The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-02
Gibraltar and the Mediterranean.

Gibraltar and the Mediterranean.
Sunday, July 18th, was ideal with blue
sky and brisk breezes, restful to body
and spirit. Delightful services were held
in the spacious dining hall. Rev. VIM.
Way, of the Episcopal church, Charleston,
! S. c., gave us an interesting discourse
from the life of Jacob. Lead Kindly
Light" and other hymns were sung with
will.
| In the afternoon our party was cdlieu
to the decks by the cry OF "a whale,
whereupon a whale school of these huge
monsters with their brown backs ghsten-
ing in the sunlight and churninG the wa
ter with their tails, were clearly seen
few yards from our ship. The captain in
answer to repeated questions sad we
would reach Gibraltar at $40 a. m. Mon
day. My friend, Mr.. Bumpas and /, III
order to get a first view of land, rose at
i a. M. and rushed to the foredeck as
the first streaxs of gray dawn appeared
through the distance. We spled the DIM
/ outline. like faint cloud lying to the
northeast This we knew was SPAN. Above
Us on the hurricane deck with his
glass stood the captain gazing at the dist
ant shores Almost instantly to the
southeast the vague broken lines above
the horizon marked the first view OF the
mountains of Africa 1t was evident we
were entering the Straits Of Gibraltar. The
white sails on every side told we were on
the highway of the nations OF earth Soon
the head lands of Trafalgar stood out IN
bold relief Here Lord Nelson immortallz-
ed himself in defeating the French Navy.
Tariffa in Spain, the home OF pirates, and
from which it is said we get our word
tariff. and Tangers, in Africa, looked pc
turesuue The mountain rock Gibraltar,
stood UP like giant above all the sur
rounding country. The ship cast out her
anchors and steam tender takes all
ashore that desire to see the sights
medley of people speaking several Ian
guages wearing divers costumes, crowd
around pouring forth torrent Oh
pathetic pleas to buy their fruits, flowers
and trinkets of all sorts. We ride through
the quaint and curious town with It's mar
row. crooked streets lined with buildings
hoary with age, of all styles of architec-
ture from ancient tile cover to slate
/ roof. Donkeys loaded with all kinds OF
wares reminded one of the things read OF
in Egypt A man carrying TIN bucket
and driving drove of goats through the
: main street was seen. On demand he
: would sell genuine goats milk Moors
with bare limbs, wearing leather Shippers
and a blouse and cap somewhat like
: Chinaman, were everywhere. reminding
one of the Last Sigh of the Moors, so
, sad is their exresson. The Alameda Gar
dens in their tropical luxuriance and va
riety were scene of beauty. The neu-
trail ground" which is owned by nobody
on earth, was pointed out by the guide,
| but all are allowed to walk over this. We
saw in the distance the Spanish Bull ring,
where on the day before Sunday Is the
day of sport in SPAIN II horses and 9
bulls were slain for sport to crafty the
/ criminal craze of these crude people. The
most famous fighter in Spain was the
! hero of the occasion. Some of our party
: visited the arena and saw the blood of the
beast that died that human beast might
rejoice.
/; The wonder of Gibraltar and OF the
world is It's magnificent fortifcation God
and man have combined to make it the
greatest in the world. British soldiers are
! in every place looking quite striking in
tan uniform, carrying their glistening
c rifles and bayonets. With one of these
Young handsome fellows our party was
: conducted through the Notifications The
0 mountain is a solid rock and through 1t
: are tunnels cut almost around. AT every
, few steps are windows and every window
has a big gun looking ominously upon the
e Strait below to make other nations polite
i and respectful. Here and there are maya
n zines of powder. Upon the very top no
I body but the soldiers and officials are per
n mitted to go. Signal men are on the look,
out all the time. We could see men in
4 little baskets carrying provisions on wires
thousand feet in the air. Men at this
height looked like boys. Huge iron gate
: ever and anon cut the fort into divisions
= or wards l was told the British have or
; hand all the time provisions of food and
. ammunition for three years They are
still at work all the time on the fort, be
sides are building an immense dock yard
/, don't think the combined armies of the
: world could capture this place except by
= siege and starvation.
= The Spanish quarters are nearby, whose
- blue clad soldiers ever guard her posses
stems. Every stranger is watched with
critical eye and searched the moment h,
enters Spanish territory.
. AT / p. m. our vessel weighs her anchor,
| and glides gracefully on the Mediterranean
with the lofty Sierra Navada mountain
he in bold relief on our left The sea qoor
% became as smooth as glass and as blue a.
le indigo.
ID Today, 18th, we are sailing on tn,
southern coast of Sardinia, with the noun
ID tains in full view, looking bare Of all vege
u tatlon. The breeze is the strongest ",
c have had. One can scarcely stand OF
re deck. Tomorrow at a. m. the captai
es says we will anchor at Naples. This ha
u been the most pleasant travel Of my life
{. 10 the captain, crew and ship we Civ,