Danzig

or Dantzic, or Dantsic, a commercial city of Prussia. It is situated in the northeastern part of the country, on the Vistula River, about three miles from the Baltic Sea. In early days it was one of the four leading cities of the Hanseatic League, and had a large overland trade by packhorses and flatboats with the caravan routes of Asia. The goods thus obtained were conveyed westward by way of the Baltic. During the national existence of Poland the city was the chief port of that kingdom. Though still permitted a large degree of liberty it passed into the hands of Prussia in 1793. It is now a fairly prosperous town of 160,000 inhabitants, with a large export trade in lumber, beet sugar, and grain. The grain warehouses rival those of Buffalo. It is the chief source of the supply of amber and amber ornaments. Ships are built here. There are also large mills, breweries, cordage works, and paper mills. It is a strongly fortified military post. It is still surrounded by its old walls and preserves its medieval appearance. The principal edifice of interest is the cathedral. Its massive tower is 248 feet high. The bell weights six tons. A beautiful vaulted interior is supported on twenty-eight pillars. A fine city hall dates from the fourteenth century. Its beautiful slender spire contains one of the sweetest chimes in Europe. The houses are chiefly of brick and sandstone, set gable end toward the street. The narrow streets, lined with lofty, richly decorated gables, have a quaint, antiquated look-the delight of tourists. See Hanseatic League