Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-08-07

rlpE VIEW OF HE ROCk.
ticed until some time had elapsed.
A thorough search WAS instituted, but
without success, and In about a
weeks time her lifeless body was dis
covered floating in the bay. She had
probably wandered in the darkness
into some cavity, from which she was
dashed into the sea beneath. 1t Is
also rumored that these cayerns were
once the abode Of gigantic
race of men whose bodies were
covered with thick hair, but it
is barely possible that the Barbary
apes, living in wild state on the
upper portion of the peninsula, gave
rise to this fancy.
Gibraltar has remarkable history.
The terrible sieges 1t has withstood
and the heroism OF those whose duty
it was to defend 1t are well known
and will never be forgotten.
The rock was known to the world
at very early period, and the name
originated in the following manner:
The Phpnicians ca led 1t "Alube,"
and the Greeks corrupted this name
to "Calpe, making 1t also one of the
famous Pillars of Hercules, beyond
VIII ch the worll was thought to end.
In the year Ill A. D. the Saracens
under Tariff ben Tarca fortified it as
tase Of operations in heir passage
into Spain; the rock being "a ready
point of access from the Barbary
coast. Gibraltar took the name of
"Gebel-Tarif" (hill of Tariff from
this leader. and of which name it Is
a corruption.
The British have been unmolested
in Gibraltar since 1883, and at the
present day, as can be easily seen,
England guards this spot with great
care and constant vigilance Batter
les, In from the solid rock, bristle
with artillery, and in every 81 ot
there is a sentinel. 1t, however. ap-
pears to lie more point of honor
with the British that it be preserved
to the crown than matter of na-
tional Importance, as the harbor is of
little value, ana, contrary to common
belief, the fortress by no means COM
mands the straits which at their
narrowest point are fully fifteen
miles across. However, in case of
war, a fleet of British battle-ships
could effectually bar the passage of
the straits with the aid of this I'M
mepse fortress,
We we're told that every one of the
b b,tteries on the rock has secret
passage below the surface, through
which troops can piss to a. most any
portion of the rock in complete Sc
curity from the fire of an enemy.
By this means force, can he rapidly
concentrated in any part cular SPOT,
and hostile stormiug party would
meet with very unex .lected resist
ance.
Tie harbor has netting of sub
marine torpcdocs and mines, which
would also make it very wIIm for an
enemy's yeSse,s were they to venture
within its limits.
At the highest point of the rock
there is small watch tower, from
he hal, We counted forty-three Brit
ish flags floating In the breeze from
different Notifications, and the town
Destling below these seemed to have
an air of confident security, with its
queer streets and buildings. The
shops in Gibraltar were very unique,
being small and having mostly Span
ish 81 N boards. We bought In one of
them some beautiful tiliglee brace
lets in which various colored stones
were set also some spoons and fans
on which the were pictures of the
rock or similar desig S They make
bracelets out of finely carved bits of
the rock, which is, by the way com.
posed mostly Of kind of gray mar
lie. We had t, lie very tautious in
making our purchases, for we soon
found out that the shop-keepers VIII
cheat TO eigners il they are given half
chance.
On every street we saw quaint lit
tic stands, shaded by gaudy umbrei-
las. at which large quantities OF the
most delicious fruit were On sale, and
which seemed to keep fresh, nOtwith-
standing the blazing heat Of the sun.
As Gibraltar IL free port, tobacco
and in fact, almost eve ything is
very cheap 1t Is said that the
place swarms with Spanish SNUG
glsrs, who pass their contraband
goods into Spain dur ng the night
time, often hiving de perate en-
counters with the Spanish coast
guards We were pointed out a
number of small, dirty sailhoats,
having very peculiar shape aud u