The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-07-25
CONQUEST OF CYPRUS.
How the Island Was Captured by the Turk, in
1870,

How the Island Was Captured by the Turks In
1870.
In 1870, (after Cyprus had been in the
hands of Christians since 964) Saleim IL.
asked Venice to cede to him the island
of Cyprus, and upon her refusal he began
to make extensive preparations to take
it by force. This news caused conster'
nation among the Christian population
along the shores of the Mediterranean.
Pope Plus V. vainly attempted another
crusade by calling Europe to arms much
time was lost in conferences and negoti
ations, and no energetic measures we're
adopted. Venice, trembling, fortified
herself at home, and forgot or was una
BILE to send troops to garrison the fort
resses repaired by Savorniani. The
Turks lost no time in sending from
Rhodes and Negropont fleet of $50 ves-
sells to conquer Cyprus.
On the 1st of July, 1870, the Turks
landed in the neigbborhood of Limassol,
without any opposition, an army OF 100
600 men, composed of 10000 infantry,
10000 cavalry, and 200 cannon, under
command of Lala Mustafa. While the
heavy artillery was being landed, his ir.
regular cavalry secured the country
and ravished all the towns. In the
latter part of July Mustafa Pasha, with
his whole army, had begun the siege of
Nicosia, garrisoned only by 10000 men
of different nationalities and religion.
Tie defense was badly conducted, yet
the Turks spent seven weeks in captur-
ing the city, entering it Sept 9th, after
several desperate assaults. For a whole |
week the city was given up to the feroC-
ity of the captors, and the scenes of hor
ror enacted beggar description. Twenty
thousands persons were pitilessly butch.
cred, and two thousand youths captured. |
On Sept. 9th Mustafa Pasha started to
besiege Famagosta, the last stronghold |
which still defed the barbarous Osmanli |
The place was defended by Venetian |
troops, who, though only 5000 in mum.
ber, resisted for long time, always in
the hope of receiving assistance from
their mother country, The efforts of
Venice to help Famagosta amounted to
next to nothing. On July Goth, after a
siege of nearly ten months duration,
when all the provisions and ammunition |
were exhausted, and most of the troops
manned or killed, the heroic Comman-
der, Gen. Bragadino, displayed the
white flag, and proposed his conditions
of surrender.
These were eagerly accepted by the
treacherous Mustafa; hostages were ex.
changed; Turkish vessels, as stipulated,
entered the port of Famagosta, and took
on board all those who wished to leave
the island; nothing remained but the
formality Of delivering the keys Of the
city to the victor.
On Aug. 9th, Gen. Bragadino, accom-
panied by his ieutenants Baglioni, Mar
tinengo, and Quirini, went to the Turk
ish camp, and was politely received by
Mustafa. After the delivery of the keys
and when Gen. Bragadino had risen to
take leave, the vile Turk asked him for
special hostages for the safe return from
Gambia to the Turkish vessels which were
to convey him and his men thither;
Briadino refused this, as not having been
stipulated in the accepted conditions of
his surrender. Then Mustafa accused
him of bad faith, and having killed fifty
Turkish pilgrims after he had surrender.
ed, which was Indignantly denied by |
Bragadino. The Pasha, becoming en-.
ragged, ordered the four Venitians to be
killed, and in few minutes Generals
BAglioni, Martinengo and Quirini were
executed in the presence of Bragadino,
for whom more terrible death was re-
served; the executioner cut off his nose
and ears; three times he was made to lay
his head on the block as if to he behead-
ed, then, heavily chained, was thrown
into a dark dungeon, and left for nine
days in that miserable condition.
On the 10th day, by order of Mustafa,
Bragadina was brought out of prison and |
made to carry earth for the repair of the
Notifications during several hours, after
which, more dead than alive, the heroic
soldier was tied TO a stake, and in the
presence of the ferociOus Mustafa was |
aayed alive. His skin, stuffed with hay
was sent with the heads of the other
three Venetians as presents to the Sui
tan.
The same bloody scenes which had oc-
Cured at NiCosia were repeated at Fa-
though it appears the rage of
the Turks at this place was more partiC-
ularly directed against the Roman Cath
olics.
Thus was Cyprus conquered, and is
doomed to remain a part of the Turkish
empire as long as enlightened Christian
Powers uphold, by their jealousies such
an impracticable and monstrous govern
History of Cyprus,