The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-02-06
MANILA'S OLD FORT
SANTIAGO WAS BUILT MORE
THAN 800 YEARS AGO.
Key Of clty's Vast System Of Defense
Constructed by the spanIards 10
Now Used 40 Military Head
quarters.

Manila, right at the very front door
Of the archipelago, lies hidden on Cor
regidor Island q veritable hornets
nest of masked batteries. According
to the Overland Monthly, these bat
teries make the Port Arthur implace-
ments Of yesterday seem like mere
old-fashioned toys, and paper ones at
that.
The Gruson turrets, made of con-
crete and steel and sunk on rock
foundations, natural or artificial, in
the deep, resembling huge gray turtles
sticking up out of the water with pro-
truding gun barrels for necks, occupy
Ell Fraile and other small islets in the
vicinity, while old hump-backed Cor
regidor is covered from crest to shore
line with guns, honeycomb of under.
ground cement tunnels, pits and run.
ways, wireless equipment, electrical
apparatus, searchlights and other con.
trivances to aid in repelling an enemy.
When it comes to age. and roman
tic history, however, old Fort Santi-
ago is far ahead of Corregidor Ma
nila's walled city. town in itself, con-
sisting Of several city blocks with
paved streets, business houses and
large dwellings is surrounded by q
stone wall about thirty feet high and
from thirty to forty feet thick. z..$
The walls once we're skirted on the
outside by deep moat, filed with wa.
ter having drawbridges at the various
gates. Most If not all of the moat
has now been filled in, but no doubt
the walls will stand for years If for
no other reason than for their histori
cal interest.
OF this vast yet crude system OF
defense Fort Santiago stands as the
key. What the Tower of London is
to England, what the Vatican is to
Rome, what the Bunker Hill monu
ment is to- the United States, Fort
Santiago is to the Philippine Islands
The Spanish invaders made Manila
their headquarters In 1871 and began
to fortify it about twenty years later
The first stone construction was the
circular wall, which is still. standing
Since the American occupat ton of the
fort its armament has been take1
away and the buildings within the
parks have been converted into bar
racks and storerooms. ~.
Commodious office buildings have
been erected on top of the walls along
and overlooking the Pasig, and here
the commanding general Of the Phil
1ppine division has his. headquarters
In one of the beautiful parks within
the fort is located the military ARISEN
al, with it's big steam and electric
workshops. ~. AZ. = t..-' = :. 80 s.. j.
Sope of the maps and plans Of. thu
fort are now in the British museum
In London, where they were carried
after the British conquest Of Manila
The fort, mostly in it's present form
has stood for 300 years. There are al
sorts of stories floating about concern
ing secret chambers in the walls ant
wings. = -. Z: -. '.-''' -
So far as the secret chambers ar,
concerned, there is some truth in tn,
rumors. The filling of the old. moa
closed many of the entrances to thes,
chambers, probably forever. When tn,
wall in Gale Aduana, was removed, al
inner chamber, was found filed Will
human skeletons. I'LL 800.
Natives have wholesome terror. o
the old place, and absolutely no desir,
to see anything below the surface O
the thick old walls. Americans who
with electric lamps, have started ex
plorations have given up, owing to tn.
foul: air, crumbling passages and 9th
er hindrances. Il .....- ~. -.
Only three flags have flown. abov
Fort Santiago. For 1928 years; tn
Spanish ensign was; unfurled to tn
tropic breeze, except for the brief tim
the British flag supplanted that of tn
rightful lords. The hosting. of th
third flag is well known to, all, Amer
cans -. 49,