The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-01-29


less surges of the sea- We were somewhat disap
pointed in finding the variety that we antici-
pated, yet none failed to return with some
beautiful souvenirs of the occasion. After
strolling some time on the beach we returned,
and the tide having ebbed, we saw to advantage
the innumerable beds of oysters that not only
walled the banks for miles, but in many places
we'll nigh blockaded the channel CT the river.
Of these, there seems to be sufficient to supply
the market of this country for years. Nor do
they flourish only near the beach, for in St.
Augustine Bay, at ebb tide, they may be seen
clinging in quantities to the Sea Wall and
about the pillars of the docks.
On Anastasia Island is Light House, built
more than century ago, and surmounted by
fine revolving lantern. Near by is new and
completed will be second to none on the coast.
The Cemeteries are replete with local and
historical interest. In the military burial
ground under three succeed and whtened
pyramids of coquina, lie the remains of Major
Dade and his 107 unfortunates, who were mas
sacred by Osceola and his band.
Among the public buildings none presents
more imposing mien than the Romish Cathe-
dral. This massive edifce was built by the
Spanish in 1893, and we'll represents the arch
tecture of that age. One of its four bells is
doubtless the oldest in the country, it bearing
the date of 1852. All the Spanish and Minor
cans are Roman Catholics and as they consti
tute a large majority of the population, the
Papacy is we'll established in the Coolest
town." Then, there are the several Converts;
the u. S. Barracks, formerly a Convent; the
Palace, or Governors Mansion Of the Spanish
era; the many beautiful residences with their
yards teeming with exotics; all of which
! Of tba md 1yhin
serve more than cursory mention. But we
must forego further comment on these, and
bring this sketch, which has already exceeded
due limits, to an end by describing the most
interesting of all the interesting objects in this
ancient city This is the old Spanish Fort,
San Juan de Pinos, afterwards changed in
name to st. Mark, and now called Ft. Marion.
As any visit to ST. Augustine would be incom-
plete without ramble amid its gloomy recess
ses our party made due inspection thereof.
This grim and massive pile was begun in 1920,
was built of coquina chiefly by the Appalachian
Indians who were compelled to labor on it for
nearly one hundred years, and was completed
in 1856. 1t covers about an acre of ground,
and requires one hundred guns and one thou
sand men to garrison it. We approached from
the north side and first made a general obser-
yation of its exterior. 1t is in the shape of
square, with walls gradually sloping from the
base, and large moat runs the entire clrcum-
ference. The latter, instead of being filled
with water as twas in days gone by, is now
bristling with line Of seige guns, with their
mouths frowning over the ramparts Without,
the walls present hoary aspect here and there
covered with the moses and lichens of centu-
ries. and here and there exhibiting breach
made by the shot and shell OF its many bonn
bardments. At length we entered, and every
step presented memorials of the feudal era.
There was the moat, the drawbridge, the port
cullis-all wildly recalling the chivalric sto-
ries told so charmingly by the bard of Abbots-
ford-while over the entrance was emblazCned
in alto relieuo the Spanish coat Of arms, with
an inscription beneath, giving the name OF the
then Governor, the Chief Engineer of the
works, and the date of the completion of the
Fort. Passing through the gloomy entrance
! we came into the court, and this was we'll
filled with the munitions of warfare. Pile
upon pile of the black, threatening shell lay
careessly .bout, and here and there the rifed
cannon stood gazing at all who entered. We
we're met in the court yard by an old Sergeant,
who alone has charge of the fortress. Making
up small purse for his trouble we soon pressed
him into service. He first gave brief history
and description Of the place, and then babe us
follow him Turning huge bolt a heavy gate,
grating on its hinges, opened and we entered
a dungeon, which, until 1885, had de6ed the
scrutiny of the antiquarian, and then was
discovered only by the caving of the wall from
above. In this dungeon were found two iron
cages just large enough to admit the body OF
man, and each contained the remains OF hu-
man skeleton Connected with the Fort are
many inquisitorial traditions, and 'twould not
be extrayagant to suppose that these unfortu-
mates were the victims of Papal denunciation,
and their cell cemented to conceal their fate.
Next we passed through the rooms occupied by
the Spanish soldiery, and adjoining one was
the little Roman Chapel-without doubt the
most interesting spot in the Fort. There was
still the high altar hewn, as it seemed, from
: the massive walls, where the Jealous Francis
can worshipped, and in the wall remained the
| inches for the holy water. Next we entered
J the room where the Spanish tribunals were
held, and where the irrepresslble Coacouchee
was confined, only soon afterwards to effect his
escape Adjoining the latter cell was the one
in which the great, the brave Osceola was
chained previous to his removal to Fort Moul,
J trie And through many other dismal and
} uninviting rooms the guide led us, each cell
having history of its own, and offtimes link
, ing the present with the dim, distant past.
Then we ascended the court-steps to view the
5 parapets, surmounted at each corner by a cir
: cular sentry-box, and on the corner next the
, sea by commanding outlook tower. What
grand spectacle was here presented! At our
feet, on the one hand, lay the sleeping town,
and on the other, coursed the Matanzas, while
f far off to the cast rolled the blue Atlantic,
lashing the beach with its foaming, Dillows.
What a subject for the painter, and what a
theme for>thc poet and historian We knew
) that we stood on ground that had echoed to
the tread of mail-clad soldiery of an age past
and gone forever; that we peered through en-
brazures which had pointed their guns upon
almost every national emblem; and still the
old fortress with its historic associations re,
mains. The top was interspersed with wild
clover plots, in addition to other grasses, and
the parapets were chisccd in many places by
Tia r;o,,c to ohtnin rnlics of the romantic