A LITTLE-KXOWX MARVEL OF THE WESTERN" HEMISPHERE 



47 



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 5.000 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 

 no 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 OX 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 n feet 6 inches- 

 long, caliber 6 inches (firing a 6-inch 

 cannon ball). 1 foot 10 inches thick at 

 the breech and 1 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 MAX 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 



