Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-08-18

Juan de Ilua, Wnlcn Generai
Carranza kept for a time as
his official residence and which
he has decreed shall 10 longer
be used as military prison. stands
well out ia the harbor Of Vera Cruz
and is joined to the main land only
by a narrow breakwater. The fortress
was built by the Spanish conquerors Of
Mexico and for many years has been
used by the Mexican authorities to
imprison military and political offend
ers.
When the American forces occupied
Vera Cruz a correspondent explored
the prison from fne topmost ram parts
to the deepest. darkest dungeon be-
meath the sea, and this is the story he
wrote;
Grim. gaunt and forbidding. rising
sheer from the blue inner harbor Of
Vera Cruz, there lies the castle Of San
Juan de Ulua, q name which Is wills
Dered in terror throughout Mexico.
There are tales Of its dungeons and
labyrinth OF secret passages; there
are tales OF a quiet and secluded open
ing along the sea wall. where, in the
shadow Of night. straining forms have
slipped shapeless bulks in sacks over
the sill to the tongues OF the tapping
waves-sacks which struggled and
screamed in terror-and the black
waters have been cut by the lightning
rush OF triangular fms as the sharks
claimed their human prey; aud more
tales, Of firing squads at break Of day
sScing a bullet-poeked wall. and still
other tales OF men immured within the
walls in their youth--and their names
forgotten when the burial squad car.
rted the remains from out the reeking
dungeons
A launch carried the visitors across
the harbor to the castle. The way
winds about to the northward. En-.
trance was gained into the shallow
moat, where a landing was effected on
the eountersearp steps which lead to
TIE outer defenses Of the bridgehead.
Fortress 10 Ancient.
The fortress Is an ancient one, Of
the Vauban type. yet every twist and
turn, every ramiacatian and addition
OF art Of defense. portcullis and draw
bridge. capouniers, machicolation. has.
ton and keep. all are there.
An arching bridge leads across the
moat to the main part Of the castle.
The waters Of the moat are Of Pc
cul.ar green ciearness, yet with the
impression OF sliminess.
In places the walls OF the fortress
are crumbling with age, white AID
hastily. the colcr Of Iongimprisoned
faces, and two-ineh Sits In the ma.
soury's ponderousness tell Of the only
gllmmer OF light which finds its way
into dungeons A suggestion of mod
ernness Is added by the larger ports
which are barred with tmbedded iron
rails, yet even they are taking away
with the rust caused by the salt air
and the salt sea.
Within the irregular-shaped walls
lies the parade ground, Of sunken and
fallen granite and flag, worn deep in
places by the tread OF a host OF for
gotten feet, and in crevices. as though
/ in an effort to lend a CLEAN OF cheer to
oppressiveness. nature has made grass
10 struggle for an existence.
In the Musty Cells.
The officers IN charge directed that
the main cell gate be opened, and the
prison proper was entered. Under an
archway the light Of day became a
gloom, and within the first gate there
lay another entrance. within the bars
of which an evil-looking prisoner re
NAMED as trusty.
At the rear Of this reception cham
Der there rose the barred and cross