Albuquerque evening citizen., 1907-05-30
Department AbandOns
Famous Old Fort

of war under President Washington.
The first fertilization on this site
was built III 1775 when a brick and
mortar battery was constructed and
covered to a depth of eight feet with
earth. 1t was honeycombed with
magazines and secret passages. I'M
provements were made In the works
and in 1894 the great e-point-star
fort was constructed and surrounded
by deep moat. 1t all stands today
In perfect state of preservation. 1t
Is provided with all the accessories
of like defenses built a century ago.
There are dungeons, subterranean
passageways and cells for the in
generation of 500 prisoners. These
cells are all below the water line
and great pipes ran into them from
the Patapsco river. ''In case of nee
essity" II was possible to turn the
water into these pipes and flood the
entire prison section inside of three
minutes. 1t Is not recorded that the
necessity ever arose.
During the civil war the fort was
used as recruiting station by the
government and some of the most
prominent men of Baltimore who
were suspected of sym pathizing with
the south were imprisoned there.
During late years II has been held as
an army post, and at times the gar
rison has been large.
For q long time the fort grounds
have been open to the public and
there have been thousands of visitors
to it every year. The old star-shaped
fort, which looks as substantial as
when it was built 113 years ago, Is
inspected with interest by hundreds
of strangers visiting Baltimore. Near
ly all OF the big smooth bore guns
have been dismounted and presented
to various patriotic orders but there
are numerous piles of antique shells
of immense caliber. All the secret
passageways and magazines were CIV
EN- thorough inspection several
years ago, and an enormous quantity
Of old ammunition was cleaned out
of them. Some boys living near the
fort managed in some way to get
one of the old shells and carried II
out on a field near by for inspection
1t exploded, killing one and seriously
injuring others.
They Pctitioned General Grant.
The efforts of the municipal au'
thorities of Baltimore to secure this
fort for a public park began many
years ago. During one of his nu-
merous terms as mayor General F
/ G. Latrobe went to Washington tC
| discuss the matter with Presiden
/ Grant, who was at the time secretary
of war. and who was persona
| friend of the Baltimorean.
What do you people In Baltimore
want now?" asked General Grant, af
! ter greeting his visitor.
I'VE want you to give us Fort Me
Henry" replied the mayor.
"Why, 1 understood that during tn,
civil war some of you fellows owe
| there wanted to take the fort" re
piled the general. laughing. Then h
continued in a more serious vein
Don't ask the government to Civ
up the old fort. Let the troops sta.
there. You people have almost a
much use of the fort as a park as
II belonged to the city. In your civi
parades the commander there vii
send his troops to participate, an
If your authorities ever want thes
American boys in a hurry you kno'
| where to get them"
If the government now decides I
let Baltimore have the fort It WI
not be as a gift or sale, but will sim
ply be loaned to the municipality. I
be reclaimed by the army when
Is needed again.