The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-08-03
Et MORO Now Formidable
In Looks Only,
GUNS OF 18TH CENTURY.
Mortars Of Modern Make and Bullets
With Brass Coating.
CONDITION OF socAPA BATTERY

So"iSGo, AuB. B.f--odntidgo's principal
castle, built on the rocks and OF the
rocks. IL rich In moats and ,frownins
batuements. drawbridges and subter-
ranean passages. dungeons and remind
ers OF the age OF helmets and rapiers
Moreover II Is surrounded by confused
mass OF harbed-wire fencing. apparent
~ erected to keep out the American
soldiers and marines. 1t Is now deserted
and silent.
One searches along through the pas
sases and over the roof for signs of the
guns that are said to have replied so
vaiianuy TO the fire of the American
neet. On the top battlement are small
mortars. made of bronze and cast In
SPAN In the early part OF the seven
teenth century. On the same roof are
two mounted cannon Of bronze. about
II feet long. one Of them bearing the
Following Inscription: +" Mars Ultima
Ratio Regum. Louis Charles de Bourbon.
Comte D'Eu, Due D'Aumale. Nee
Piuribus Impair. IL JUN, 174s. Jean
martz.f The other cannon, bearing
q similar inscription. is dedicated to
the Count OF Provence and was cast a
rev years before. Both are on fimsy
wheels and probably have not been fired
Tor years. The old fashioned mortars
show signs of having been shifted and
handled. Muzzle-loading guns of a
bygone age are also to be found un-
mounted, their rusty mouths pointed
helplessiy against the castles battle
ments.
Through the bare chambers are scat
tered some signs Of the recent presence
OF the spanish soidiery. The steps that
ieao from. the bastion to turret are
crumbling and worn. and the. doors to
strange apartments hang open. The
southeast bastion that formerly up-
held the Spanish flag was 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 oroke |
through the main entrance. but other
wise the defense bears no noticeabl |
evidence Of bombardment.
a few hundred yards TO the east and |
still on the height is the eastern battery. |
Between II and the castle stood the
lighthouse that marked the harbor en-
trance--now shattered and twisted nv
the nre from the American ships. The
eastern battery is OF earth, barrels OF
cement and sacks of dirt protecting the |
suns. Here are two small field pieces
made In Sevilla in 1870. and FIVE bronze
nuzzie-loading cannon bearing dates of
heir casting, l76s. Ills. 1879. 1888 and
1853. These. however, are mounted son
nodern iron carriages and they have
been used. One Of the bronze cannon +
vas dismounted bys a shot from the
ieet. The carriage was wrecked and
low lies half buried in the torn earth.
'ut the gun appears to be uninjured.
mis- Is the only visible damage done.
At this battery there are two mortars.
of modern make, and the fact |
hat similar gun is lying unmounted
I the foot OF the road which leads up
o the Notifications shows that the
rms had been recently landed.
All along the road from the dock in |
ne sheltered cove behind the old for
ress up to the castle entrance are
roken and half filed boxes of arnmu-
ition and cartridges with brass coated
ullets. going to show that these pro-
ectiles. which inhict a poisoned wound.
ere used by the Spaniards.
The Socapa battery is on the western |
Ide or the mouth OF the harbor. Here
re the two modern l6-centimetre rifles , ,
hich were among the most active in 7 I
'plying to theAmerican fire, and three 1
--centimetre mortars. similar to those
the eastern battery The carriage
the easterrn1ost rife was struck and {
cry slightly danits&G Heretthe hid ia
Rows some signs OF flre. skefls have \ \
oughed up the aatth and cleared out M
he trees. and the ground is covered with
It's Of shells that had torn through the a
nderbrush. Just behind this battery. I
, a small island INSIDE the sharbor !
outh. nestles a fishing village that for d
eeks had been deserted. Now its Ii
'ople are beginning to return to their (
'mes to find them almost intact.
Men who were around the harbor dur
g the firing have many tales TO tell. !.
here Is too local tale OF how Cervera -
lvised Linares to surrender the city :.
the Americans. telling him his case ;,
as hopeless and that he would only
ntinue 10 lose men and be forced to h
We In at the end There Is also a r,
Dry that the Spaniards carried their l.
'unded from the batteries into the :
" hospitals during the night in order
at the people and the army might be
st In Ignorance Of their losses: and =
other story that the broken and de-
royed guns were thrown into the har-
r under cover OF darkness.
VICTIM OF A SNEAK