New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-03
TRdJAN,S TABLET DESTROYED
AND TIE IRON GATE ABOUT TO BE OPENED
WITH 4 KEY OF DYNAMITE.
IRON Az occ.sloxAl COMMENCEMENT OF 1nE 1RDCyrl

rFaoM Az OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF 1HE 1RIbUSf.l
Vienna. July -.
Tho destruction of the famous Tabua lrlIana Is
a most cxaspcrating event. but one scarcely KNOWS
upon whom 10 pour the biggest walls OF arch'eo-
logical wrath The stupid and llt"raie hShcr-
men who did the actual work OF destruction are
of course much blamed Yet they did not kno"
what they were doing Tie Government IS also
held at fault for not projecting the precious Sohe
and antiqparcs and scientific men In geheT'l "Ic
similarly taken 10 tas, for not having provided
long ago for the preservation OF So unique an"
pricclcss a relic But with all this blaming the
evil has been done, and done beyond repair Inc
fishermen have converted the tablet into me
places made great holes IN il, crunbed II by fire.
and il is said made tile inscription utterly
Olerihlr This is tie end OF relic wblch hundreds
of learned men have journeycd 10 Tie lower
Danube Ia see and which will now bc seen no
more.
This monument Of Imperial Rome stands. or
81 ood at one Of the most impressive parts OF
The whole course OF this famous river M"r
rounding the point crowned with the three towers
of the castle Of TTcula. the Danube stretches on'
into a vast hkc-ike cXpanse like the Hudson at
the Tappan Zec At the entrance 10 TINS "Apan e
is a noble gateway of white limestone clIS' pr
pendicuar and Ol great height. these I'se Ilt'
a wall sheer from the waters edge, absolutely
barring Oft all passage by land along tie sides oi
the river Thirty or forty years ego, however,
roadway was made through the ellis at some dis
taIce back from the river by blasting ont hug"
deBc. Bni the ole Roman road got by the ellis
in different manner and traces OF that bold
engineering are still visible in the form OF great
holes cut into the rocks at equal distances from
each other. and in level line above tie hgh
water mark And above these is continuous
level groove or ledge, running along tie face OF
the rocks Into thcsc holes. huge beams were
inserted, extending out over the river. ana on
these the roadway was constructed. II was sim
ply a long shelf, supported above the river ny
cantilevers or brackets.
Opposte Old Gr0Cina, where tire river stretches
out In a vast cXpausc, where the ciiiis are highest
and most prccplous, ana where tle traces Of me
Roman road are most plainly visible, was piaccd
| this huge Tabua IraJana 1t WAS an oOlohs
| slab standing lust above the groove cut IN the
rocky wall. At cacn end Of II was carved a
! dolphin and winged figure. The inscription,
| which was a few years ago sun qultc HSlp'' wa
n PP r." CAESAR. DlVI NERvAE. F. NERVA
| TRAIANVS AVG GERM PONIlF MAAlMlS y.
| TRIB. 70. Xxx.
The remainder was deIaccn W liihc anu VEN
wear II is supposed that IraJah erected ire
| tablet in memory of the first campaign i'll Daca
| and Of the completion OF the great highway along
| the Danube.
| and il is now announced that the hrat blasting
| operations will occur at the beginning Of August
! Preparations being made Tor an elaborate
| ceremony at that time Many distinguished officers
| of the Empire will attend. and the Minister oil
| Commerce viii personally fire the miEe. IT, will
| be some time before the work Is Completed but
| when il is done this formidable obstruction 10
navigation will De entirely rcnovNl