The Tupelo journal., 1911-03-31

view to defel.se: but in La Guaira the
old story Is slightly accumulated.
There is one boulevard reaching from
Maiquetia through La Guaira to Ma
cuto, and all the rest are just Gales"
or passageways. The wider OF these
is about twelve feet across and there
are several too narrow for three peo-
pie to walk abreast without humping
against doorsteps and the omnipres-
ent projecting i~ron-barred windows.
The cobblestone pavements are the
work of a period when the memory
of man runneth not to the contrary"
When the tropic rains come down they
serve excellently for drains. and for
thoroughfares for burros and foot pas
sengers at other times.
La Guaira vas established contem-
p~oraneously with the location of the
capital of Venezuela at Caracas, up to
which period the principal entry port
a been farther to the westward, the
principal center of the country being
Valencia. Caracas having been estab-
l1shed, however, in 1857, 1t became
necessary to find a nearer sea con
nection, and assuming that the jut-
ting headland of Cape Blanco, which
here forms a considerable blight,
would offer protection to ships. this
was made the port.
1t Is distant over the mountains u
eight miles from Caracas. The Span
iards constructed bride path over
the hills to that city, with the never
failing cobblestones forming the bed.
Over 1t the armament, ammunition
and merchandise of this important
capital were transported for many
years. In 1896 the king of Spain u
thorized the construction Of a cart
road from La Guaira to Caracas and
also the improvement OF La Guaira
port, but the work was abandoned.
the authorities at Caracas fearing it
would simply facilitate C. of their
enemies to the capital. This was con
structed later. however.
Osorio Villegas is said to have been
responsible for the foundation of La
Guaira, or rather Of a port along
this immediate shore. Here was Of
fered every facility for defense, but.
withal. several years after its settle
ment Amias Preston. who accompa-
MED Sir Francis Drake, landed at
Macuto and led 400 men over a hid
den trail, guided by q Spanish pris-
oner named Villapardo, and while the
Spanish troops of Caracas awaited the
English on the established Kings
highway, Preston appeared within that
city, where he carried to complete
ness the usual customs of the gay
buccaneers. He then made his way
back to his ships, escaping with the
booty and with the loss Of but few
men.
French pirates under NJ. Gram
mont found La Guaira easy prey in
1880; but the Dutch Tin 1909 and the
English naval forces lin 1879 and
1743) were driven of, the fortifca-
tons at La Guiara by that time hav-
ing assumed considerable proportions.
They were strong because Of their
commanding positions on the hills
overlooking town and harbor.
There are In absolute ruin and
abandon on the hills above La Guaira
what were no doubt well-armed bat
teries to the number Of six or seven,
and four other rather commanding po-
sitions are still maintained as mill
tary posts, where are now two mod
ern cannon Seeing these old ruins
one can well appreciate how the
Guairenos were able to beat Oh the
ships OF wal Of that time.
La Guaira has been frequently the
seat of wal during It's existence. and
foreign warships threatening its de-
struction are not unknown to the pres
ent generation.