exceeding 10ft from the surface, but it could only be 5. Maybe it never ends? On the south wall, to the left of the entrance, is old electrical works and a heavy duty switch labelled 'sump pump-glory hole' suggesting a possible drainage from below?? Now, my interest was in finding an opening to a coal shaft running down to the harbour, which is not a wild idea and would be practical for such a large building. I don't know the year the HBC building was constructed, maybe someone here does. I could not enter the western room, and the eastern had no signs of openings in its walls. Faintly glimpsed was a square of new concrete on the north wall of the west room-halfway up. I doubt, if there was a tunnel, it would be here, more likely to be placed on the west wall of the west room-which I could not see at all. In the sidewalk is apparently a hatch that was used to dump coal into the room, which would have had to travel down a chute to reach the space I am describing.
Conclusion: inconclusive, and the space is unlikely ever to be thoroughly investigated as it being filled soon. The only option for entry to the western room now is from the outside (the tunnel/existent?) or to swim through the coal water (not an option I considered) maybe an inflatable boat though. If you pursue this further, all the power to you, but it is not easy to find without a guide/and this is an active construction site (BE CAREFUL!) Whatever you do, if you make it to the coal room, don't go in without big lights and be wary of the iron beams, there is evidence of some missing/rust stains on the walls/maybe they will fall out from under you. Also, near the entrance there is a new pump structure coated in tar- for obvious reasons don't touch it. Don't jump into the water! who knows what's waiting for you/rebar/toxic chemicals/kraken. Anyways, because I could not bring a camera, I have attempted to paint a picture with my words, happy tunneling season!
| Searchers after horror haunt strange, far places. ~ H.P. Lovecraft |
| KublaKhan
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Total Likes: 207 likes
With Satan, it's always gimmie, gimmie.
| | | Re: Under the Garden City: Victoria B.C. secret tunnels. < Reply # 3033 on 5/6/2010 3:42 AM > | Reply with Quote
| | | Posted by Extortion WOOHOO! My first post...3 days wait is CRAZY! Well let me start by saying I found this thread and site by looking for information on caves and secrets in Victoria, BC. I have lived here for 18 years. I had heard many rumors about the underground tunnels and went looking a few times years ago where I was told the entrances were but never found anything. I have read maybe 55-60% of this thread. Its kind of hard to sift through the humor and off topic rants sometimes. The pictures are amazing. I will be reading more and more as the time passes. There is a lot of useful information in here to start my exploring. I know Im new and I saw many posts about how you guys are wary of new people but I would love to meet some of you and possibly go on a few adventures with you. Lately I have been building the courage to crawl into the abandoned mine/cave on Mt Douglas. I have been there a few times and talked to many people who say they have been in and its not dangerous. My problem is I am a little freaked out by spiders and am scared of having a nasty encounter! HAH! Just yesterday I hiked Mt Finlayson for fun, and even ended up scaling the rock face at the top. Just last week I found Langford Lake Cave which has been sealed with cement and metal plates. I was completely disappointed. A few years too late I guess. This coming Monday a man I met by browsing online for information on local caves is going to show me of a cave he knows of in Colwood and give me a heads up on what to expect as I venture inside. Anyways, like I said I would like to meet some of you. I am HIGHLY interested in seeing this film "Under the Garden City". Im not sure how old this thread is exactly now and when the last showing was made but I would love to see it! Well, Its nice to meet you all and I look forward to posting some pictures of my own adventures, and hopefully I can join in on the fun in searching for Victorias rumored secret underground tunnels!
| ...or what NOT to expect!!!
| "The truth is knowable. But probably not, ever, incontrovertible." --Don DeLillo PICS |
| TacDical
Location: Anywhere Everywhere Gender: Neither Total Likes: 5 likes
Who know's what's below
| | | Re: Under the Garden City: Victoria B.C. secret tunnels. < Reply # 3039 on 5/9/2010 1:18 AM > | Reply with Quote
| | | Posted by Extortion Is anyone doing any draining or anything sometime? I am contemplating my next adventure. Im thinking the hall of wonders. Looks easy enough. If I understand correctly I need tall boots and a flashlight? If anyone can confirm this I would appreciate it. For now I will go through the easy ones and get some experience before I do anything too crazy. I would be interested in seeing the "Douglas Darkie" or the other one if this is right "The below of the beast"? I might be wrong. Would like if someone could give me some directions or show me sometime! I got a buddy who comes along with me too
| Hall of wonders is a good starter aswell is douglas darkie, for the hall of wonders tall boots and a good flashlight is is defiantly a smart idea, it hasnt rained much lately so the water shouldn't be to high just make sure you have a bag for your camera and anything you bring down, it would suck to slip and get everything wet. for douglas darkie the water is probably pretty low this time of year high boot's arent a must need (good to wear though), more than one good flashlight should be brought threw this one. as for the fun part no one here will "tell" you where to go, however there are MANY tips and hints threw out this thread, after you explore a little bit take some pictures and get a little more known and im sure someone will help with hints;) Enjoy the hall of wonders and douglas creek darkie neither are hard to find both are pretty cool, PM me if you think you have found douglas darkie im down to go for a little adventure threw there it's been awhile should be even easier for you now ;) SD
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