The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1875-04-01


Oglethorps. Of Gesryia, statioosd
his batteries on Aaastasia Island,
and bouharded the town for forty
days, but the fort returning the 6rs
rather warmly, 10 retired. During
tho Seminole war, the town was b.
siegsd several times and the inhabi-
tants drivea into the fort. These
are but few Of the tsibulatioas Of
war, psstilsnes and Gre through
which this town has passsd. Il now
has about 2 500 inhabitaats, . large
number Of whom are reconstructed
invalids from the North. Many have
bought or built here, and make it
either their permanent Or winter res-
idencs. Mr. Ball, Of New York, hes
. $50, 900 house here; Hr. Edgar Of
the same city . go, 900 home; also,
Howard go, 600; Mr.. Alexander,
o15,UOO, and several Others more or
less valuable. The property here
owned BY northern citizens for tsm-
porary residence i estimated at
$3.50, 900.
The question 10 asked, was this
ever wall cityf Such 10 the tra-
dition. And st the north end Of the
principal street there still stand mas.
sive gate towers, hoary with age, and
a. unmistakable in their object - the
gloomy battlements Of Fort Marion.
There is also some of the wall still
standing next to the gates, and the
traces Of the wall for sone distance.
Some contend that the principal part
Of the wall was composed Of wood,
others that il was coquins, but which
has been removed to build houses,
or the ses wall.
But the most grand and gloomy
relic Of the past il Fort Marion.
During ito history it has bad various
namss, and vicissitudss. It reminds
one Of the feudal castles We read Of
in novels and in history. Il covers
about four acres, Aad 10 built Of
ooquina from the inexhaastible quar-
ries on the adjacent Island Of Anas-
tasia. Its twenty-seven cassmates
are still perfect-with its chapel,
prisons. dungeons and open court.
Its walls are ninety feet thick, and
arched over. From bottom Of noat
to top Of turret 10 about twenty-five
feet. It had . vide and deep moat
supplied by water BY = deep Josse
from the St. Sebastian river, and :
waste ,Oeir to let il out ii necessary.
The port has outer and inner bar.
rierr-barbicon, drswbridge, port
oulli-, wicket, and al the professions
known Of old to the arts Of defense.
1t cost the Spanish government mil
lions Of dollars, and was 120 years
building. At ono time ~hsn there
vas . demand for more money for its
erection, the Spanish king inquired
If they were building it Of gold. At
ans, her time on some Of the towers
Of Spain, the king was observed to
be intently looking westward. On
inquiry what be was looking at, be
said be was looking for the top Of
his fort at St. Augustias sa the
American continent.
The sea vail 10 smother object Of
curiosity to the visitor. II 10 built
in front Of the town, 20 project it
from the encroachments Of the waves
of the sea. It is an average Of 6f-
teen feet high on the ses aide, and
is mile long. Its construction Vas
commenced centuries axo By the
Spanish government, continued BY
the British, and fnished By the
United States. The cap stones are
about four feet broad, and il 10 said
were brought from quarries on the
Susquehannah. It 10 the fashionable
promenade, and will probably stand
the washing of oceans tides and
waves for al time to come.
For health seekers this 10 decidsd-
" the best place of resort We have
seen ON this Southern tour. The
wster il pure, and the cir mild and
balmy, the scenery grand, and the
mind is awakened BY the tragic his.
tory Of the dead past. Hotels aad
boarding houses Of superior quality
are abundant, kept BY experienced
men and women Of the North. The
harbor between tho town and the
island is splendid for pleasure boats,
entirely protected from the winds
and waves from the ses. But il any
prefer TO play with the grsnder
scenes Of the ocean, but short sail
will take one to the outside Of the
Island where there 10 . beach equal
to any in the world for surf bathing,
or an open sea for Yachting.
The town is sadly msrred BY its
narrow and crooked streets. The
main business street.-the one at the
end of which stand the gate towers,
is from twelve to fifteen feet wide.
This, however, 10 not 70 difficult - =
citizen of lows would imagine.
There are no wagons hero and but
few carts, or carriages. There IL no
farming county about the town. No
place for wagons to come or 60 to.
There are comparatively no roads out
Of the town, 90 there 10 but little
need Of carriages. A few carts are
needed to haul the goods from the
wharves to the stores. Sailing and
boat riding il the fashionable smuse-
ment, and the dependence Of the
town 10 almost entirely upon northern
visitors. When visitors are gone the
town il dead, until the cold winds Of
the north again drive hither visitors
seeking comfort and health. The
postofics now occupies what WAS
two hundred years ago the Spanish
Governor Generals palace.
On Sunday last ws worshipped
with the Catholics st their venerable
cathedral. 1t 10 quaint with it,
Moorish style, but interesting from
ito age, history and vioissitudss. Its
history is lost in dim forgstfulness,
but from the fact that this town wss
founded BY : Catholic colony forty
three years before the settlement Of
jamestown, Va, and 6fty-ivs years
before tho landing Of the Pilgrias on
Plynouth Rock, Ne can easily con-