The Washington herald., 1907-05-12

Madrid. May IA dispatch from Gra-
nada states that the AlhambTa is in inn
minent danger of collapse.
The governor of Granada has called a
meeting OF prominent citizens and ex-
perts for Monday next in order to take
immediate measures TO avert this ma
tionaI catastrophe.
The portions most affected include the
hail of the ambassadors. the state reeep-
ton room of the Moorish monarchs. which
is the most richly ornamented room in
the Alhambra; the tower of the salas del
Tribunal and the court of the harem.
Historic Building.
When Grenada had become the capital
of all that was left of the Moorish do
minions ia Europe, King Mohammed Ibn-
el-Ahmar. or Alhamar, as his name is
generally written, began the erection Of a
splendid palace citadel upon the heights
north Of the city.
This was in the year 1913 1t was not
until 1884 that the magnificent structure
was completed and embellished with its
rich Oriental adornment by Yusef Abdul
Hagig.
Erected upon a terrace about $500 by 655
feet, the Alhambra was surrounded by a
wall over mile in circuit, having thir-
teen square towers. From the color Of
brick used it was called by the Moors
Karat el Hamra, ''the Red Castle
Designed rs a fortress as well as a
royal palace. the Alhambra was capable
Of accommodating in its numerous rooms,
corridors. and courts an army of 1900
men. although the waning Moorish power
was never able to gather near that mum
Der within its walls
Within the walls were Beautiful gardens,
an inner protected citadel, a gate of jus
tice. a watch tower, and the royal palace
itself, the interior ornamentation Of which
was a dream Of artistic lavishness.
DesoIatiOn Now Reigns.
Much of the original structure is gone.
What remains is grouped about two large
oblong courts, the Court Of Lions, 66xll6
feet, and the Court of Blessing. 74xl40
feet, There are still a number of porti-
cos, piIlared halls, small gardens and a
mosque
Long since have the beautiful halls of
the AIhambra been desolate. Many OF
them were in ruins century ago. The
towers are crumbling, the gardens are
tangled jungles Of weeds and the foun-
tains are falling TO pieces.
In one OF the towers two old gardeners
live The rooms at one time were used
as a prison. and two Of the prisoners
constructed a fireplace there.
Best preserved Of all IS the Tower of
lnfantasi said to have been the royal
abode of the Moorish princesses.
The lower halls and corridors, the
courts and porticOs have come to the low
estate OF a sheltering place for hordes of
beggars. gypsies, indolent men and wom-
en-, and dirty, unkempt children,
Swarms of Beggars.
Tourists are continually beset by
swarms OF these beggars whose impor-
tunittes and wailings make visit to the
old pile exceedingly unpleasant Most of
them are in rags and many exhibit Tester
ing sores while appealing for aims.
Not far from the Alhambra a numerous
colony OF gypsies has taken possession
OF a hillside. There they live in caves
dug in the hill, a filthy. miserable lot of
persistent mendicants, pouring forth in
crowds whenever they see visitors ap-
preaching the old palace.
Such Is the sad fate of the beautiful
place that has been so famous in legend,
song, and history.
II has withstood earthquakes and
storms; French soldiers at one time blew
up eight OF its towers. but it has re-
mained as a monument to an interesting
and picturesque people
Strongly and well did the old Moorish
architects and masons build Seven hun
dred years is a remarkably long life for
such structure.