Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-11-04
The DarGlaneIlcg.

The old gates Of Jahus were opened when Rome
was at war and their modern prototypes, the Dar-
danees straits. open only when state of war
makes treaty tpnlatlons void. and the Porte deems
il to be necessary to admit his allies through them
tn project his capitol. The accounts we have
that they are now open for the passage Of the Brit
>h and French fleets.
The Dardanees from which the strait or Heles-
pont. derives its name, four strong built
opposite to each the European and ASatc coasts;
and the keys of Constannople Two of these
castles, the Od castles. were raised by Mahommef
IL soon alter the conquest of Constantnoplp, in
1853: the other two, the castles were built in
tie mid lie of the 18th century to protect the Turks
againsi the Venrians. The latter command the
entrance to the 1elle>p"nt. and the distance from
each is about two miles and quarter in four
hours sail up the strait are the old castles which
are about three quarters of Il mile apart. These
we'll mounted with formidable batteries. All along
the European shore to the Marmora the aspect %
nature It's ruggelness ponds with the frown
Of the guns; but the scenery on the Asiatic shore
is beautiful The region abounds too, in places
nous in classic story Here it was Leanter paid
his nightly visit to Hero here the i'll fated hosts of
Xerxes crossed on bridge of boats ; here Solyman
"o>sed on Il bare raft and IN modern times here
Byron swan from Sestos to Abydns
These famous straits have been than
passed. In l710 the Russian squadron under Ell
phistone appeared before the tower castles and the
admiral actually went by without damage. But the
other ships did not follow him and he returned with
drums and trumpets sounding. A British fleet
der Admiral Durkworth forced their passage in 1907.
Duckworth in his despatch to his government, Civ
ing account of this fact, acknowledges that he
narrow chance. He set sail on The morning of
the 18th Of February At quarter befor nine he
whole squadron. under tremen nus fire, had passed
the outer castles half past nine the leading ship,
the Canopus, entered the narrow passage OF SestOs
and Atydos, under heavy cannonade from both
castles, receiving stone shot of 800 pounds weight.
Each ship a. it passed. had to endure this cannon
ade The admiral remained before ConstantinOple
until the Sd of March. when his squadron of ten
ships returned In this interval The Turks had been
so busy that the were made - douhly form-
dabe.'' he admiral weig ghed auchOr in the
ing of this day and every ship in safety out
side of the passage about nuon.' 1he admiral In
his despatch expr s>e> his most lively sense" of
his good fortune. and admits that had the Turks
been allowed week longer it would have been
a very doubtful pO Mt whether return would ay
open io him all He lost AZ killed anc 233
wounded The Turks so indignant at the es-
cape of the British fleet that they believed the Gov
ernor of the Dardanelles was br bed b, Duckwor;h,
and heheaded him.
The DardanelIe> said 10 be in such form da-
BILE condition to be impregnable.
u s. FUNps The nett amount in the various de-
positories. subject TO draft on The 2sth inst was
ss5 .e5s.sss SO. st ,YIluaags0a s!s,os2 81.