The San Francisco call., 1897-12-15

DOVER, Dec. IA 14-Dover Cast e, one of
the most picturesque landmarks and
ancient to-tressss in England, was partly
destroyed by dre, which broke out early
this morning and which was not ex-
tnguished until 4 o'c ock This afternoon.
Only by the most strenuous exertions was
II possible to keep the flames from the
powder magazine. Ill which an immense
quantity OF EXPLOSIVES are stored, the
strong wind which prevail ed during tie
greater part of the day rendering the
battle with the confagration exceedingly
fierce.
The eastern portion of the castle ma
been entirely destroyed and the fire like
wise did considerable damage 10 the west
ern portion, cutting the officers quarters
and partly destroying the artillery bar
racks.
The fire Is supposed to have been due to
IN overheated chimney. There " as some
difficulty at first in getting water and this
caused great excitement but the entire
; garrison was utihz in passing buckets
iron hand TO hand 10 + the tanks ana
tue supply so Obtained proved sutf cent
Owing % the exertions OF the garrison in
removing valua5es, he property damage
vas paratvely small, very much less
than was at rirst expected.
Dover Castle is on the cliff above Dover.
and presents a fine light from the sea. Ii
is more Ike q fortress than any OF L
other defenses in England. Julius Caesar
is credited with building the foundation
and part Of the present fortress, although
recent antiquarians assert ii was quilt be-
tween the years a. D. 80 and 49. during
the reign of ClaUdius.
The buildings presentthe characteristics
o. Roman, Saxon and Norman archicec-
ture. All that can be traced o. he Roman
portion is encircled Dy d 7ep ditch The
Saxon pOrtIon OF The fortress Il. pre- umed
to have been commenced by Alfred the
Great, and the foundation OF the present
keep is said to have originated with Dun
oulph, Bishop Of Rochester, about the
year 1853
The castle covers about thlrty-six acres
of ground. Among its most attractive
features are a curious piece of brass ORR
nance, cast at Utrecht il 1854 twenty-four
feet long. and known as Queen Eiza-
beth's pocket piston; PeyereI's Tower, so
called after en- ilIegliimate son Of the
Norman conquerer, who had command OF
the pos; the Square Keep, rising 100 f~et
from the ground and 80 feet above the
sea, rom which grand view is obtained
The famous well, 400 feet deep was once
an important ielt ture of the tower, but 1t
is now arched over for the better security
of the public. There are also the old
Roman church and the Pharos, or light
house, and Cocklecrow, OF CoIton's gate.
The barracks accom- m od ate about 2OOO
men, light and air being conveyed into
the different departments by circular
apertures cut in the chalk ana by other
openings carried to the face of the cliffs
Dover Castle is officially governed by
the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. at
present The Marquis of Salisbury, who is
supposed 10 have maritime jurisdiction as
Admiral of The Ports over Dover
Hastings, Romney, Hythe and Sandwich
the original CInque Ports, 10 which were
afterward added the ancient towns" Of
Winchelsea and Rye.
The Cinque Ports, up TO the reign O,
Henry VII, had 10 furnish the crown
with nearly all ships and men needed for
the state The oldest charter now on
record belongs to the sixth year of the
reign of Edward l. and it refers 10 pre-
vious documents OF the time of Edward
the Consessor and William the Con-
queror.
The present Warden Of The Cinque
Ports. who succeeded the Marquis of
Dufferiu, was installed on Angus 15 1896
succeed ing, in addition 10 Lord Dufferin
Henry VIII, among the kings, and Pitt
Wellington, DaIhousie. Palmerston, Gran
Vile ard others among statesmen.