The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1875-03-25
Upton. IOWA, MARCH o5. 1875

who was present in The beleaguered
fortress during the whole time. Eng
land was engaged in sustaining the
contest with her revolted colonies, in
America, when hostilties were also
commenced against her, first by
France, and some time after by
Spain. There is no doubt that, what
ever were her professions, the latter
power took up arms merely with the
object of recovering Gibraltar. The
Spanish ambassador having an
nounced the intentions of his court,
in London, on the 18th Of June. 1919,
on the 21st of the same month all
communication between Gibraltar
and the surrounding country was
closed by command Of the govern.
ment Of Madrid. 1t was the middle
Of the following month, however, be-
fore the Spaniards began to block up
the fort. Fortunately, in the early
part OF this year, General George
Augustus Eliot, who had been re-
Gently appointed governor, had ar
rived in the fort, aud brought to the
crisis that was approaching the aid
Of his great military science and tai
ents. as well as of some of the high
est moral qualities that ever adorned
the soldier or the man. General
Eliot, who was the ninth and Young
est son Of Sir Gilbert Eliot, Of Stobbs,
In Roxburghshire, was at this time
about sixty years of age, more than
forty of which he had spent in the
service of his country. Another for
tunate circumstance was that sup
ply of provisions had arrived in the
preceding April. Had it not been
for this, the garrison might have
suffered terribly from the sudden
stoppage Of their accustomed inter
course both with Spain and Africa.
The first firing which took place
was on the 18th of September, when
a cannonade was opened from the
fort which DESTROYED the works that
the besiegers had spent many of the
preceding weeks in erecting. The
blockade, notwithstanding, became
every day closer; and the occasional
boats, which had for some time stolen
in from the African coast and other
places, al length found it impossible
to continue their attempts. By the
end Of October, provisions had be-
come extremely dear. About the
same time, too, the smallpox broke
out among the Jewish inhabitants of
the town, and every precaution had
to be used TO prevent the spread of
the disease. In November, the gov
error, in order to try on how little
food life and strength could be sus-
tained. restricted himself for eight
davs to four ounces of rice per day.
Thistles, dandelions. wild leeks, &C.,
began to be eaten by the people of
the town; and meat sold from half a
crown to four shillings the pound.
The first firing from the besiegers
took place on the 18th of January,
1880; and the first person wounded
in the fort was woman. by the
end Of March, the first supply of pro-
visions arrived, brought in by the
gallant Admiral Rodney, who had
not only cut his way TO the assistance
Of his distressed countrymen through
all the opposition Of the enemy. but
had captured six Of their men-of- war,
including sixtyfour gun ship with
the admiral on board, together with
seventeen merchantman. His pres
ent majesty, then known as Prince
William Henry, was serving on board
one of Sir George Rodney's ships as
a midshipman, aud often visited the
garrison while the feet remained in
the bay. Captain Drinkwater relates
that, on seeing a prince of the blood
thus serving as a warrant-ofhcer, the
captive Spanish admiral exclaimed
that Great Britain well deserved the
empire of the seas, when even her
kings sons were found thus holding
the humblest situations on board her
ships.
For good many months after this,
things continued in nearly the same
state. The garrison and towns peo-
pie were again aud again reduced to
the greatest privations, by scarcity
Of provisions, before supplies arrived.
In the spring of 1871, the besiegers
at last opened their batteries, and
continued firing upon the town till
they had completely destroyed it.
On the 2,th of April. however, most
gallant exploit was performed by
party from the garrison, who, max
ing sortie from their Notifications,
succeeded in setting fire to and reduc
ing to ashes. all the erections of the
enemy, although b distant not less than
three quarters of mile. This, how
ever, brought only temporary relief.
The firing soon after recommended,
and, for more than a year, continued
almost necessarily. In the course of
of 1892, it was, ON the suggestion of
General Boyd, returned from the
rock with red-hot ball, device which
was found to produce the most pow
eriul effect. The enemy however
now prepared for a grand effort. On
the 18th Of September. the combined
fleets of France and Spain, arrived
in the bay. Next morning there
were drawn up around the south and
west sides Of the promontory most
formidable armament, consisting of
forty-seven sail Of the line, seven of
which were three. deckers, together
with ten battering- ships, the strong
est that had ever been built, and
many frigates and smaller vessels.
On he land there lay an army of 40,
900 men, with batteries on which
were mounted 200 pieces of heavy
ordnance. On the other side, the
garrison now consisted Of about sew
en- thousand effective men. The ships
were permitted to take their stations
without molestatlon; but, about
quarter before ten o'clock, as soon as
the first of them dropped anchor, the
citadel began to pour upon them its
hitherto reserved artillery. Now COM
menced scene Of terrible sublimity.
Four hundred pieces Of the heaviest
ordnance thundered without intermis.
sion, and filed the air with smoke
and flame tFor some hours.n saws