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POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



is one of the most interesting places in the world, especially when 

 entering on a naval vessel. It was a glorious sight, as we steamed in 

 at dawn, to behold the wonderful rock, and sheltered at its base the 

 Mediterranean squadron of the British navy, consisting of eight battle- 

 ships and eight first-class cruisers, under the greatest of English 

 admirals, Lord Charles Beresford. The morning of our arrival was 

 spent in firing and acknowledging thunderous salutes, and in making 

 official calls. To properly carry out these acts of courtesy between the 

 American and British nations, it was necessary to fire no less than one 

 hundred and fifty-two rounds of ammunition. On the morning of our 

 second day in Gibraltar, the British squadron sailed, and it gave us an 



U. S. S. Minneapolis, entering Valencia Harbor. 



idea of the quality of the greatest navy in the world to see the splendid, 

 seamanlike manner in which the big ships got under way, and without 

 confusion, and in splendid order one by one depart from the crowded 

 harbor. 



Gibraltar covers only about two square miles, so it did not take 

 much time for us to take in all the sights of the streets with their 

 motley population of English, Spanish and Moors, and to visit the 

 places of historical interest. The ' Key of the Mediterranean ' stretches 

 almost exactly from north to south with a length of three miles and a 

 breadth of little more than half a mile. The north and east sides of 

 the ' rock ' are almost vertical, while to the south and west it descends 

 in step-like terraces, and thus it is only a small portion of the area of 

 two square miles that is habitable. From the foot of Mt. Bockgun 



