The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-18

vana was considered impregnable. It is still
called the "impregnable port" but what
sort OF stand it would make with a mod
ern fleet bombarding the city from the open
sea is another question. 1t would then be
harbor OF poor defense. A more secure
harbor naturally can hardly be imagined.
approached by narrow strait, shree-quar-
tt,rs of a mile long and less than a quarter
as wide, the bay of Havana spreads out
much like an open hand. affording shipping
an easy shelter in each OF the qualifications.
New York harbor and the Golden Gate are
not more securely guarded by their nat
ural gateways. Havana is upon the PENN
Sllla at the west approach and is built away
from the gulf shore in such way as to
line the harbor, thereby being mostly Sc
curely inland This peninsula is held by
Principe fortress, which juts out into the
water and has a commanding sweep of the
water line in three directions. Further west,
along the coast line, at the extreme end
of the city, is planted the Reina battery.
in position to protect the shore line down
to the gateway held by Principe. Across
the ma rrow entrance TO the harbor-not
more than $40 feet wide at the narrows-
stands the famous MORO Castle upon
beetling height, surmounted by an impos-
ing stone lighthouse. Behind Ell MORO and
extending along the east side OF the harbor
entrance is Cabanas fortress, the, real sig
nficant Notifications OF the harbor The
fortified hills of Cabanas show rows of
bristling guns that produce n cross fire
with the guns of Principe. There are also
rows of guns on the water line in front of
the city. These parallel batteries could pre-
vent, it is thought, any fleet from passing
Modern rifles of large caliber have be-
come the real authoritative voice of this
armament. These are so arranged at both
MORO and Principe as TO sweep the sea-
The CabanaS guns guard approaches by
land, as well as the sea. Across the neck
of the Havana peninsula are the batteries
of La Punta, which are able to protect the
city and harbor from the southwest cor
ner of the city. AT the upper end of the
all the inner harbor and the bay shore line
of the city. The navy yard and powder
magazine are further up the bay to the
MORRO CASTLE.
Moro Castle the guardian of Havanas
gateway, stands upon an imposing height
at the east entrance of the harbor. 1t is
the sight all eyes feast upon at entering
port and about it clings most of the his
torical sentiment that three centuries of
history have made for Havana. The city
was founded eighteen years after Columbus
visited the island Notifications were al
most the first thing built, and the site of FL
Moro was the earliest location among for
tifications. 1t has been almost destroyed
several times, and each time of rebuilding
has profited by enlargement and the better
ment of its defenses Ell MORO is on the
point opposite the peninsula occupied by
the city 1t therefore commands a sweep
of the sea, the mouth of the port the city
and the harbor. The promontory which it
crowns has been likened to the heights of
Quebec, being an almost impossible precl-
p1ce of rock and earth, carefully moated
and terraced at every point of vantage.
The castle, of solid masonry and stone par
apets, looks secure against all oncomers
with it's Dahlgren guns peeping out through
the yellow stone fronts The O'Donnell
light is an imposing cylindrical stone tower
| rising out of the castle 1873 feet above the
sea. This light is flashed for eighteen miles
seaward. AT the left of MORO Castle on
approach is a battery of dozen guns
| called AnOCflpS.
| tWenty-four- pound shot and work en- bar
bette, which, although insignificant against
| modern war vessels, gave good effect in the
old days against buccaneers or even war
| vessels attempting to enter port. Less a
fortress than prison, however, is the
Moro Castle of to-day. 1t has ramifica-
| lions under the sea and chambers that have
not been explored for a hundred years-at
| least by others than Spaniards, for the cas-
tie holds its secrets Well and outsiders 90
not see much more than parapets and
briStling cannon. The castle has come to
| be- used principally as prison for political
offenders, and its moldy, drainless cells are
a horror to Cubans, who, of course, are the
political offenders. 1t is the place of exc
cution when political prisoners are not to
| be- shot publicly. Other crimes are pun
| iShed there also.
MORO Castle is resplendent object APP
preaching from the sea, as radiant as q
rainbow and as many colored. The storms
of centuries have beaten upon it-for more
| than century it has stood as it Island
perpetual combat in painting has been go
| ing on all the time. The result is amazing.
Wind and rain have worn off one coat of
color, for the stone was once painted care
fully all over. The Spaniards have gone
over the job in this generation probably
with another application of paint to cover
| these bare spots, but with other hueS and
colors. Green and yellow red, brown and
Orange-all the colOrs follow in confusion,
and natures mixtures of these with crum-
bling stone is a marvel of color This sight
prepares one entering the harbor for the
motley array of stone and adobe houses
which the