The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-08-09


Minorca is the easternmost and sec.
ond largest of the Balearic islands.
No one visiting MajOrca or Iviza. sis
fer islands, would doubt their Span
the Inhabitants or studied the archi-
lecture of their buildings.
But Minorca, although ruled by the
Spanish king and but 81 miles east
of Majorca, differs from its neighbor
islands. Except in a few spots, its
people and its buildings would fit an
English village outside of London.
Owing to early British occupation,
Miss Minorca stays at home, while
her Spanish sisters work side by side
in the fields with their husbands:
and instead Of the soft oxhide Span
ish sandal the Minorca maid wears
shoes. And proudly she tells how
Lord Nelson, during the war with
France. came to Mahon, Minerals
capital, seized and lived in a man.
sion house overlooking Mahon's fine
harbor.
In the protected iniets around the
island are small fishing villages,
made spotless by frequent coats Of
whitewash. Back of these villages
the natives raise sufficient wheat for
home consumption. Wine, olive oil,
potatoes, hemp and fax are produced
in moderate quantities; melons, pome-
granates, figs and almonds are album
dant; some cattle, sheep and goats
are reared; and were it not for the
scarcity of fuel, the Lead. copper, and
iron deposits could be proitably
worked. Near MercadaI there are fine
marble, limestone and slate quarries.
Incidentally Mercadal is the ancestral
home Of Admiral Farragut.
In the Eighteenth century the Brit
ish built road from CiudadeIa on
the northwest coast to Mahon on the
southeast coast. Travellers enjoy beau
tiful panoramas where some energetic
liinorcan has taken pride in his es-
tate, but unkempt spots are numer-
Gus. Stone monuments, caves, and his
toric relics have been discovered. but
one has to penetrate deep into the
fields and byways to find them. An
cient, windowless stone structures are
found in the interior. Pottery and
other antiquities are frequently I'M
earthed by the natives. Scientists
could, perhaps. trace their origin TO
prehistoric times or to the time when
the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans or
Arabs occupied the island. Many of
the stone monuments are falling to
pieces and some of the pottery and
historic implements now adorn stone
walls where they were carelessly
thrown by their, finders-...E
Mahon Lacks Spanish Color. .a
Mjp2gsa could Be sSpapasd foys
times its natural size and then not
match the area of Rhode Island.
Its population could be housed in
a small American city. More than
half of the Majorcans live in Ma
hon, the capital, the most English
spot on the island. From the steam
ship, the city has a Spanish aspect.
with church belfries dominating the
panorama. But in the streets, which
rise terrace above terrace up the
cliff side, English influence prevails.
There is little Spanish color. Shining
brass fixtures, square-paned windows
with white frames, and unshuttered
windows during the day time are de-
cidedIy un-Spanish.
At the other end of the British
made road, Ciudadela, while not as
Spanish as Palma, Majorca, is not as
English as Mahon. Like Mahon, it
occupies the side of a cliff overlook
ing a fine harbor. Many of its build
ings are whitewashed and even the
nearby rocks are frequently given
white coats along with the houses;
but here and there daub of color
pink, blue, green or yell0Y-and an
occasional iron grill balcony lend a
Spanish TOUGH. The easy-going life
of the Latin prevails in Ciudadela
more than in Mahon. One of the most
exciting events at Ciudadela is the
arrival Of boats from the other Bale
aric islands or from Barcelona.
! Mfnorca's authentic history begins
with the arrival of Mage, brother of
Hannibal, in 30 B. c. He founded
MahOn. The island was the cause OF
frequent conflicts between European
sovereigns and the scene of pirate
raids for centuries. Under British
rule. Minorca prospered from the ear
Iy part of the Eighteenth century I'M
til the Seven Years war. The owner
ship of the little island also was in
vOlved in the American Revolution
when the French and Spanish cap
tured it while England was busy over
seas. Sixteen years later, at the be-
ginning of the long struggle with
Napoleon, the British again captured
MiRorea and it--remaiRed British un-
til 1902 when. under the Peace OF
Amiens. it passed to Spain.