San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-02-28

tinued to be used for this purpose till
It'll, when one Sunday during divine
service, tho congregation were alarmed
by the falling Of . piece Of plastering
from the roof, and hurried out 10 ter
ror. believing that tho vault over their
heads was giving way; and this, togeth'
or with an ancient prophecy attribut.
ed to Thomas the Rhymer, that the
kirk should fall when at the fullest,
caused the church to be desei ted, and
it has never since had an opportunity
of tumbling on q full congregation.
Sweeping along down the water Of
the beautiful river. We at length find
ourselves at that renowned town, Ber.
wick on Tweed. This town was for
many centuries the gateway between
the two kingdoms, and although strong.
ly fortified, its commanding position
seems to have invited attack. IL was
therefore repeatedly taken by assault,
and there is scarcely foot Of ground
in the neighborhood that has not been
the scene Of deadly conflict.
At the time Of the capture Of Ber-
wick on Tweed, by Edward l, of Eng.
land, it is said that the streets ran
with blood like river. Eventually
in 1882. it was ceded to the English,
after which it remained gate between
the two kingdoms. barred against the
Scotch. but through which the Eng
lish might pass at pleasure. Nothing
now remains of the castle except two
towers and part Of the wall and ditch
es. The wall supplies a promenade
for visitors, from which wide pros
pect of the country. and the sea. may
be enjoyed. Two bridges cross the
Tweed at this point. One Of these was
built during the reigns Of James I, and
Charles I. It's cost was f15.0OO, and
it occupied twenty-four years in build.
ing, and was paid for out Of the ma.
tional treasury. II spans the river by
fifteen great arches, and believe is
yet in good state of preservation.
The other, The Royal Border Bridge,
was built by the Railway Company
1t stretches from Castle Hill to Tweed.
mouth, at height Of 126 f.. and cost
912O,00O. 1t is 667 yards in length,
was completed in little over three
years. 1t is estimated that each pier
is capable Of bearing seventy tons Of
vertical pressure. But if l had to
pass over it often, l would like to know
how much lateral pressure it could
bear; as it is generally. l believe, the
lateral pressure that causes the over.
throw Of these great structures.
Leaving Berwick on Tweed, we
passed in sight Of the celebrated AIN
wick Castle. The town is situated
on the Alne river, and grew up under
the protection of the renowned Dukes
of Northumberland, whose noble cas-.
tie stands on an eminence on the south
side of the river opposite the town.
The castle was granted to the Percys,
I believe. early in the 14th century.
together with the wardcnship If the
East Marches. 1t was IN this capacity
that Hotspur met Douglas at the bat
tie of Chevy Chase. where Douglas
was slain. and the Fercys have held
the lordship ever since. The castle
has, I am informed, been recently re.
paired, and is now one of the most
magnificent specimens of an old bar
onia ! residence in the United King
dom. The building is of frecstone.
and in the gothic style. The walls en-
close FIVE acres. Within the grounds,
1 am informed. is q pillar, which mark
the spot where Malcolm of Scotland
was killed in 1893. when besieging the
castle, a1d William the Lion was Ia.
ken prisoner in 1l72. Formerly the
town was surrounded by battlements,
but these have disappeared except the
Bandgate, built by the famous Hot
spur, which remains. The next place
of note through which we pass is Dur.
ham. The cathedral and castle Of
Durham occupy commanding posi-
ton. They stand on lofty eminence
which is almost an island. This bill
is almost enclosed by the ancient city
walls. The cathedral was begun 10
the reign Of William Rufus. and was
erected in the form usually adopted By
the Normaps-i long cross with two
turrets at the west end. and between
them a large and richly ornamented
arched door Of entrance. The lcrgth
Of the cathedral from east TO west. ]
am informed l. little more than 5Ot
feet. The width Of nave and aislcs g
feet and the height is 20 feet; while
the central tower is 2li feet in height