The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-04-25
Mexican Port for Centuries Has
Been Pirates Prsy.-Town
Built on Coral

Vera Cruz-Villa Rica de Ia Vera
cruz The Rich city of the True
cross" as it's founder Cortez. called IT,
this week became an important point
OF interest To the world as ii has been
before. many times i'm its long and
| turbulent career
The action of Commander Charles IT,.
| Hughes, chief Of stan of the United
| States Atlantic fleet "a, the Mexican
| port in calling on Gen. Gustnvo Mas,
commander of the Federal troops there
and instructing him To order all mor-
chant vessels out Of the harbor ana
IN preparing To have taken on board
these merchant vessels the American
and other foreign women I'm Vera cruz.
has turned the eyes of the world ON
the hot, low-Ning city on tie gulf.
5ombarded Often,
Were Cortez. who named the city
and then left it while his ships were
burning in the harhur, to strike out
into the interior To conquer Mexico.
alive today, he would probably call
the town hy another name. The CITY
of Many Trials might Dee a more lit
name. For during the centuries thlti
Vera CRUZ has sttuEgled for existence,
it has probably been more often bonn |
hardod from the sea. been overComr
from land. been at the mercy OF pir- |
ates and the scene of pcstilcnces than !,
any other city ON the globe.
Even Tho nlNgf.al ut,.p4,,,.. g tI., /
city as it stretches i'm "a low line along
the glitterng waters edge. nattcncd
into the burning sands. scorched, slug
gish, futile, as though phl sicaUy |
crushed by the giant hand Of misfor-
tune, bears out it's history. 1t is q
town built Of coral. and cvcn the lime
hat has been used In the building or
the low houses, ana the pavcmcuts
which ages have given a hieh polish
are of coral as is the forbiddma fort
'ess of san Juan dc Clloa, on 10 curol
'eef mile from tho mainland. which
$ the principal feature OF the town.
Land Of Arid Sands.
And all around and about the city
where yellow fever abounds when
ome country or other is not battcriug
L its low walls with varliEc meaning. ! q
$ land of atial sands and swamps t
nd deserts. without real roads and
With no vegetatiun or any sign of liv- {
ng nature until the hills are reached
hat suddenly take the traveller out of ;
he forsaken country into one wncrc a.
is always spring THAT is ou the way
, Mexico city.
Vera cruz is about 20o miles rrum the q
lptal of Mexico, bat within "a short
ours ride mp into the hills, the topo- u
raphy ana physicW condirion Of che I,
luntly chan.e completely
Until within the last year it would a.
ave been impossible for vessels such
$ those composing The big Atlantic =
eet To have found a safe haven in the o
ort of Vera cruz by the conclusion
the work of twenty years ana the
ipenditurc of 100000 900 which il has
ken To make a protected port. how /,
'er, the greatest danger to vessels,
zen those within a short distance Of E,
nd. has been done away Wit. For
any years the one dread of martinez
ere the terrific northers which blow
'er the bay when the waters would
me swirling i'm through the narrow
between the reefs OF Calcia -
I'd Gallega che reef on which the
rtress is builD and toss big ships
'out as chips. Is
Winds Drive Away Fever
But if mariners dreaded the north Is
$, they have been the one salvation
Vera cruz and are the principal
ason the city has been able To stag ~
+ along through the centuries, since