The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-02-28
THE HELLESPONT.
Its Past History Its Military and Political ImpOr-
tanCe.
IN. Y. Herald

IN. Y. Herald
Turning from the exciting events OF
the present time, which lend military and
political importance to the HelIespont or
the Dardanelles, the history of this fa-
nous strait is filled with incidents asso-
ciated with the birth of civilization in
Europe as we'll as the commencement of
the great struggle between the Crescent
nd Cross which has contributed to de-
velop the Eastern question tosday. The
first attempt at passage Of the Helles-
pCnt is said to have been failure, yet it
gave the strait a name which it retains
to the present day. The Princess Helle
ndeavored to cross seated on ram that
wore the golden fleece, but owingto some
cause or other she fell off and was drown
ed. Hence the strait has been named
"Hellespontus, or the "Sea of Helle."
The story comes down to us as Greek
legend, which relates that Helle was the
daughter of Athamas, King of Thebes,
by the goodies Nephele. When her broth~
er Phrixus was about to be sacrificed the
mother rescued him, and, placing both
children on the back Of the ram with the
golden fleece which she had received
from Mercury, fled with them toward
Asia. 1t was during the passage of the
straits between Sigma and Chersoneus
that Helle was drowned. The first res
corded crossing of the Hellespont is that
of Leander, from Abydos, his residence
on the Asiatic side, to Sestos, on the
European shore, where Hero, the priest
ess of Venus "did dwell" In paying his
nightly visits to the fair Hero, Leander
swan the straits, distance variously
estimated by poets and historical writers
at six hundred 10 eight hundred and sev~
enty.hve PAGES. However allowing for
the strong current that constantly flows
from the Sea of Mamora through the
Dardanelles, the swim of Leander could
not have been less than one and half
miles. Hero's flaming torch was his only
guide during the long struggle with the
waves and currents. His sad fate-for
the poor fellow was drowned at last and
his body washed ashore at Hero's feet
is referred to in Byron's touching lines,
written after the poet had succeeded in
performing the feat of swimming the
Hellespont:
But since he crossed the rapid tide,
According to the doubtful story,
To WoO-and-Lord knows what beside,
And swan for love, as for glory
'Twere hard to say who Jared the best
Sad moltsls thus the gods still plague you /
He lost his labor, Imy Jest: ~ \
Fol- he was drowned, and I've the ague.&N
According to the doubtful story"
Hero ended her life by plunging into the
dark waters where her lovers body lay.
Xerxes crossed the Hellespont from Ably
dos to Sestos with an army Of I,7oo 900
men, more or less, by means ofa bridge
of boats. The Turks crossed in 1857
under Solyman, and they began their
dominion in Europe. Through all the
history Of the empire of Constantine the
Dardanelles continued to grow in impor-
tance to the Emperors at Constantirople,
and since Mohammed II. captured the
capital his successors have jealousy
guarded the channels leading from the
| Hgean ana blaCk seas 10 inc oed OF
Marmora. In recent article an account
was given of the forcing of the Dardan~
elles by foreign vessels Of war. The
British fleet, having passed the Dardans
elles without opposition, is at present
anchored at the Princess Island, in the
Sea Of Marmora, about thirteen miles
from Constantinople. There the from
clads represent insulted majesty of Eng
land and their future movements will de-
termine the relations existing between
that country and the victorious Russians.