New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-06
EXPLORING MORO CASTLE.
RICH IN LEGEND. BUT ARMED Win
GINS OF THE LAST CENTURY.

tho rocks and of the rocks, ~ rlch i" 'i'"
and frowning battements drawDTioseS anu
subterranean passages dungeons ana re''i''oe''
~ the age Of helmets and raplers' Noie''e''
Il e surrounded b. confused mass vi p"' w"
,v,-o fencing. recently erected 20 keep out the
American soldiers and marines III Is uese''eu
and as silent as the flight OF the Nui'"ie' '""'
wing their way over its summit
4, ito bose the blue sea breaks in flashes or
foam ard the ocean breeze is cool in 'he shadow
y, tic walls One searches long through Morros
,>ossocos and over the roofs, that even the
lizards rorsakc during the monday heat, Tor
s,ors ~ the guns that are said 10 have replied
ca ,auantl, 10 tho fire CT the American meet
IN TIE ton batter:ent one finds several small
u,ortars made Of bronze and cast IN SPAN !"
the Early part Of the seventeenth century
These are curiously carved Snarling dragons
form their fanciful handles.
I'm tho same roof are two mounted cannon OF
bronze about fourteen feet long. one OF them
hearing on its surface and rtermingled with
carved coats Of arms. feur de lis ana oecora-
tons whose significance it is hard TO compre-
bend the following inscription: Mars. Ultima
ratio regum Louis Charles de Bourbon. Com'e
d'Eu Due dAumale. Neo Plurious impair *
JUN. 174S Jean Maritz.
The other cannon bearing similar inscriptions
cast few years before. Both are on himsy
wheals and probably have not been fired for
wears The old fashioned mortars show signs
NJ having been shifted and handled and bass
for their gaping threats are scattered about.
Search the castle over. and you VIII mo sew
eral more muzze- loading guns OF bygone
aye unmounted their rusty mouths pointed
heIplessly against the castles battlements. ana
this is Ell Morro's complete armament to-day
SIGNS OF RECENT LIFE.
Through the bare chambers are scattered some
signs Of the recent presence of the Spanish
soldjerv-old tin cans tattered clothing, straw
hats and forlorn contrivances for cooking. The
bare white walls of room have been deco
rated by a soldier-artist OF no mean talent, and
they speak Of tedious hours. The steps that
lead from bastion to turret are crumbling and
worn. the doors to strange apartments hang
open, and the old Spanish castle. alive with the
interest and dignity of past ages. protests
mutely against the invader and the modern con-
queror.
The southeast bastion. that formerly upheld
the Spanish flag. knocked into dust by the
shot that carried down the banner. There are
signs of shots that have pecked at the solid
walls: a shell carried away the drawbridge and
broke through the main entrance. but otherwise
FL Moro bears no nOtlCeaDle evidence ol pohi-
bardment.
A few hundred yards to the east. and still on
the height Is the eastern battery. Between 1t
and the castle are some low, red-tiled houses,
formerly used as quarters for the garrison Of the
fort Here also stood the lighthouse that
marked the harbor entrance. now shattered and
twisted by the fire from the American ships. for
which 1t doubtless offered an excellent target
The eastern battery is Of earth; barrels of
cement and sacks Of dirt protect the guns
Here are two small field pieces made in Sevilla
In 1878 and the ground is plentifully strewn
with unused ammunition. scattered in and out
of the ammunition boxes as these were hur-
riedly opened Here. also are five bronze muz-
zle-loading cannon. bearing dates Of their cast
ing, as follows: 11GS. Ills 1913 lIS3 and lI69.
These however mounted on modern iron
carriages and they have been used. small
house Just behind the earthworksi is still full of
bags of cube powder and conica bullets Just
down the hill on the land side the recently
occupied quarters of the Spanish troops.
One of these bronze cannons Of the last CEN
fury dismOunted by a shot from the fleet.
The carriage was wrecked and now lies half
buried in the torn earth but the gun appears
to be uninjured and may still grace some Amer
lean park. an object Of interest TO sunday WIS.,
itors This is the only visible damage done.
There are signs Of hurried departure on all sides,
but the four old muzzle-loa poke up their
noses as defantly as ever.
MODERN MORTARs DISCOVERED.
At this battery there also two mortars.