The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-02-23

wanders about among the various batteries,
and wonders how ingenious man is at invent
ing methods of destroying his fellow man.
As / rode through the streets OF Gibraltar
and the great rock camo INTO view lt was
natural to contrast the present with the past.
There is legend that the Romans, believing
this to be the end of the land, wrote above this
rock the words, No more beyond"
They called this rock and the one opposite on
the African shore the Gates of Hercules created
by him 20 mark the boundaries of the world.
Beyond here they in their superstition
thought that a mighty HAND would reach out
and draw the too-yenturesome mariner beneath
the waves So the aGcicnts DID not venture far
into the Atlantic. and il has been only about
four centuries since anyone was found bold
enough TO break away from the superstition.
Gibraltar approached from the Atlantic,
appears like huge rock or mass OF rocks ris-
ing directly from the water. 1t is only on
very near approach that the connection with
the mainland is seen at ALL A some distance
two or three ridges are distinguishable, which
have been lkened TO mighty sphynx. By
giving the imagination full play such an APP
pearance might be recognized. On clear day
this looks like very narrow passage. The
LIB" on the Spanish side and the African
coast seem but little distance apart. The
real measurement is about is miles, but at
times appears scarcely more than third that
distance. Anyone acquainted with the sea will
know how deceiving distances are with water
intervening.
Who was it gave the idea that Gibraltar
was a bare rock ? 1t is far from being so.
From the base TO the top it is covered with
some kind of plants. 1t is true, they are
rather sparse at the extreme top. None of it
is capable of cultivation, but furnishes pastur-
age for goats and support for monkeys Prob
ably only the latter could tell how palatable
the prickly pears and nuts Of the rock soil
really are.
This rock, apparently so harmless and unim-
portant, has been the scene of many stirring
actions For the sake of this lonely looking.
precipitous elevation thousands of lives have
been sacrificed and millions of bard-earned
money poured forth.
From time almost immemorial ii has been
occupied by every new conquering race and
considered as one of the most important posi-
tions on the Mediterranean. PhGnecians
Moors, Spaniards, and lastly the English have
waved their flag aloft TO the breeze from its
lofty top.
The capture of Gibraltar by the English
was not great event, nor does the captor
deserve especial credit 1t was taken in 1704,
when Spain was engaged in an internal war
about her royalty. An English Admiral
sailed in and made the capture when the gar
rison was defended by only $50 men. But
siege it has sustained since then, was something
worthy of record.
Gibraltar has stood no less than a dozen
tieges The greatest, however, was about
hundred years ago by the combined French
and Spanish forces. Determined by one last
great effort TO expei the bue-eyed son of fog
and rain, the Governments offered prize for
the most feasible plan of attack. Finally float
ing batteries were constructed and armed with
mortars. Then followed siege of four years
terrible years they must have been for the
besieged. Their houses were destroyed and
they were obliged to resort to the caves in
large numbers Several times they were al
most starved before reinforcements reached
them. At last the English destroyed the float
ing batteries by firing red-hot shot, which was
then q great feat. The attacking army was
composed of over G0,000, men while the garri-
son contained only 5000 men. This, however,
settled England's claim, which has never since
been disputed
Gibraltar is thorn in the side of the Span
lard. 1t is just as if England occupied a spot
On Florida that would command the entrance
70 the Gulf OF Mexico. Efforts have been made
for its recovery. Even in England a strong
party once favored restoring the place to Spain,
but it never succeeded. When in Spain, / no
tieed & paper published in Madrid called