The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-08
additional Facts
Hbout Old Quebec
The Most Impregnablc Fortress on the
Continent of America.
AS SEEN FROM THE CITADEL
Military Stores and Arms Sufficient for
Twenty Thousand Men-Thc Majestic
St. Lawrence and Several Other
Interesting Views.
Special to the Scranton Tribune.

Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Quebec, Nov. 2S.-Approached from
any quarter of the city, the fortress in
spires the visitor with awe. From the
bastions of the citadel the Union Jack
floats, the. symbol of British power in
America, and the British heart beats
and ''the bosom swells with pride" at
the sight of these frownlng walls. The
citadel is an immense and powerful
fortification-the most impregnable
fortress on the continent of Amerca-
covering forty acres of ground and
located on the summit of Cape Dia-
mond, which is said to be "the coldest
place in the British empire" 1t is $50
feet above the st. Lawrence river, and
100 feet higher than the citadel at Hall
fax, described in former letter The
line of Notifications enclosing the cita-
| del and Upper Town is over three miles
in length. The road up and into it is
somewhat like maze. 1t is separated
| from the city below by broad glacis,
| or sloping bank, which is broken by
three ravelins, or embankments with
trenches, the wall facing the city con-
| tanning line of casemated barracks.
The entrance is by way of winding
| road which leads in from st. Louis
street and st. Louis gate through the
slope of the glacis. We enter first the
outer ditch of the ravelin, through
what is called Chain gate, which is a
ponderous, massive frame, set thick
| with mighty bolts and spikes, with
| curious iron work composed mainly OF
iron chains, looped lengthwise and
crosswise, the links seemingly from six
| to eight inches in length, with q cor
responding width and thickness and
black with age. Thence we pass (al-
| ways under the mouth of cannom into
the main ditch, which is twenty-five
feet deep and some thirty feet wide
ana faced with masonry From this
| point the route opens into q narrow
parade, where cannon are placed al
such angles as to sweep it and the
trenches. Passing the inner Dalhousie
gate the visitor finds himself in an
open, triangular parade, under the loor
holes of the Dalhousie Bastion. Here a
sentry bars the way and to proceed
further we must walk.
Inside the Famous Citadel.
ON one side are the officers quarters
ana the bomb proof hospital, while bar
racks and magazines are seen in adj
vance. The armory contains a great
number OF military curiOsities. held sc
sacred as not to be always accessible
TO tourists Directly opposite are the
oiilcers' quarters in which the Princess
Louise resides while in the city With.
IN the walls are casemated barracks
loop-holed for musketry and command.
ing the trenches, with which the Cita.
del is surrounded and the whole coun.
try landmarks
Upon entering, we are given II
charge of soldier who ushers
us into the heart of the cita
del and escorts us around, making d
vance. The armOry containes grea
his business to tell the weight of the
Inherent guns, to especially call oul
attention to the one captured of the
Americans at Bunker Hill, in 1875, tC
inform us concerning the nature of the
dliferent buildings within the enclos
ure, and finally to lead us to the king.
bastion, the highest part of the citadel
from which gun Is fired at noon ant
at half past nine at night. If the
garrison are out on dress parade Ga!
was the case on each of our visits
we are halted and allowed to witnes!
the maneuvers which occupy the hours
from 10 to II daily. We are then re
turned to the citadel gates, where ou
driver, or carter" awaits us.
Driving around Citadel hill to tn,
Grand battery we have another inter
esting view of river, mountain ant
plain, which never look quite the same
when seen from different points. Upol
this battery are twenty-five 32-pound
ers, which command river and harbor
Alighting from the caleche we wall
along the ramparts to St. Johns Gate
through Kent and st. Louis Gates
Here are deep trenches, massive out
lines of loop-holes and bastions for ar
tillery. We notice, too, how close upol
the street all the houses within tn,
walls are built, how each has its dOu
BILE door, and Is clap-boarded over thu
stone or brick upon the side next to thl
east wind, which is the prevailing winC
in winter.
Quebcc's Powerful Armament.
Upon the fortress and within TIL
memorable walls of the city are 30
cannon, all told Among them 2G fiel
guns, six 4-inch rifles, sixteen S2-pound
ers, beside host of antiquated smootl
bore cannon. The 7-inch Armstrong
guns weigh 11,22S pounds each and car
ry ball that weighs l,4l7 pounds
There are two magazines, each contain
ing 1900 tons of powder one for tn
field battery and one for the garrison
Nine to eleven men are required fo
each battery. Three hundred and siXt
soldiers (all artillersD comprise tn
garrison. Scattered over the Citade
are pyramids of cannon balls, shot an
shell of all sizes and description, Thes
| l,n Ia i,,,, >