Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-10-11
ROCK OF GIBRALTAR.
BEAUTIFUL GARDENS AND eRlsTLlNe
MASKED BATTERIES.

A Wonderful and Gigantic Lion-"The
City Protected by the Lord"--Queer aud
Interesting Scenes witnessed In the Mar
ket Place mt Tangisr.
The idea that many people have OF Glib
raltar is mainly that derived from their
college days-thatitisnn invincible fortress
held In ancient days by the phonnicians
and now by the British, wherein ono Of tho
pillars OF Hercules was built.
The majority OF English speaking people
do not understand that it is a city "built
upon a rock" with population OF over
ee,Ooo people, with good hotels, beautiful
drives around the Mediterranean sea, with
its alameda (garden) tastefully laid out,
where, amid a most luxuriant growth OF
geraniums, oleanders, the aloe and the olive,
capped by chcti of remarkable dimensions,
a mixed throng arrayed IN all manner Of
costumes, from the turbared Moor the
Spanish don, the English soldiers, the fac.
lie Greek, down to the unpretentious Amer
lean citizen. wander during the afternoon
to the strains OF fine military band.
There are hospitals and churches. The re-
ligious element being mixed, there are two
bishops, and the various nations Of the
earth are represented by their consuls,
delivered my letter Of introduction to
our American consul, Mr.. Homtio l.
Sprague, II most genial gentleman, who
has occupied his present Office for over 40
consecutive years and who gave us permits
10 "the galleries" These galleries arc
actually tunnels within the rock, on the
north front, which rise In tiers ono above
the other and command the entire entrance
10 the straits and To the narrow strip OF
land known as "the neutral ground,n
which separates Gibraltar from the Span
ish frontier, and which II removed would
render the massive rock an island--then
perhaps even more improbable than it is
at present
You can drive in carriage to the en-
trance Of these Qualifications, or you can
ride mules or donkeys entirely through tho
galleries, The ascent is not very steep and
at the distance Of about 30 feet apart en-
brasures ARE cut In the rock, IN which bris-
tie guns OF the newest description, which ut
moments notice can be brought to bear
upon land and sea.
Besides these batteries within the actual
rock Of Gibraltar, TO which the ordinary
visitor is admitted, there are other subtei,
rIneAn passages, only TO be visited by spe-
cial permits, and in addition TO all these
masked batteries the military defenses ON
the lower part OF the rock are most sur.
prising, and what with the Victoria bat
terry, the DEVILS Tongue battery, the Or
ange bRstion, the Ragged Staff stairs and
the Jumpers battery the traveller secs that
Indeed the fort must be inviucible Every
possible device for bombaTdment, blowing
up ships, exploding mines and killing men,
upon which indeed generally depends the
success Of war, can be found here.
The British products exported to Gibral-
tar amount to e6cO,0 year, ana the col.
lected revenue is sufficient to support the
city
In times OF peace the garrison consists Of
1900 men and costs England 1000, COO an
nunlly, and there are stores and water els
terms within the Notifications sufficient TO
supply garrison Of 10000 men for two
years, The impregnability Of this wonder
full and gigantic lion, lying with his mighty
head looking over the blue waves OF the
Mediterranean, may DO conceived when 1t
is remembered that General Elliot held 1t
for four years with 5000 troops, some OF
them in a wretchedly forlorn condition,
against the entire army and navy Of Spain
and France.
Since tho establishment of n regular line
of steamships from New York TO Genoa,
stopping at Gibraltar, this little city, this
remarkable rock rising sheer out OF the sen
1850 feet; this great key to the blue Medi-
terranean and to the countries whose shores
are washed by its waves; this once supposed
lend Of the world" this historical and in.
Vinciblo fertilization will become better
known and will be the frequent resbrt for
those who not only seek 1t for itself, but rs
the ueareat point to the north OF Africa,
Tangier, the politico-diplomati capital Of
the empire of Morocco, which presents even
more novel experiences in manners, Gus
toms and peculiarly OF appearances than
Gibraltar itself
must turn over to the guideboolS TO find
how ancient this city is, how it was once 10
prosperous that it was called "the city pro-
teoted by the Lord !" and that its popnla.
tion il nearly 1900, about 300 Of whom are
Europeans. After this must give, "a they
say ut prayer meetings, my experiences"
The Joaquin Pieleago, yacht built steam
err, leaves Gibraltar three times a week for
Iangier aud Cadiz, making the trip in
day, the return passage being made on the
alternate days.
The most remarkable sight ia the market
place on a market day Imagine an open
place on hillside about twice the size Of
Bryant park and the reservoir, paved with
cobblestones, and imagine all over 1t In
the closest proximity squatting groups Of
men, women ana cnilufen III all varieties
OF native costume and OF different shades
and colors. Here lie number Of camels
lately arrived in caravans from over the
desert. There are numerous focks OF sheep.
Here comes Moor with live goat over
his shoulders. There goes fierce looking
native from the mountains with his head
shaved excepting long lock Of hair which
falls over his shoulder, carrying a skin Of
water Occasionally one sees a SpaniRrd
in modern garb on beautiful Moorish
horse stepping gingerly in and about the
crowd
All kinds of produce arc here displayed,
the vendors. with high pitched voices, Of
fering their wares and expostulating about
prices. There are money changers aud
snake ehRrmers, sellers OF wood, hay, brass,
coal, iron and tin, Of eggs, poultry, sornber
wooden and gayly colored linen stuffs, Of
fruits. candles and drinks. There isaslave
market. and n cattle market, and a grain
market, and what with the continual move
! ment, the native cries Of the merchants,
the beating OF sheep aud the goats, the
low OF the camels and the cry Of the
| calves you may imagine what seene must
BE- presented.-Tangier Cor New York
Il IN