Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-01-30

been replaced by picket fences and
wire netting. Nor are the people met
in the street the swarthy beings de-
scribed in books of travel written half
century ago. As St. Augustine was
founded by Spaniards, | had supposed
that few, at least, were still living
there. but the stalwart Spaniard no
longer stalks through the streets; they
all having emigrated when Florida
was ceded to the United States.
We were fortunate in having man
in our company who spent last winter
in st. Augustine and was acquainted
with all the objects of interest. a few
of the objects which mari, the antiqui-
ty of the town are the old city gate,
the old fort, the sea wall, and house
built in 1862. All these structures are
built of coquina stone, which is com
posed of small shells and sand. Ages
ago these shells were washed up in
enormous quantities by the waves, just
as masses of similar material are now
left on the beach, and under favorable
circumstances have been formed into
stone.
We first visited the old city gate. /
was disappointed in the size of its
towers, as they are not so grand in
fhnir thnu nfIpn
pictured. But there was time when
they stood out bravely enough, and
when in their security St. Augustine
rejoiced. Over three hundred years
ago they looked out upon a dreary
wilderness, and when the gate was
closed against the midnight approach
of foe, the town slumbered peaceful
| ly, while to-day they are dismantled
and useless: yet they stand as pictur-
esque ruins to remind the passing
stranger that he is on historic ground.
! We next visited the old fort, climb
| ing upon its parapets and looking east
ward beyond Apastasia Island. | saw.
| for the first time in life, the white caps
of the mighty Atlantic. After gazing
here for half All hour, we plunged into
the dark recesses and dungeons of that
ancient structure, where perhaps an
gels would fear to tread; but folio wing
Sergeant Brown, whose business is to
I conduct y-isitnrs fhpnrrh Tho fort
| feared no danger. 1t is a massive
structure oil Coquina stone, covering,
with reservation, about twenty-four
acres. For want of time and space !
cannot give an adequate description
of this mammoth fort. No one can
form anything like just conception of
it until he has seen it.
| Extending from the old fort south to
| the United States barracks, stands the
old sea wall. which has been repaired
in more modern times and capped with
New England granite, which forms a
very pleasant walk-way. The site OF
ST. Augustine is so low that under GER
tain conditions of wind and tide the
waves would cover much of the town
were it not for this wall. From here
| We proceeded through Treasury street,
which is but seven feet wide, to the
oldest house in the United States. /,
is a small one-story building. with low
ceilings and small rooms. 1t is in a
good state of preservation and occupi-
ed by a very pleasant family. After
visiting a museum, and making a few
purchases from a curiosity shop, we
returned to our hotel, feeling very
tired. but we'll pleased with our day s
experience, and filled with pleasant
anticipations for the morrow.
i Yours, F. M. ANDERSON
r e L NJ