Vera Cruz (Principal port of Mexico)

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

the principal port of Mexico; on the E. coast, in a low, unhealthy plain, backed by drifting sand- Mexhills; 263 miles E. of the Ci City of ico. There is no harbor, but only an open roadstead between the city and the island castle of San Juan de Ulua, , dewhich, with two shore batteries fends the port. The streets are wide numerous squares, and and straight, with low, picturesque houses of various colthe catheors. The chief buildings are dral, custom house, and casino; a number of the churches have been perverted into tobacco factories. The moist, hot unclimate of Vera Cruz is notoriously healthy, and the annual death rate 11 to 1 in 20 of the ranges from 1 in population, mostly from lung diseases, and from yellow and other fevers. The fierce "northers," if they often drive vessels ashore from the exposed anchorage, at least are of use in sweeping fevers for a time. Most of the away the of foreigners; commerce is in the hands nearly 600 vessels enter and clear annually. The full title of the city is Villa , or New City of Nueva de la Vera Cruz the True Cross. The old town was founded by Cortez in 1520 on the spot where he had landed the year before; the new one dates from 1580. The royal forces held out in the castle till November, 1825. The castle capitulated to General to the French in 1838, and Scott in 1847; and during the French the base of occupation the town was the supplies from 1862 to 1867. In 1914 city was captured and held for several months by American forces. See MEX- ICO. Pop. about 50,000.