Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-01-12
TURKISH EPISODE.

decided check to Moslem progress upon
the continent of Europe.
After the overthrow OF the Eastern en-
pire the successors of the Caliphs had
contented themselves with extending their
dominion and the faith of the Prophet
through Asia, and although their pres
ence upon the western shore Of the sen of
Mamora was n constant menace to Chris
tendon, the spirit of conquest that had
borne the crescent in triumph over the
greater part of Asia seemed allayed. But
although thus inactive, the deeds of the
past, the heroic achievements Of Oman
and of Called, were perpetual incentive
to new enterprises, and all that was re-
quired was leader of sufficient ambition
to give this impulse direction, aud renew
the invasions and the conquests of the
Companions OF the Prophet. In 1858
came the leader and the occasion.
Mahomet ", u bigoted fanatic, was
upon the throne, and was ruled by Kari
Mustapha, his Grand Vizier, n bold and
ahtious soldier. Selling upon traing
pretext Mahomct declared war against
Austria, and in April, 1853, Mustapha, at
the head of an army of four hundred
thousand soldiers, began his march for
Vienna.
No force that Austria could place in the
field could hope TO arrest the progress Of
this mighty host, and the few fortified
places on the line ot their march were
scarcely obstacles to their advance rs
they swept up the valley OF tho Danube.
AS it approach ed Vienna the Emperor
and his Court fled from the city, leaving
the Count Stanaberg with garrison Of
but ten thousand men to make such do
Tense rs he could for the Austrian oapi.
tai. In vain did tho Austrian Emperor
implore the aid Of the other nations to re-
pei this Paynim invasion.
The petty jealousos Of other cabinets
| induced them to look with Indifference il
not with satisfaction upon the humila.
! tion Of the Austrian Empire, and Vienna
was apparently left to hor fate and to all
the horrors Of siege aad sack at tho hands
OF the Moslem invaders. But relief came
from quarter that had often before arous.
ed resistance to these inlldel invasions. 49,
/ Innocent N was in the chair of ST. Pc
ter, and beheld with horror these Paynim
hordes over.runnng Christian States.
He dispatched his " "Nuncios" to every
court of Europe TO urge upon all Christ
ian kings the duty as we'll rs policy of
making common cause against this in
vasion. At ono Court alono was his
"Nuncio' successful.
Upon tho throne of Poland sat John
Sobiosl,i, II statesman, II ruler and Il sol
dier, without equal among the rulers and
soldiers of Europe. Tho occasion admit
ted Of no prolonged diplomacy the char
actor ot.SobiesAi did not requireit. With
the tried Veterans of many bloody field
no set out at once upon his march, while
swift messengers preceded him on eth
or hand and summoned the warriors OF
the nation to his standard. For neither
recruits nor supplies did he epause. "God
will provide" said he 81 can make no
delay'-and on he swept by forced
marches. Upon every eminence blazed
beacons. From cathedral altar and from
woyside shrine from prcato and from
priest went blessings on his host. IIe
paused for neither the one nor the other,
but pressed on.
We'll had Sobieski declared TINT God
would provide. Over the whole land
rosted the dread horror Of the followers of
Mahomet, and on tho line Of Sobieski's
march willing hands supplied all they
possessed, aud all that was required for
the sustenanco Of their defenders. with
the first light Of day the Polish army was
in motion, and darkness came before
they halted for the night. There was
urgent need for this haste. For forty.
five dnys the Turkish hosts had Invested
Vienna. Eighteen times had they storm.
ed the walls, and been each time rcpulsed
by tho heroic garrison. Women and
children fought side by side with men, or
spent the night in repairing the breaches
made by the fearful cannonade. As the
Polish king approached, the Turks re-
doubled their efforts. Famine and pesti |
lence came to their aid, and even tho
stout-hearted commander doubt ted. A
messenger from the Court made his way
through .he lines of the besiegers and met
Sobieski, The Count bids me say TO
the King Of Poland" said the messenger,
" that he must come soon or he will come
too late" "Return to the Count" said
Sobieski, "and say to him that day after
tomorrow ! will be in Vienna, or dead
beneath its walls"
On the night Of Sept. llth the Polish
army reached the heights that overlooked
the city, and beheld upon every hand, as
far as the eye could reach, the camp fires
Of the Turkish army. Three rockets not
iied the beleaguered city that delivcrance
was at hand. All night the Moslem
camp resoundcd with the din of prepara-
ti1n. All night sounded the great bell of
st. stephens, called the bell of anguish,
that had tolled without intermission since
the investment Of the city.
At daylight solemn mass was cele-
brated by the Papal Ndncio in the pres
ence Of the whole army, Sobeisle himself
serving at the altar. The sacrifice over
the "Noncio," in tho name Of the vicar
of Christ, gave solemn absolution to tho
kneeling warriors that were that day to
do battle for Chrstendom. Sobieski then
bade his son, youth Of fifteen, approach,