The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1875-03-25

| tHoN iufddeu Spdiu Ill thc oCkauinR
OF the eighth century. From their
leader. Tarif, it was in consequence
called Gibel- Tariff, or the noun air
of Tarif, of which Arabic name Glib
raltar is a corruption. Soon after
establishing themselves here, the
MooIs erected lofty and extensive
castle on the north west side of the
mountain, the ruins of which still re-
main. Gibraltar continued in the
possession Of the Moors for between
seven and eight centuries, with the
exception Of abou, thirty years, dur
ing which it was held by the Chris
iians. having been taken soon after
the commencement of the fourteenth
century by Ferdinand, king of Cas-
tile. 1t vas recovered, however, in
1888, by Abomeleh, the son of the
emperor of Fee, and the Moors were
not finally dispossessed Of it till the
middle of the following century.
After that it remained a part of the
kingdom of Spain, down nearly to
our times.
The promoptory Of Gibraltar, forms
the south. western extremity of An
dalusia, running out into the sea in
nearly due south direction, for
about three miles. The greater part
of this tongue consists of q verv
lofty rock. It rises abruptly from
the land to the height Of fully 1900
feet, presenting face almost perfect
ly perpendicular, and being conse-
quently from ,ha:, its northern ex-
tremity, completely inaccessible.
The west side, however, and the
southern extremity, consist, each Of
series of precipices, or declivities,
which admit Of being ascended. The
town, now containing a population Of
above 1900 persons, is built on the
west side. Along the summit of the
mountain, from north to south, runs
bristling ridge Of rocks, forming a
ragged and undulating line against
the sky, when viewed from cas-, to
west. The whole Of the western
breast of the promontory is nearly
covered with Notifications. Ancient
", it is said, it used 10 be well wood
Ell in many places; but there are
now very few trees to be seen, al
though a good many gardens are
scattered up and down both in the
town and among the Notifications.
A great part OF the rock is followed
out into caverns, some of which are
of magnificent dimensions, especially
one called ST. Georges Cave, at the
southern point, which although hav-
ing only an opening of FIVE feet, ex-
pands into an apartment of two
hundred feet in length by ninety in
breadth, from the lofty roof Of which
descend numerous stalactical pillars,
giving it the appearance of gothic
cathedral, These caves seem to be
the chief thing for which Gibraltar
was remarkable among the ancients.
They are mentioned by the Roman
geographer, Pomponius Mela, who
wrote about the middle of the first
century Of our era. The southern
termination of the rock OF Gibraltar
is called Europa Point, and has been
sometimes spoken of as the termina-
ton in thai direction of the European
continent; but Tarifa Point, to the
west of Gibraltar, is fully FIVE miles
farther south.
1t is impossible for us here to at
tempt any description of the fortlfi-
cations which now cover so great a
part of the celebrated promontory
Gibraltar was first fortified in the
modern yle by the German engi-
neer, Daniel Speckel, at the command
of he emperor Charles Y, towards
the close of the sixteenth century.
Bot little of what was then erected
probably now remains. Since the
place fell into possession Of the Eng
lish, no expense has been spared to
turn It's natural advantages to the
best account: and additions have
repeatedly been made to the old
Notifications, on the most extensive
scale. 1t is now, without doubt, the
most complete fortress in the world.
More than half century ago Glib
raltar was accounted by military men
almost impregnabe. mo power
whatever" saws Colonel James, in
his history of the Herculauaen Straits,
published in 1.7l, .'can take that
place, unless a plague, pestllence,
famine, or the want of ordnance. mus
kerry aud ammunition, or some un-
foreseen stroke of Providence, should
happen 1t is certainly now much
stronger than it was then. One i'm
provement which has especially add
ed TO its security, is the formation
of numerous covered galleries ex-
cavated in the rock. with embrasures
for firing down upon both the isthmus
and the bay.
Gibraltar was taken by an English
feet. under the command of Sir
George Rookie and the Prince Of
Hesse Darm,tadt, in July, l.04.
The project Of the attack was sud
denly formed at council of war held
on board the admirars ship, while
the fleet was cruising in the Medlt-
erranean, and it was apprehended
that it would be obliged to return to
England without having performed
any exploit commensurate to the ex-
pectations with which it had been
fitted out. The affair proved very
easy one; the garrison, which con-
sisted of one hundred and hfy men,
having surrendered after lombard
ment Of only few hours. The as
sailants lost only sixty lives, the
greater part by nine which was
sprung after they had affected land
ing In the latter part of the same
year, a most resolute effort was made
to recover the place by the combined
forces of France and Spain, which
failed after it had been per>evered
in for several months, and had cost
the besiegers not less than 10000
men. The loss of the garrison was
about four hundred.
At the peace of Utrecht in l.l3,
the possession Of Gibraltar, was con
frmed to England. In l127, how
ever, another attempt, on formida-
ble scale. was made by Spain, to dis