The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-04-03
Castle of st. Juan De Ulloa, Yer
a Cruz,

To The Editors oCHe Courier and Enquirr:.-
AS yet have never seen published cor
rect representation Of the Castle ofSt. Juan
de Ulloa, Sc. At this crisis it would in all
probability be Interesting 10 the public 10
know something about it. While it WINS in
starving state, ] arrived in Vera Cruz made
fast to the rings ntthe fort and supplied it
with provisions. ], therefore, had occasion
to enter the fort OH an average twice Il day for
about twenty days, and became familiar with
the officers, who seemed to take pleasure in
showing it.
1t is open TO the ocean on all sides, founded
on n reef Of coral rock, called tie GuIego,
which rcefis dry at low water, extending
North about TWO miles--the least water he
tween this reef and the main land is "a feet,
called the North Channel. The least water
ON the other side of the reef is 80 feet;-the
deepest blue water between the fort and tie
city is AZ feet, lessening as you approach the
shoal-is sandy bottom and rock. There are
eight reefs 10 the eastward, and between
them plenty of water, vary ing from TO IL
fathoms. The Island of SACRIFICES is 3 miles
Z. :. f.. from the iort--the only safe anchor
age for vessels not allowed 10 have hold of
the coppcrings anchored in the walls ofthc
Castle. Anton LiZardo is point of land n
bout l-2 leagues s. Z. of Vera Cruz on the
main land, atiording safe anchorage.
The Fort OF San Junn de UlIoa is built Of
solid square blocks othard rough stone, with
irregular slope from bottom to top. similar TO
our Croon Reservoir, and is square and higl;
tile guns are all of brass composition ana
mounted on the top, defended by strong
substantial hreustwork about six feet high
The fort is of great thickness, has a light
house on the West corner, IN observatory On
the East corner, with large telescope noun
ted on swivel, which rkCs the horizon Il
great distance. There are projecting sentry
boxes on each corner on the top of the Cas-
tle The top ofthe Castle, where the guns
are worked, is cenented, and the fort is Of
great thickness embracing in its walls M
merous long rooms; the ground tier is used
for storage, wash women, cook shops and
the like: the upper rooms are occupied hy
the officers and soldiers, are of great depth
and get their light from the in,erior-umps
are burned most of the time: the Comman-
dnnts room is Il spacious hall on the rear.
The interior of the fort is paved; on the out
side ut the South corner, commeGCeS Il Stone
side walk. extending halfway around the Cas-
tie, which is the usual landing place leading
to the only tan arch entrance in the immedi-
ate rear, on which tho sentry walks back and
forth; adjoining said walk is canal extend
ing around the Castle from water to wafer,
and is used as shelter for their gunhonts and
lighters; in front of the entrance is bridge
over the canal and steps ascending to an out
or fort having a tier Of guns and breastwork
you then descend another fthe same de
scription, both tending to tie N. n. T., be-
tween which is deep trench. Vera Cruz is
three quarters Of a mile from the fort, a wall
ed fortified city on the main, and is about
three quarters ola mile long-a half mile
wide in the middle running to two bluff
points, having Il stone pier open TO the sen,
with steps, and acrane on each sde--the on
y landing place TO the city for goods which
are all landed and shipped by lighters-ihero
being but six feet of water at the end of the
pier-the shore being sandy shell beach
no wharves. The walls ofthe city are low
and weak, intended more to prevent Snug
Cling, and easily scaled in the rear. The
ground around Vera Cruz is Il sand plain.
with interspersed ridges, slrubhery, and Il
few slaughter houses, where may be seen
wild cattle tied with their eyes punched out
an act ofcruelty truly characteristic of the
magnanmous Mexican. The houses of the
city are mostly white--the streets paved, and
clean,as vehicle is seldom seen. Mules arr
mostly used for burthen, and come in droyes,
tied to each others taiIs--mostly kept and sin-
bled at the extreme west end of the CITY,
which appears to he appropriated 10 thai
purpose. The drivers generally wear wide
brimmed flat drab hats. bound with costly
gold lace, and quarter dollars on the eniivn
J seam of the pantaloons, and shllings for hut.