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National Geographic : 1920 Dec
Contents
A LITTLE-KNOWN MARVEL OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE 475 and western sides commanded adequately all other points of approach. Numerous loop-holes were especially prepared for the use of sharpshooters. The elevation at the base of the citadel has been variously given as from 3,000 to 5,00o feet, but a careful reading of a compensated aneroid barometer records 2,600 feet. To this must be added the height of the different walls, in order to ascertain the correct elevation to the top of the building. The difficulty in reaching the citadel is due not so much to its elevation as to the fact that to reach it one is compelled to cross at least eight miles of mountainous country, and the approaches are all very steep. The highest place on the walls (measured to the ground) is 140 feet. The highest wall, measured perpendicu larly, is the prow, which has a drop of 130 feet. Other walls range from 80 to IIo feet. On the west face there is a terrace 40 feet high. Because of the heavy growth of trees and vegetation on it, this terrace is not visible from above. BUILT OF FIRE-BRICKS MADE ON THE SITE Although large granite blocks are to be found in many places throughout the building, most of it is built of red fire bricks of different sizes, the average brick being fifteen inches long, six inches wide, and two inches thick. These bricks ap parently were manufactured on the site of the building. The mountains for long distances in all directions from the citadel show traces of Titanic labor in getting out building material. The average num ber of floors is four, the longest being on the east face, where the main battery is located. It has a length of 270 feet in one stretch. The main battery gallery has an inside width of 30 feet. Each gun compart ment has wonderful vaulted ceilings 20 feet high, each compartment being sepa rated from those adjoining by thick masonry walls, connected by a low pas sageway. This is to minimize the effect of local explosions and possible hits. Behind each gun there are still to be found neat piles of cannon balls ready for use, while in convenient chambers just to the rear of some of the guns are heaps of decomposed black powder .min gled with the remains of the original wooden powder cases. A vast pile of similar debris is also to be found in the large powder magazine. The largest guns are I feet 6 inches long, caliber 6 inches (firing a 6-inch cannon ball), I foot Io inches thick at the breech and I foot 3/4 inches at the muzzle, dated 1786. They are made of bronze and have enormous hardwood mounts of the primitive gravity return type, moving in train over a large metal arc set in the floor, and on small wheels of a strong make. EVERY TENTH MAN KILLED These guns came mostly from the English, some coming from the captured French forts, and others, judging from the very apparent results of the corrosive action of salt water on them, came from war vessels wrecked along the treacher ous coast. Similar guns are mounted in the upper gallery on the southern face and in the lower gallery to the northwest. Others are lying in the court and along the east parapet. At least a dozen large mortars are piled up outside. With the meager facilities available in the early 19th century, and especially in Haiti, it is a source of mystery how these guns were brought up the precipitous mountain trail to their present location. There is a tradition that Christophe was accustomed to assign a certain distance which a given force of men would have to move a gun each day, and upon their failing to do so he killed every tenth man of the detachment. The surface of the rocks on the trails leading to the citadel is worn in ruts and is as smooth as glass from the passage of the heavy weights over them-a silent testimonial to the appalling amount of labor expended. A THREE-HOURS' CLIMB TO THE CITADEL These traces are especially conspicuous along a steep trail down the slope west of the low prow, indicating that toilers or their taskmasters preferred the steeper trail to the more gradual, but longer one, around to the front and zigzagging up to the main entrance. It is a good three hours' climb either
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