Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-07-26

| on the other bare open country,
where low hill spe iks to hill. How
\ easily they must have signalled for
merly to each other, "Watchl-the foo
| is coming"
/ The drawIridge of old is now solid
J masonry. But the Porte Narbonnaisi
looks down grimly and grandly as
ever on the strangers who pass under
its sculpture weather.wor front. The
gateway stands open between its tw1
great towers, and had strong defences
be ides its moat and barbican. The
eutry used to be, firstly guarded by
chain, of which the massive rivets are
still fixed In their place, and that was
intended to stop cav llry from riding
tito the town at full speed, and so
surpriiing the inhabitants. A mach
| cOuiiS, or stone aperture overhead, pro-
tects the first portcullis, as also the
massive wooden gate with its heavy
bnrs. What terrible shower of molt-
Ell lead and boiling oil could be poured
! ~ IN above on any daring assailants!
! But should they nevertheless latter
down the doors with axes, crowhars,
and RAM, and rush under tho vaulted
entrance of the gate tower, they would
gain small breathiug-space. A second
DOORWAY AMI portcullis, similarly
/ guarded, are the only means of egress
from The tower into the town. And
! ovcrhea | is IL third deadly square hole,
| through which guarded opening the
defenders in the room overhead would
thrust down stink-pots and burning
fagots. Sitting, choking, the attack
| ing soldiers would be pent in such a
de sth-trap, the chances were sm Ill
that they woull b We strength to roak
throu yh the second gate. Besides,
lateral loopholes in the side walls per-
mitted crossbo men posted in the a
! jlcent towers to disch rye double fre
/ Of bolts on what enemies should sur
vive.
Was this stronghold impregnable
enough, do we imagine, in those days
when the smell of gunpOwder and the
roar of cannon were unknown? BY no
means There we're several other
means of defence, of which the principal
was a wooden outer penthouse, OF
! gallery, above the gate-arch. On
| either side OF the niche where stands
the statue of the Virgin may still be
seen the square putlog holes, meant to
receive the beams that supported this
| hOurG, as it was called; whence our
modern term boarding. From this Il
terrible shower of arrows and other
projectiles could be hurled on the in
vadsrs, to beat them back before ever
they crossed the bridge.
| Let US now pause before entering
and CLEAN few salient facts concern.
! ing the history of this ancient strong
hold.
We shall hear what says Violet lie
Due, the great architect under whose
guidance all the breaches of Carcass
some have been restored.
! Towards the year 636 the senate of
Rome resolved TO establish a colony at
Narbonne, to guard the passes into
Spain. And the people of the land,
being unresisting, were rewarded with
rights of self government in five towns.
Foremost of these was this same Car
cassonne, which in the year 20 before
| the Christian era was chosen as q no.
BILE. or elect, city. A deep peace
brooded over Southern GauI under
the Roman rule for near FIVE centuries
with hardly break. Then the Cloths
burst upon the fair southern land with
fire and sword, carrying desolation
over the mountains into Spain; and in
1876 Theodore the Visigoth seized Car
cassonne, and left there still abiding
signs of his strong hand. Walk round
her walls now; mark her bulwarks. The
bases of these massive towers rest truly
, on Roman foundations, but were them
selves reared by the fair haired invaders.
They are recognizable by being square,
or rudely rounded, to receive the de Q
fences of the fifth century. Every five
an twenty yards rose such tower, all
girded together by high broad walls,
guarded atop by soldiers behind bat
Elements. these towers were entirely
solid below, to resist sapping and bat
tering-rams. But at safe height
chambers were followed in their thick
ness, and thence archers shot down
from wi apertures protected by
wooden shutters working on horizontal
bars. Imagine sunblinds made Of wood
and iron, and that could be pushed
outwards or drawn to as need dictated,
and one can picture the deadly sho wer
of feathered mi>sles which issued
thence.
Many n siege Carcassonne was forced,
from its position to endure. Being sit
usted on high ground above the river
Aude, it commanded the valley of the
latter, which was the natural road lead
ing from Narbonne to Toulouse. Both
Franks and Burgundians tried TO dis
lodge the Visigoth lntruders. but in
vain, even when King Clovis sum-
moned them to surrender.
! But a great change was at hand. In
! the year 7l3 let us Danish the stern
YIsigoths from our pIcturel Csrcas-
some of long ago. The Spanish
Moors have won it and hold it fast.
| Turbancd heads garrison its walls,
the Crescent CLEANS where the Cross
was once set on high. For nigh four
centuries history is almost silent on
/ the doings within the famous strong.
hold. Then once more the rule
changes, and these masters in turn de-
part like ghosts across the scene, while,
Ms We survey the little city set on
hill, new procession crosses the
bridge down yonder across the brown
stream.
! 1t Is A. d. 1896. And that central
! figure in the proud pageant is Pope
! Urban, journeyiug to Carcassonne to
restore amity between the burghers
and their lord, Bernard Atov. Some
had revOlted against their suzerain's
authority; wherefore to certain faith
! ful citizens he gave watch and ward
over the rumparts during four months
and eight months espectively-with
privileges thereto pertaining which eI-
ist unto this very day SO the Pope
cume ana restored pc ce. blessing the
cathedral church of Saint NazaIre,
that is still a Joy for ever in its beauty.
Again slice of the magic lantern
shows a burning August sky and an
army under the great Simon di Mont
! fort himself. Alack for tue garrison,
tho wells fail, and in fortnight thirst
forces the besieged to surrender, upon
which their viscount is flung traitor
ouily into one of the dungeon towers,
and there dies a captivel
His successors were despoiled and
banished by Louis VIII. Bat in l2lJ
one gallant young viscount raised
Spanish troops, and came knocking,