34 
THE STANDARD GUIDE. 
THE BARRACKS OF LA FUERZA. 
could not restrain her grief, and died a few days after the mournful news.” 
The old fort must always be associated with this pathetic figure of 
Havana’s early days. 
In the years of storm arid stress which followed the building of La 
Fuerza (The Fort), it was more than once called on to defend the town 
growing up under its protection, and shared the varied fortunes of war. 
In 1543, when four warships under command of the French Captain 
Roberto Baal attacked the city, an invading force landed where La 
Punta now stands, but the guns of La Fuerza opened on them so vigor¬ 
ously that the enemy was repulsed, with the loss of many lives, and the 
survivors retired panic-stricken to their ships. Then came Captain 
Jacob de Sores, a French corsair, who captured both town and fort, sack¬ 
ing and burning the houses and churches and practically demolishing La 
Fuerza, which was at once restored and manned with a larger garrison. 
In those days the harbor was the rendezvous of the plate-fleets from 
Mexico and Peru. All the old maps of the West Indies bear legends 
showing the tracks of the galleons, “Advice is sent hither from whence it 
is despatcht over Land to Cartagena, Panama and Lima to hasten the 
King’s Treasure. From Cartagena after some stay they sail for ye 
Havana to meet there the Flota. The Gabions & Flota usually 
joyning at the Havana ye whole Armada sails for Spain.” Thus to La 
