Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-28

bastions and walls. An invading force from
inland II it reached the edges would pause
as If on the brink Of a precipice. If ropes
and scaling ladders could let the forces
down, the fortress would yet remain to be
taken The stone "garretus." watch
towers. which crown its angles might not
be formidable except for the protection OF
sharpshooters. But the uneven surface of
the roof could shelter stubborn resistance.
Guns there now are supposed to be capa BILE
of raking either sea or land Cabanas has
been called the Cuban bastile- 1t could
never be leveled by popular demonstra-
ton such leveled the prison of Paris.
Its demolition would present problems of
military engineering. In these days, per-
thought. considered part Of the de-
lenses of Havana In the old days 1t was
formidable. Its massive nature is appreci-
ated only from within.
Politely Excluded.
One may see much of the fortress with
out having a glimpse of the real prison. the
cells and the prisoners. 1t was our good
fortune that day to catch sight of every
thing The passage which leads from the
laurels into the prison was crowded. Be
tween the men whose "cedulos'' or certifi-
Gates of Spanish citizenship had to be veri-
fled and the women who were impatient to
have their permits ScrutiniZed the guards
had rather more than they could do. In
the confusion We passed by without exhib-
iting any documents to esta bliSh our identi-
ty. The sergeant at the head of the broad
steps which lead into the rectangular court
on which the cells open barred our ingresS
for a moment. but. gently thrusting aside
the bayOnct which he presented. we entered
and began to stroll along the corridor,
which has the sky for a roof and the earth
Tor noorlng. Only the great walls and the
iron bars make the prison. Our stroll was
intercepted by some commotion. The cap
tain of the guards was excited and
calling us back. Instead. we walked over
h.lrsa "a
were seated. His rank was that of colonel.
He frowled little and asked sharply for
our ceduias. or official permits. Before
and during the pariey | had improved the
chance to see the cells and their inmates.
The cells looked roomy enough. but they
We're darl. and seemed to be very damp.
Some of the prisoners were fairly clothed
others Nefe IN rags All of them pressed
wiSjfully against the bars. Those whose
wives and friends were handing them food
and clothes talked cheerfully. / was told
most of the inmates of these cells were po-
htical prisoners. Though the amnesty
which the government has extended is a
genuine one. time is required to pass on so
many cases. and it will be days and per-
haps weeks before all the political prisoners
go out from Csbanas.
The p.-iey with the comr:landan:e was
fruitleSS He did not seem fully satisfied
with III. explanation that we were tour
istas viageios" tstrolling toIris,s), who had
come over 10 see the fortress along with
otter historic places aTOul1 Havana. So
We retired with polite regrets on bot;l sides
that tire regulations were so stringent As
we Were leaving heard the reprimand
which was administered the sergeant, the
corporal al i clear down the lire. But the
Spanish soldier takes a reprimadd lightly.
ard no serious harm followed the brea III of
discipline. We rambed for an hour among
the fosses inside the defenses. picked wild
flowers from the moldy walls and finally
crossed the big draUbridge, whence the
way Is d short quarter of a mile to Moro
Thaf ORA wbrldye is another reminder n
the MASSIVE ard medieval character of the
outposts which Spain in former years
threw up as part of the dcfenses of Ha-
wanna.
Moro Real Defense.
More is a real defense More of this is
seen from the land approach than is pi;i-
Bile from the sea. Guns project their muz-
zies from every corner. The castle is 4
bristling array of cannon, which sweep
both land and water. 1t is much smaller
tfan Canabas and is comoast fort al
most hewn from the rocks. Its natural
position Is impregnable. The utility of it's
cidnance may be another ma tier. Whether
some of the guns would do greater dam
age from the breach than from the muzzle
their employment in actual warfare will
nave 10 settle one of my companions
who h2s sorle technical knowledge. formed
a judgment to which he gave frequent
utterance. Antiquated' was his repeated
comment. The guns which command the
SEA where the bend is made into the mar
rev entrance OF the harb0r for moment
gained MS admiration. On closer inspec-
ton he shifted with disgust. Two sec
ond-hand Krupps. he declared, land as
m alive. the others are muzzle-load-ng
farrots. which haven't been used since our
ciNiI war Thirty years out of date
Castle Moro has only one moat or ditch
tdt ii is an immense one-a real abyss
Inc dra~ bridge spanning il is narrow and
H~ ~ 10 FRI $50 h
No sentinel barred the way to the stone
corridor. which was damp and dark enough
10 lead 10 d dungeon. The only light came
from the ioOpholes along the side 4 small
body Of men could hold this entrance TO
Moro against a large force, especially if
they got the drawbridge up in time The
corridor Is two hundred feet in length
Groplng our way through it. We came to
The entrance proper. The patio or court
was filed with soldiers. A request was
made for permission to visit the light
'n"''ss lille ii was being carried along
-..e iin-- 20 the proper official We improved
the opportunity to look around The cells
In Moro must be real dungeons The graf
ings across them seem hardly more than
peep holes. Imprisonment in them is
dreaded much more than confinement in
Cabanas. The interior of the castle is an
parently on the plan of rectangular pas
sages and right angles. An American
newspaper artist, who was imprisoned in
the early stages of the Instruction, made
drawings OF the interior and carried them
away with him.
The governor of the castle came in per-
son to refuse our request to visit the light
house Permission could only be given he
said by Gen. MolinaS at the palace As
Gen McliEas was leaving that afternoon
FOR Spain, permit frCm him was not prac-
ticable- We took the road down to the
waters edge and saw more of the guns of
Moro These were mostly small ones.
junk yard of discarded ordnance proved an
interesting find" A pair of ancient brass
cannon, cast in 1I24 and 1871. respectively,
started a train of historical "reminiscences
But the modern guns were more to the
Taste of the member of the party whC
claimed technical knowledge. He exam
ined Them with great attention. His COM
me mt was brief. Il wonder" said the eX-
pert, 'if spain IL being cheated as badly In
her purchases now she was when she
bought this junk" Who knows?
CHARLES NJ. PEPPER.