The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1880-11-20

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had with him many Venctians and Ge-
nocse. The lcgHtr Isidore. did his du-
ty hravcly MS % soldier The city had
lOi guns. and umnng the number WINS
one gigantic for the time, which could
only fire six or seven times a day, and
had To bc cooled each time after it had
been fired. The ant Of siege was still
III its infancy. Mnhumrt used all the
Old machines which were made for an
rroaches aud assaults. He had guns
also. Arrows, multeu lead and boiling
oil were used against the nssnilanls. ~
well as the famous Greek fire. the Sc
ciet OF which was still preserved in the
Greek Empire. The Investment of
/ Constnntlnople began on tho 9Th of
/ Aptil, ll53 Tho -irgo went on me-
thndlcallN, and various assaults were
! lcpulscd by the Greeks. Muhumot
was surprised Ia lind sn much resist
anco. The Turkish ships succeeded in
forcing tho entrance of the Golden
Horn, and the city from That moment
began tn show all the terrible symptoms
Of discomfort aud discurd which arc
noticed in ull sicgcs of pnpnlons cnpI-
tails. While the -oldirts were on the
rnmparis the city was oonvulscd with
| theological discussions. Even ON the
eve Of the ruin Of their cause the fannt-
/ ichl Grecks showed more nhhorrence
! Tor the dnguas aud rites of the Latin
/ church than Ton the enemies who were
/ heinte the gates. CUustuntinople was
like Jerusalem when it was bcsicged
| by the Romans. Tile monks inflnmed
the multitude, but did not turn their
wrath against the real enemy. 81
would prefer hundred timck.r said
one, ITO see In Constantinuple the tur.
ban OF the Turks rather than the Uarn
OF the pope The crowds rushed to
the shrines where the mirncle-w oikiur
virgins were kept, but did not rush to
the rampaIts. All SORTS Of prophecies
were made tho Greeks bt cnme the
piiiHhle victims of wlht was called du-
ring the last siege Of Paris "uhsidieunlr
madness, Constautnoplo did not sur
render because it was starved il was
regularly taken by storm. While tho
mob accused the emperor Of treason
Mahomet Kept firing his 1870 guns
against tho walls and mnl,inga breach.
lie promised his followers tho plumber
of II city which was then, after Rome.
the richest in the world. The last at
tack was preceded by solpmn fasting
and 10y PRAYERS II hegnn ON tho 2sth
Of May in the middle of the dav, to tho
sound OF LA ilnh ilah Allnhn The
resistance Of the Greeks and Italinus.
WIN we're lighting Que against twenty,
was truly heroic. Constantine was
among his troops, and showed tho
greatest bravery, Gustiniani was
mortallY wounded. In She evening the
lsalioans, hRNiug lost their chief, took
to their ships and abandoned their I'M
fortunate emperor. The battle began
again the next day; tho emperor
fought like common soldier, like n
new Sams0n" The fight wns hnnd-to-
hand. Constantine fell in the carnage,
and The confusion was such that his
loss was not noticed nj first. His body
wNs found nfterwufd, in y mass of
cnrpscs. The Turks were nt Inst
within the CITY. They had been prom
ised three days of plumber; they
sacked the magnificent capital nhmer-
cituily. The pen of Victor Hugo could
hardly describe the scenes of horror of
which Byanntium became the theater.
Blood ran ~ torrents IN the streets.
An Italian witness says that "corpses
were floating on the Dardnnellcs
like spoiled melons ON ihe'ca-
nails Of Venice Some historians
speak of 10000, some of 1000 victims.
The most noble ladies were given mn
to harbarous soliery 50, 900 prison.
crs were made, only of the richest class
ia the hope Of ransom. Gold, silver,
bronze, precious stones, ornaments,
were seized everywhere. What could
not be taken were DESTROYED The
converts and churches were especially
marked for plumber. Saint Sophin be-
came the scene of Il horrible crime.
Mahomet made his entry among tho
corpses, aud went On horseback to
Saint Sophia. Ilis Chnrch from that
moment became mosque, and tho
crescent took the place of the cross.
1t is better to throw veil over the
excuses Of Mahomet and of his lieu
tenants. The Turks showed no mercy,
ne generosity; they trampled upon
their unhappy victims like so many
wild bensis. Europe learned with hnr-
rur the details Of the fall Of Constnnti-
nople. There was call from many
sides for u new crusade. In the yenr
1880 the crusade had not vet herun; and
when lately the Russians, encamped
before Consianlinoplr, saw IN the dis
lance the done % Saint Sophia, they
had tho sinru'lr courage tn remain
within their lines aud itoross the Dan
ubc without hnving avenged tho En-
peror Constantine.