The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1854-01-05


IHE DARDANELLEs.--The old gates of Janus
were opened when Rome was at war and their mod
ern prototypes the Dardnelies straits are Omen ony
when state of war makes treaty stpalations void
and The Porte deems it necessary to admithis allies
through them to protect his capital. The accounts
we have are that they now open for the passage
OF the British aud French fleets
The Dardanclles, from which the strait or Hell
espon derives its name four strong castles built
opposite TO each the European and Asiaic coasts
aud are the keys of Constannope. Two OF these cas-
Ties (the old castles) were raised 10y Mahomlned IL
soon aiter the conquest Of Constannople, in 1853;
the other Two (the new cas,les) built in the
middle oi the l1th century 10 project the Turhs
against the Nenetans. The latter command the
entrance Of the Hellespon,, and the distance fom
each Is about two miles and quarter. In loIu hours
sail up the strait the old Castles which are about
three quarters of "A mile aIart. These are well
mounted with formidable batteries. All along the
European shore To the Marmora, the aspect OF na-
re IN lis rusgedncss corresponds with the frown of
The guns but the scenery Of the Asiaic shore Is
oca"tiiui' he region abounds, too, IN places ia
nous IN classic story. Here II Leander paid his
nightly visits to Hero; here The ii-lated hosts of
Aei>es crossed on bridge of boats; here Sol,man
crossed on "A bare raft and in modern times here
byron swan from Sesos to Auytios
lhese famous straits have been more than once
passed. In lI!O the Russian squadron, under e.
ph'stone, appeared before the castles, and the
admiral actually went by without damage But the
other ships did not follow him, and he returned
with d'ums and trumpets sounding. A British fleet
un!er Admiral Duckwolih ioI ccd their passage in
1877. Duckwo,th, in his dispatch TO his Govern
nent giving account OF this fact, ack ow hedges
that he ran narrow chance. lie Sc, sail on the
morning OF tn" 18Th Of February. Al quatter be-
fore nine the whole squadron, under tremendous
fire, had passed the on,er castles at half past nine
the leading shif, the Canopus, entered the narrow
passage of Sestos aud Alb, dos under heavy cannon
ade from both castles, receiving stonc-shot al 500
pounds weight. Each ship it passed had to en-
dmre this cannonadc. The admiral remained heforc
ConsIantnope untll 3d of March, when his squ1a-
ron of ten ships returned. la this interval the
Turks had been 20 busy tha, the castles were made
81 doudly tounduble." The admiral weighed anchor
on the morning Of this day, and "every ship was
IN safety outside Of the passage at noon" The
Admiral 10 bis dispatch expressed his most lively
sense OF his good fortune, and admits that had the
Tmks been allowed we,k longer "it would have
been very doubtful point whe,hers retuvn would lay
open to him at ALL He lost twenty -four killed and
two hundred and ihiity-ive wounded. The Turks
indignant At the escape of the British fleet,
that they believed the Governor of the Dardanelles
Was brbcd by Dutkworth, and bcheaded him.
The Bardancl,s said To lie 10 such form-
liable condition as to be imlregnaLle.D Post.