Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-12-20
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'l['ll- ROCK OF gibraltar

ThE RUCK OF GlBRALTAEs
TIE woRIo's MOST FoRMIDABLE
FORTRESS DESCRIBED.
The Rock and tho Town Upon It-
Defences of Gibraitar-A Four
Years Siege
The Rev. Henry M. Fields work.
"Gibraltar, contains the following vivid
description of the Notifications of the
strongest fortress in the world: 1.-THE
Rock is nearly three miles long, with II
breadth of half to three-quarters of n
mile, so that the whole circuit is about
seven miles. But not all this requires to
be defended, for on the eastern side the
cliff is SO tremendous that there is no
possibility of scaling it. 1t is fearful to
stand on the brow and look down to
where the waves are dashing more than
thousand feet below. The only APP
proach must be by land from the north,
or from the sea on tho western side. AS
the latter lies along the bay, and is ut the
lowest level, it is the most exposed to
attack. Here lies tho town, which
could easily be approached by an enemy
II It were not for its artificial dcfenses.
These consist mainly OF what is
called the Line-Wall, tremendous
mass of masonry two miles long, re-
lieved here and there by projecting
bnstions, with guns turned right and left
30 us to sweep the face of the wall if an
enemy were TO attempt to carry it by
storm. Indeed, the line defended is
more than two miles long, if we follow
1t IN its ms and outs; where the New
h01n rpnnhoc ,f, a..
bay, with line of guns on either side:
followed by re entering curve round
Rosia Bay, the little basin whose waters
are SO deep and still that it is quiet
haven for uulading ships, but where an
enemy would find himself in the centre
OF circle of fire under which nothing
could live; and if we include the bat
teries still further southwark, that are
carried beyond Europa Point, until the
last gun is planted under the eastern
Gilt, which is itself defense of nature
that needs no help from man.
within tho Line Wall, Immediately
fronting the bny, are the classmates and
barracks for the artillery regiments that
are to serve the guns The cnscmates
are designed to be absolutely bomb.
proof, the walls being of such thickness
as to resist the impact of shot weighing
hundreds of pounds, while the enormous
arches overhead arc made to withstand
the weight aud the explosion of the
heaviest shells"
But these are not the whole of Gibral-
tar's defcnses. There are batteries in
the rear Of the town Us well rs in front
that can he fired over the tops of the
houses, so that if an enemy were to effect
a landing he would have to fight his
way mt every step. AS one climbs the
rock it fairly bristlcs with guns. DR..
Field says that he could not turn to the
right or left without seeing these open
mouthcd monsters and looking into
their murderous throats. Everywhere it
is nothing but guns, guns, guns, over
head and underfoot, pointing at you
from every direction. The unique
'eatnre of Gibraltar is the rock galleries,
which were begun more than one hun
dred years ago, during the great siege
which lasted nearly four years, when tho
Inhabitants had no rest day or night.
| i is n two-milc walk through them, and
"a ticer in charge is always willing to
dttail n gunner to conduct visitors
through the galleries.
The writer calls attention to the fact
that the majority of people always think
OF Gibraltar rs fortress and forget
that it is anything else. But it is an
old Spanish town, quaint and pictur-
eslpe, with 20, 600 inhabitants. in which
the Spanish element gives n distinct ia
vor to the place. The mingling of the
Spanish with the English is one of the
most striking features of the very mis-
cellaneous and picturesque population.
AS IN most garrison towns, the military
is first and foremost, and there are al.
ways live or six thousand troops in Glib
ralta1 1t is perhaps the largest garr-
son ~ the British dominion. Almost
EVERY hour company passes up the
street, tramping to the monotonous
music of the fife and drum.
Besides the garrison and the English
and Spanish residents of Gibraltar, the
townlhas floating population rs motley
in RAGE and color as can be found in any
city On the Mediterranean. 1t is a gi eat
resort of political refugees who seek
protection under the English flag. As
1t is so close to Spain, it is the first re.
fugc of Spanish consp;rators, who, fail
ing in their attempts at rctoluticn, flee
across the lines. Of the society in
Gibraltar DR.. Field says it would be a
mistake to suppose that the population
of Gibraltar is confined to men. The
nome INSTINCTS nc remarks, are strong
in English breasts, and wherever they
go they carry their household gods with
them. 1t is this feature of garrison
life, its union of fair women and
brave men, which gives such a
charm to the society of Gibraltar.
"Althoug.. Gibraltar is the greatest
fortress in the world, if it were only
that, it would not have half the interest
| tuh ipb ,t hoo Tl,a
est of the Rock is In the record of CEN
turtles which is craven on its rugged
front. For nearly eight hundred years
it was the prize of war between the
, Spaniard and the Moor, and its legends
are all of battle and of blood. Ten times
1t was besieged. and passed back and
forth from conqueror to conaueror, the
Cross replacing the Crescent, and the
Crescent the Cross. Ten times was the
battle lost aud won. When at last. in
1913, the Spaniards drove the Moors out