The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-15

Gibraltar's Rock Has Been Regarded
ns Impossible of Capture.
Ct,o-1ootop NouS and Courier


Charleston News and Courier.
Gibraltar is almost an island of rock. it's
only connection with the mainland of spain
being a narrow causeway known as the
sNeutral ground This Is patroled up to
a certain point by English %sentries looking
neat, trim and businesSlike in their short
red coats and white helmets. Just beyond
territory begins and another relay of
guards clothed in the yellow and red OF
Aragon and CASTLE stand ready to see
that the realm of his Majesty, Alfonso
XIII, are not to be encroached upon and
that no one crosses the border without
first passing through the little Spanish
custom-house. For nearly EU years, night
and day. these two sets of sentinels have
watched and challenged and glared at each
other and seem likely to continue so doing
for a good many years TO come.
The fortress stands at the end OF a rocky
promotory extending about three miles into
the sea and about half q mile in breadth.
The north end, which overlooks Spain.
springs up nearly perpendicular s to q height
steep and rugged and extremely difficult of
access even IL they were not fortihed; so
that it is only on the west sice. fronting
the bay. where the rock declines to the
sea and the town is situated that 1t could
be attacked with the faintest hope OF sue
cess. Here, however, the strength OF the
fertilization is such that the place may be
said TO be ~impregnable. The lower batter
les are all casemated and masked Nv
bushes, while higher up vast galleries have
been ~excayated in the Solo rock T Tho
damage which might ensue from the ex-
plosion of shells is guarded against by
open trayerses, and a network OF pas
sages gives communication between the
oifferent batteries and protects the gunners
from the enemy's fire. Looked at from be.
low there Is nothing save an occasional
portfolio TO indicate the eaa,y cnaractet
could be looked down on from ABOVE II
would be ofund to present from sea TO sum
init a perfect labyrinth OF stone TUNES
bristling with cannon and stored with
chained lightning SUFFICIENT 10 snake the
earth to it's very center:
According TO the historians Gibraltar has
been besieged no less than thirteen times.
Its possession rested alternately with the
Moors and the Spaniards until i.vi, wnen III
was attacked during the war OF the spanish
succession by the English and Dutch fleets
and surrendered after a short resistance.
The Spaniards during the nm years ioi-
lowing va.nly endeavored 10 recover IL, but
lish by the peace Of Utrecht. The last and
most memorable siege was in Il9. When
General George Ellieet and his gallant band
of 6.0O half-starved men successiuny neld
bined fleets of Spain and france Inat was
a close shave for the English, out they
have provided agains its recurrence In such
ing short of an earthquake VIII ever dis-
lodge them from the rock. IL Is said that
the fortress is always KEPT v rsil I i fe,e =
phones. telegraphs, electric searchligh,s and
q perfect code of signals nave united the
garrison practically into a nenting machine.
THE blue waters of the bay are said to be
treacherous with sunken torpedoes. and
even the elements are guarded against by
means OF position or rangennders whereby
the guns above. although enveloped In
clouds or usists. can be electrically. pointed
and discharged from half a mile below and
the enemy made to think that Great Jove
IS hurting clouds At him from high heaven
itself.