The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-08-04
Gibraltar and the Mediterranean.

Gibraltar and the Mediterranean.
Sunday. July 18th, was ideal with blue
sky and brisk breezes. rcstful 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
a will.
In the afternoon our party was called
to the decks by the cry OF "a whale, :
whereupon a whale school Of these huge
monsters with their brown backs gllsten-
Tag IN the sunlight and churning the wa
ter with their tails, We're clearly seen a
few yards from our ship. TIL captain in
answer to repeated questions SAID 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
/ a. m. and rushed to the foredeck as
the first streaks of gray dawn appeared
through the distance. We spied the dim
outline, like a faint cloud lying to the
northeast. This we knew was Spain. 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 VT
were entering the Straits of Gibraltar. The
white sails on every side told we We're on
the highway of the nations Of earth. Soon
the head lands of Trafalgar stood out in
bold relief. Here Lord Nelson immortaliz-
ed himself in defeating the French Navy.
Tariffa III Spain, the home of pirates, and
from which it Is said we get our word
tariff, and Tanglers, IN Africa, looked pic
tureSque. The mountain rock Gibraltar,
stood up like a giant above all the sur
rounding country. The ship cast out her
anchors and a steam tender takes all
ashore that desire to see the sights. A
medley of people speaking several Ian
guages, wearing divers costumes. crowd
around pouring forth a torrent of
pathetic pleas to buy their fruits, flowers
and trinkets Of all sorts. We ride through
the quaint and curious town with its mar
row, crooked streets lined with buildings,
hoary with age, OF all styles of architec-
ture from ancient tile cover to a slate
roof. Donkey loaded with all kinds of
wares reminded one Of the things read OF
in Egypt. A man carrying a tin bucket
oiN oiiVii q vi SOdtS IA OuSH IIIc
main street was seen. On demand he
would sell genuine goats milk. Moors
with bare limbs, wearing leather slippers
and a blouse and cap somewhat like a
~Chlnaman, were everywhere. reminding
one of the Last Sigh of the Moors," so
sad IS their eXresslOn. The Alameda Gar
dens III their tropical luxuriance and va
rlety were a 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 Il horses and s
bulls We're 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. Cod
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
rifles and bayonets. With one Of these
young handsome fellows our party was
conducted through the fortifcations. The
mountain ls a solid rock and through it
are tunnels cut almost around. At every
few steps are windows and every window
has a big gun looking ominously upon the
Strait below to make other nations polite
and respectful. Here and there are maya
zines OF powder. Upon the very top no
body but the soldiers and officials are per-
united to go. Signal men are on the look
out all the time. We could see men in
little baskets carrying provisions On wires
a thousand feet IN the air. Men at this
height looked like boys. Huge iron gates
ever and anon cut the fort into divisions
or wards. I was told the British have on
and 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 ward.
| 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
slCns. Every stranger Is watched with a
critical eye and searched the moment he
enters Spanish territory.
At / p. m. our vessel weighs her anchors
and glldes gracefully on the Mediterranean
with the lofty Sierra Nevada mountains
IN bold relief on our left. The sea soon
became as smooth as glass and as blue as
indigo.
Today, 18th, we are sailing On the
southern coast of Sardinia, with the noun
tains III full view, looking bare of all vege-
tatlon. The breeze is the strongest We
have had. One can scarcely stand on
deck. Tomorrow at 6 a. m. the captain
81 vs. we Will anchor Of N1n1aO ThiE 10.