The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-04-03
MAN!!:A's OLD FORT
SANTIAGO WAS BUILT MORE
THAN 300 YEARS AGO.
Key Of City's Va't System Of Defense
Constructed by the Spaniards Is
Now Used as Military Head
quarters.

A score or miles down the bay from
Manila, right at the very front door
of the archipelago, lies hidden on Cor
regidor Island 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 humpbacked Cor
regidor is covered from crest to shore
line with guns, a honeycomb of under.
ground cement tunnels, pits and run.
ways, wireless equipment, electrical
apparatus, searchlights and other con-
trivances to aid in repellng 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 a
stone wall about thirty feet high and
from thirty to forty feet thick
The walls once were skirted on the
outside by deep moat, filled with wa
ter having drawbridges at the various
gates. Most if not all of the moat
has nov been filled in, but no doubt
the walls will stand for years II 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 1t about twenty years later
! The first stone construction was the
circular wall, which is still standing
| Since the American occupation of the
fort its armament has been taker
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 alonl
and overlooking the Pasig, and here
the commanding general of the Phil
ippine division has his headquarters
In one of the beautiful parks within
the fort Is located the military ARISEN
al, with its big steam and electri,
workshops.
| Some of the maps and plans of tn,
fort are now in the British museum
In London, where they were carried
after the British conquest OF Manila
The fort, mostly in its present form
has stood for 800 years. There are al
sorts of stories floating about concern
Ing secret chambers in the walls an,
wings.
So far as the secret chambers ar
concerned, there Is some truth in Thu
rumors. The filing of the old moa
closed many of the entrances to thes
chambers, probably forever. When III
wall In Gale Aduana was removed n,
inner chamber was found filed wit
human skeletons.
Natives have a 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 e>
plorations have given up, owing to tn
foul air, crumbling passages and otl
er hindrances.
Only three flags have flown abov
Fort Santiago. For 1928 years III
Spanish ensign was unfurled to IN
tropic breeze, except for the brief tim
the British flag supplanted that of III
rightful lords. The hosting OF IN
third flag is well known to all Amer
cans.