The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-12
One of the Ports Watson May
Visit
Was Once the Richest City in
Spain.
MILITARY PORT
Often Besieged, Reduced and
Captured.
Strongly Fortified and Garris-
Oned With Fighters.

Washington. July Zone of
the ports likely to be visited
by Commodore Watson when he crosses
the Atlantic is Cadiz, one OF the most
strongly fortified, and also one of the
most picturesque, cities of the Spanish
coast.
Cadiz has been considered the key to
Spain. 1t has known war. Time and
time again it has been besieged and
captured. Most recently, in 1928, when
the French, in support of Ferdinand
VII, sent a land and naval force For
three months the town held out gal
lantly and then capitulated. Some peo-
PIE think that if the Americans capture
the city war would cease, precisely as
it did after that French expedition.
Another memOra Bile time in the city's
history was when the English in 1896
captured, pi1aged and burned it. The
booty secured was enormous. They
destroyed thirteen ships of war and
forty treasure galleons, causing almost
universal bankruptcy in Spain. A
writer in Golfers Weekly thus des-
cribes that event:
"Cadiz is one of three cities which
Charles V. recommended Philip to keep
an eye on. Once upon time the latter
prepared fleet there. It's destination
was England. It's object was to punish
Eliza beth for her wicked refusal to
marry. But the lady was highly stra-
LGStG- Go41G KNEW d LICK NOIln Two OL
that. Raleigh, Essex, other little dears,
gentlemen adventures and choice per
sons were sent in advance to argue.
They took with them 1000 pikemen,
more than 5000 cannOnierS and $50 sail
on Essex was enjoined the duty of not
exposing himself to danger. For the
rest there were common prayers twice
daily and a general inhibition against
swearing, brawling or dicing, likewise
against picking and stealing. When
the fleet reached Cadiz the harbOr was
found fully furnished with men OF war,
galleys, galleons, merchantmen and
carackS- Then the historic fight was
pulled off There was the punching of
the galIeys, the hulHng Of the men-Of-
war, the scurrying, the scuttlng, the
attack by land and sea, the stOrming
of the citadelS, a fall which followed,
a sack which ensued and the reduction
of Cadiz to a heap of cinders on a
Wreck-streWn shore. Many choice per-
sons were knighted on the spot. Others
were allowed to ransom their prisoners
for all they were worth. Those were
the good old days. But not for Philip.
His part in the entertainment cost him
20, 600, 600 ducats and a great deal Of
his desire to punish the cOntumacious
queen"
Cadiz is situated on a promontory ex-
tending to the northwest of the Isle of
Leon. From this island it is separated
by the Santi Pietri channel, which is
protected by the batteries on either
bank. The long, narrow tongue of land
on which the town lies has on the north
and northeast side an inlet called the
Bay of Cadiz, forming a good and ample
harbOr. It is accessible to the main
land by isthmus which in some places
is only 200 yards wide.
The city is surrounded by rampartS
and protected by forts, of which the
more important are Santa Catalina,
which is generally considered to be the
Cadiz citadel, Fort San Sebastian, on a
point which runs about a mile and a
n ca1f tow I'd a n
tales, built in 1929, on the middle of the
isthmuS between Cadiz and the main
land. The guns OF Puntales crossfire
with those of the TrOcaderO on the
other side of the bay. The defenses are
completed by other Notifications at
Puntales and La Carraca, on the bay;
a San Fernando, in the center OF the
Isle of Leon; the fort of Sanu Pletr1,
at the ocean entrance of the channel
of that name, and, finally, by the forts
of San Luis and Matagorda-
The Bay of Cadiz is about twenty
five miles in circumference. Besides
the Cadiz harbOr it contains that of La
Carraca, on which is the Yea Murguia
ship yard, where the Carlos V, now on
the way to Manila, was built The bay
is divided into two parts by tongue
of land which, extending from north to
south, leaves a passage of about 500
yards, through which vessels have ac-
cess to the harbOr on the northeast
side of the city.
The general appearance OF Cadiz is
fine. It's streets are narrow, but well
laid. It has a number of small parks
and a splendid promenade, the Ala
media de ApOdaca, with a magnificent
view of the sea. CadiZ was once the
richest city in Spain. as it was the only
one which had the right of trading with
the American colonies.
Cadiz was founded about 1000 years
before Christ by the Phoenecians, who
called it Gaddir. 1t was placed under
the care and protection of Hercules, and
on it's arms are still represented that
hero of mythology strangling two lions.
The Carthagenians conquered it, and
then. in 206 B. c., it passed into the
hands of the Romans. Caesar ruled
then as a simple quaestor. From
descriptions that survive, 1t must have
been a fine place in those days in which
to live. TT was renowned" says a
writer, ''for the sheen of it's purple, for
wine smoother than Falernian, for
honey more aromatic than that Of
Hymettus and for girls that had the
Orient in their eyes and lips that said,
Drink me! "
Robbed the Grave.
A startling incident. of which Mr. Tohu