The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-05-02
st. AUGUSTINE, B
Attractions to the Tourist-A Port Of
Great Antiquity and strength-Famous
Dungeons, etc.

". ~. -
attractions to the Tourist-A Port Of
Great Antiquity and strength-Famous
Dungeons, etc.
A late letter from a Northern Tourist
says: 1t is impossible to convey in
words the charming impressions which
a stay here occasions. The antiquity Of
the city, its quaint, narrow streets, with
o~verhanging balconies; the halo of TO-
nance given it by memories of Ponce de
Leon and the exploits of Pedro Menen-
dlz and Awedondo, and its beautiful
gardens, where roses are always bios
soming among the date palms and
orange and fig trees, give it an atmos-
phere different to that of any other city
in the state. The sea-wall skirts the
entire front Of the city from the parade
ground at the south to the fort at the
north. This forms a delightful prone
made. Guard mount is held every after
noon at the parade ground, and two con-
certs are given each week by the fine
military band stationed here. The
barracks was formerly an old Spanish
convent. but it has been considerably
altered by the government to adapt it
to its present use. Passing along the
sea-wali we come to the old fort. 1t
was built with a moat and draw bridge.
which latter has been replaced by a sta
tionary IL Ar enterprising photo
grapher Gays" for you just outside.
ready to take Your picture, with any
part of the fort as n background. 1t
overs four acres, is built of coquina
rock, and is one of the finest examples
of engineering skill in the county. 1t
has never been taken, but has stood
sieges, indications of which are to be
seen on the side fronting the bay. 1t
mounts 100 guns, and has accommodate
ed a garrison of upward of 1000 men.
Its interior is a court NOV q lawn-ten-
mis- field, around which easements, one
of which is the chapel. Under
the northern bastions and al
most adjoining the chapel are the
famous dungeons.
There are a series of four in the
northeast bastion, opening into one u
other in such a way that by the time
YOU reach the third you are in total
darkness, and rely On the guide and his
torch to for further exploration. The
openings in the last two are very mar
row and low. and have been walled up.
These two further dungeons were dis
covered accidentally in 1886 by the roof
of the bastion falling in. The story in
connection with this is that two iron
cages were discovered suspended from
the wall OF the furthest dungeon, each
containing a skeleton, IL of them that
of a woman. In spite of the circum-
stantiality of this statement as to the
sex of the skeleton, the story is n very
doubtful one, and lacks confirmation
from the Smithsonian institution, at
which place the cages are said to be
kept.
In the center of the city is the Plaza
de la Constitution, a large open square,
where can be found growing the date
palm, Spanish bayonet. the banana,
orange and many other of the choicest
semi-tropical trees and towering shrubs.
In addition to the confederate monu-
ment erected in 1912, during the Span
ish occupation, concentrating the
Spanish liberal constitution. 1t was
placed there b. the city council ssfor
eternal remembrance, as the Spanish
inscription on the marble tablet states.
At the end Of the plaza, fronting the
sea-wall, is the old Spanish slave mar
ket. 1t is built of coquina rock of large
prop ntions, and consists of a raised
terrace with a colonade all around sup
porting the roof, and is, of
course, open all around. 1t has u foun-
tain i'll the center, and is well provided
with seats. Tho plaza is the spot that
will linser longest in the memory of the
visitor. To sit here on pleasant moon
light evenings, with the glancing waters
of the bay for q background and the
lights Of the hotel dimly visible through
the thick emi-tropicalfoliage listening
to the pattcr of the fountains, while
every breath of the warm air comes la
den with the perfume of orange bios
ssooins cid cape iessamine, mingled with
the sound of distant music that is Tend
ing enchantment to flying feet" in some
hotel ballroom, is phase Of enjoyment
Nights in imagination.
Further on is the old Spanish cathe-
dral. 1t has n Moorish belfry, with
four bells set in inches, which, with the
clock, form the cross. One of these
bells is evidently much older than the
building. 1t has a cross and bears this
legend:
Sancta Joseph
Ora pro Nobis.
.. 1852.