The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-04-15
A Night in Constantinople.
By GEORGE Il. WESTON.


Constantinople was infested with organized
bands of thieves. footpads and sarroters.-
The war in the Crimea having just terminal
ed, the city was overrun with the deOris ei
the invading armies, deserters. camp .oiiow-
ers and adventurers of ell nations. These
reckless and daring men hesitated not to
commit robberies and murders il open day,
and in the night few people went abroad, I'M
less in companies of several, and then well
armed. 1t was then | arrived in Turkey and
took up my.resifence in the city Of the sultana
during that reign Of terror.
| One morning about week after my arrival,
called at the office of the United States con-
sulate for letters and papers; and while in
I the ante-room awaiting the arrival Of our
tardy government official, q gentleman came
at least his external appearance indicated him
as such; for his tall and commanding person
was arrayed in the hight of Par;a:ln fashion,
with the exception Of the hat. in lieu @!
which he wore wlite muslin turhln wound
around his head in many graceful fold, 4
style largely in vogue with the Franks d#e!-
: ling in the Fast He introduced himself 10
me as one Mr.. S, belonging TO Bangor, Ne.
He was very communicative and said he had
resided in the country long time AID had
recently opened a hotel in Galata (the five
points of Constantinople, though | was not
aware of it at the time) and giving ne his
card wished NE to call some day and Inspect
his house. told him would, and the con-
sui coming in at the same moment | called
for my letters, and bidding the same gentle
man very good morning, | passed out Of
the office.
About week after this interview, | was
down in Galata, and Just at III sht went cn
board Of an American bark to pass the eve
ming and to learn the news from America.
found the captain to be very agreeable
man. and with reading and conversing tie
time fled rapidly away, and ere was aware
of it the ship chroIometer indicated the hour
OF eleven rejecting an invitation from the
. o.p,u;u to pass the yht on BOARD, / i'gntei
my lantern aid went i.pon deck. The ye>sel
was lying alongside Of the custom-houSe
quay, and bidding the officers Of the bark
good night" leaped over the ships rail
and landed upon tie wharf; after parieyirg
awhile with the warder Of the city gate. he
unbarred il. and lie, me pass through after
paying him the eternal bucisheesh, gratuiJy
expected for every little service rendered by
those people. From the "outer gate NY
way lay through the dark and narrow streets
of this Galata, the st. Giles of the eastern
capital not one friendly light shed its rays
over MY dark path, nothing to illlmiue the
way but the dull light reflected through the
paper lantern was carrying in my hand.
The narrow, dirty lane through W! ich
was passing was bordered upon one side "
a lofty wall, and on the other by a rev Of
one story Greek wine shops and retail grog-
geries, kept by rascaiy Maltese Ioni4ns; but
at that hour of the nigh, they a,e all closed
ard the street was deserted. Emerging from
this alley | came ont upon broad thorough
fare leading from GA!ata brid ge direc; 10 the
Sultan'S palace. In the day time il is dense
ly crowded with the passing thrOns; bat. a
that hour of the night the pedestrian usually
meets Only fcot-pats and assassins, and seeS
here and there sleeping sentinel, e:.i wing
a qaie, nap in his sentry-box. Leaving this
broad street, which is the only enc in that
part of the city ide enough TO admit vehi-
cles, turned up a narrow lane leading tow
ards Pra, which was nv destination. 1t was
a suspicious looking place, dark and dirty,
enclosed by two rows of three-story build
ings, gaudiIy coloreG. The doors were shut.
but the upper windows were thrown open.
| could hear the sound Of hurdy-gurdes and
tambourines as / walked along, and female
voices conversing in different languages, and
among them l could distinguish the Italian,
German, and Greek. 1t the upper end of
this broad alley l noticed broad sign board
suspended over the door of public house.
adorned with the American eagle; the second
story was lighted, ard without difficulty !
made out the place to be the American tav-
ern, and the gentlemanly Mr.. S, whom /
met at the I. 5. consulate was the pr0prie-
tor. felt pleased with what | termed M
good fortune in thus coming accidentally up
on the abode of one of my coun,ryman. for
l was then a mile from NY lodgings and
would hae to pass through a part OF the
town where murders were Of nightly occu.-
renee; there was also another gate to go
through. and nothing would MAKE il turn
upon its hinges. but the everlasting tucl>
sheesh.
, / knocked al the docr = young man
claiming to be the " steward of the house
admitted me; was shown up stairs ard in
to the room from which saw the light re-
fected when | was on the stree; b>loN; one
glance around the room convinced me / was
in bad place. There were five men seated
around, English and American; tgc were
playing a. poker with bottle between them,
out of which they occasionally took drink.
One ine-looking young man with an intclli-
gent countenance was charging revolver,