Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-07-27
INPREGNABLE GIBRALTAR.
Scene of More Fighting Than Any
Other Fortress.


wonderful rock! Rising from the
blue waters of the Mediterranean sea
resembling a huge, crouching lion
it stands guard over the entrance to
the straits, with the city sleeping in
the hollow Of its mighty sides. One
of the pillars Of Hercules hat In olden
times marked the very end Of the
world. Around its base ancient and
modern history join together, as the
waters of the stormy Atlantic mingle
with the placid surface Of the great
sea-a mighty lion, emblem Of Eng
lish strength, lies this rock, with its
head turned in defiance toward its
ancient master.
Scene of Many Wars.
Few places have been more fought
over than this in the long wars be-
tween the Moors and Spanish and the
Spanish and the English. 1t was here
the Moors first invaded Europe and
here departed from 1t after warfare
Of nearly eight hundred years. Ten
times it changed hands, the battles
fought around 1t bathing its shores in
blood, until in 1898, the Spaniards fl
nally drove the Moors forever from
their shores. Undisputed, Spain held
the rock for a little more than one
hundred years only to lose 1t by a
surprise during the war Of Spanish
succession.
The English fleet, under command
of Sir George Rookie, caught the
Spaniards unprepared, short-handed
and took the fort in three days.
The Spaniards tried three years to re-
capture 1t, but tried in vain.
A Most Daring Siege.
1t was during this siege that one Of
the most daring and difficult assaults
in the history of the world was made
The eastern side of the rock rises from
the sea fourteen hundred feet, and had
never been fortified, as it was be-
lieved no human being could make the
ascent. l have stood on the narrow
strip of sand at low tide at the foot Of
this wall of rock and marveled at the
courage that must have been displayed
by the Spanish shepherd, who led the
assaulting party of five hundred up a
narrow path from Catalan bay to the
signal station But the assault was
all in vain. Two hundred soldiers
were captured and the balance either
wounded or killed by falling from the
rock in their hurried descent. Again
in 1927 the Spanish laid siege to the
rock for five months with twenty
thousand men, but again they failed.
Worlds Greatest Fortress.
In June of 1879 began the great
siege, lasting for four years, the story
which cannot be told here. Suffice
to say that the world has never seen
such an example of endurance and
courage as was displayed by the Eng
lish garrison during this siege. Star
vation and disease added their terror
to the almost continuous lombard
ment. Assault after assault failed, un-
til finally peace was made between the
allied powers of France and Spain
with England. From that day to this,
the English flag has floated proudly
over what is supposed to be the strong
est fortress In the world.
A Visitors Impressions.
1 shall never forget my first view of
the rock. Sailing in before a strong
breeze early in the morning, the rock
with the exception Of its base was en-
veloped in a white mist which slowly
faded away as the warmth of the rays
of the sun dried the moisture from the
air, as a curtain slowly drawn aside,
leaving the rock standing out bold
against the sky. 1t appears to rise
from the water itself as the Spanish
shores are scarcely above the water
level at this place. Rising to a height
Of fourteen hundred feet at the head
or northern end, 1t gradually slopes
back and downward to the tail of the
lion about three miles away. The city
seems to be resting in the hollow be-
tween the paws Of the reclining beast
of stones and the white Of the walls
and the vivid green's Of the foliage
stand out in startling contrast to the
dull gray rock itself.
Upon landing at the waterproof gate
one is impressed by the strength of the
walls around the town, the number of
soldiers, their red coats standing out
in brilliant contrast to the gray stone,
and the people one meets, gathered
from every part of the world. The
Moor is here from across the straits
In his long white robes and turban-
here, with his chickens, eggs and fruits
for the markets. Silent with ever
scowling face, he shuffies about the
narrow streets, offering his produce to
the shopkeepers.
Going up waterproof street past the
lower barracks and guard houses one
comes out on the Alameda. Gibraltars
parade ground and pleasure park
Here is the monument erected to "Old
Elliott" the gallant defender during
the great siege. Here are the gardens
with their beautiful Towering plants
and ancient trees, bordering and shad-
ing the shell walks. On beyond is the
road to the governors palace where
social Gibralter holds it's festivities.
Guns Honeycomb Forts.
If it were not for the soldiers and
the stumbling over a hidden battery
of 1O0-ton guns in the most unexpect-
ed places. one might fancy they were