The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-11-09
THE DARDANELLES

The old gates of Janus were opened when
Rome was at war; and their modern prototypes,
the Dardaneles straits, are open only when
state of war makes treaty sipulations void, and
the Porte deems ii to be necessary to a dmit his
allies through them t. protect hts capital. The
accounts we have, are, that they are now open
for the passage Of the British and French fleets
The Dardanelles, from which the strait or
llcilespont, derives its name, are four strong
castles built opposite TO eaci, on the European
ard Asiatic coasts; and are the keys Of Constan.
tlnoplc. Two Of these castles, the old castles,
were raised by Mahommcd Ii, soon after the
conquest of Consiantinople, in 1853; the other
two, the new castles, were built in the middle
Of the 18th century, TO protect the Turks against
the Ncnetians. The latter command the en-
trance to the Hellesponi, and the distance from
each is about two miles aud quar,cr; in four
hours sail up the strait are the old castles, which
are about three quarters of a mile apart. These
are well mounted with formidable batteries All
| along the European shore to the Marnora, the
aspect OF nature in its ruggcdness corresponds
with the frown of the guns; but the scenery OIL.
the Asiatic shore is beautiful. The region a.
bounds, too, in places famous in classic story.
Here it was Leander paid his nightly visit to
Hero; here the ill-fated hosts of Xerxes crossed
on bridge OF boats; here Soyman crossed on a
bare raft; and in modern times here Byron swan
from Sestos to Alydos.
These famous straits have been more than
once passed. In 1770 the Russian squadron
under Elphistone, appeared tefore the tower
castles; and the admiral actually went by with
out damage. But the other ships did not follow
him, and he returned, with drums and trumpets
sounding British fleet under Admiral Duck
worth, forced their passage in 1907. Duckwortl
in his despatch TO his government, giving an &C.
count of this fact, acknowledges that he ran
narrow chance. He set sail on the morning
; the 10Th Of February. AT a quarter before nine
: the whole squadron, under tremendous fire
had passed the outer castles; at half-past nint
row passage of Sestos and A y dos, under heav,
cannonade from both castles, receiving stone
shot of 500 pounds weight. Each ship, as i
) passed, had to endure this cannonade. The ad
: miral remained before Constantinople until tn,
; Sd of March, when his squadron Of ten ships re
5 turned. In this interval the Turks had been $,
busy that the castles were made ssdoubly for
!, midable'' The admiral weighed anchor in tn
morning Of this day, and "every ship was i,
safety outside of the passage about noon Tn
admiral in his despatch expresses bis ssmost live
ly sense" of his good fortune, and admits, tina,
had the Turks been allowed week longer, 81
E would have been very doubtful point whethe
! a return would lay open to him at ALL" He los
. AZ killed and 235 wounded. The Turks wer
SO indignant at the escape of the British flee,
g that they believed that the governor of the Dau
danelles was bribed by Duckworth, and behead
ed him.
a The Dardaneles are said to be in such for
. midable condition as to be impregnable.