The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-02-28
THE GATES OF THE EAST.
The Rock of Gibraltar Fortifications'
Guns and Galleries. Town and Har-
bor.-NeutraI Ground. The summit.
PORT OF GIBRALTAR

1t is a notorious fact, well authenti'
Gated by historical illusions, that the
Rock Of Gibraltar has stood for a long
poriod of time just where it is today
There is no competent evidence extanl
that it has ever been in any other place.
In the memory of the oldest inhabitants
| of the garrisoned town at its base, it has
remained unchanged in form and appear
ance. No one can remember when it
was not a rock.
To be sure, it used TO be called the Pill
lar of Hercules, because. suppose, that
ancient parsonage of some muscular de-
velopment proposed to fence in the
world, making this it's outer boundary,
aud utterly ignoring our own fair Amer
ica. 1t was believed that it held up the
skies, but science has dissipated that
notion. In time it became sort Of gate
post to the E ist, and is now an English
fortress that, restoring somewhat the
original idea of mythology, helps to sup
port the British Empire in the east.
Seen, however, as 1t may be, Gibraltar
is an inspiring sight. 1t is well worthy
of the m, this and the stories attached to
it, and of the popular conception of Its
impregnabe firmness, and is not amsS
in giving vigorous simile to our Ian
guage. As our ship passed the Straits.
at which hundreds of vessels seemed to
center making lively naval scene, the
Rock of Gibraltar appeared in its grand
est proportions. The beams of the rising
sun touched its rugged surface and kin
die it with the flaming colors of morn
ing.
The natural citadel is solid mass of
rock fifteen hundred feet in height and
s4ven miles in circumfe ence. 1t is
joined to the continent by low isthmus,
that is scarcely visible at sea, and has the
appearance of an island. At first sight
its irregular walls, which have reddish
color, seem devoid of vegetation, but a
nearer approach reveals the scanty COW
ering of grasses and shrubs that find
footing in its crevlces. 1t stands like Il
grim warrior guarding the entrance to
the Mediterranean, which, since the op-
ening of the Suez Canal, has become the
great passage way of the commerce OF
the world between the east and the
west.
1t is very humiIiating to the Spaniar1s,
whose navIes once swept the main, to
see this defensibe fortress in the hands
of their rivals, and they still hope some
day to regain its possession, hope
which in this generation is not likely to
be fulfilled. The world, however, goes
on. little caring whether Gaul or Saxon
garrisons the citadel so long as its traffic
is allowed to pass unmolested through
the Straits.
The town of Gibraltar extends along
the western base of the Rock, with a
large and commodious harboT in the
foreground, ample to anchor the navies
of the world. 1t has population Of
twenty thousand people. The Spanish
and Portuguese nationalities predoml
nate in number, and with Afric Moors
and other peoples combine in making a
motley aud unstable community. A
large garrison is always stationed here,
ofteDtimes numbering five thousand
men, giving to the place decidedly
military look.
AS in all garrison towns but little i'm
provement is made by private citizens,
with view to permanent occupancy,
for resident permits are granted for a
lime not exceeding five years. The
official residences are handsome build
ings with beautiful grounds, and are
well designed to make a temporary stay
in Gibraltar very enjoyable. There are
no serious hardships imposed upon those
quartered in this stronghold. despite the
necessarily strict discipline, for the elm
ate is charming and the whole world is
knocking at their doors.
The fortifications cover the western
and southern bases of the Rock, and
command the harbor as well as the en-
trance to the sea. They consist of three
forts, besides batteries on every avalla
ole point. The battery includes two 100
tons Armstrong guns, twenty one feet
long and six feet in diameter, with sew
enteen inches bore, capable of firing a
shot of the weight of ton distance of
twelve miles.
Through the northern end has been
cut series of galleries, that rise from
the bottom nearly TO the top. They are
made in the solid rock, and are about
two and half miles in length, high
enough to ride through on a donkey
and wide enough for a carriage to pass
At intervales of thirty-six feet there are
port holes, in which seven inch rifles are
mounted, so as to command the ap-
proaches from Spain.
In the upper end of the galleries, at
their point of termination, an immense
chamber has been formed, called St.
Georges Hall, overlooking the Mediter
ranean and the continent, the windows
of which are twelve hundred feet above
the sea- In this chamber it is custom
ary to hold official receptions, entertain
ments and balls. The mind may picture
the novel surroundings of such an event,
ablaze with naval and military regalia,
in the very interior of the mountain,
and recall the tradition of the frenZied
lover, who in the presence of his lady
love threw himself from one of the Op.
enings down the perpendicular wall OF
stone TO the rocks and waters below.
where it is presumed his senses were
restored.
The town is most scrupulously guard
cd. The gates on the northern side are
closed at sun-down, and sentries are
posted along the line. No one is per-
mitted to enter or leave the place be-
tween sunset and sunrise. While this is
very wholesome military requirement,
as well as wise precaution, it is a prac-
tice that sometimes results in the dis
comfiture of the belated traveller, as bit
OF personal experience exemplified.
In company with friend, shortly af-
ter our arrival in port, to indulge my
propensity for horseback riding, / had
been out in the Spanish domain for a
gallop over the country reads. Across
the i5thmus that connects Gibraltar with
the mainland is a "trip of land, half
mile in width, known as neutral ground.
Along its borders, on either side, the
sentinels Of the two nations are arrayed,
who seem to be employed principally in
looking at each other.
We had passed through both lines in
the morning without let or hindrance,
and with the thoughts of a delightfully."-
spent day alone in our minds, were max
ing our way back to the city. The
Spanish guards offered no opposition. as
we entered the neutral ground just after
the sun had dropped down behind the
hills, unconscious of Gibraltar's hour for
retiring. At thu English guard line we
were stopped at the point Of bayone .
| and were Informed that we cold not er,
ter the town. American.like we argued
the case, but without avail. The senti
mel, as well as the officer OF the guard
who was called for consultation, ex-
plained in most courteous manner thai,