The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1885-04-16
Wixx THE SULTAN.


From the San Francisco Call
Following is the account Of an inter-
esting chapter Of Governor Stanford's
"reminiscences OF his travels abroad, as
it fell from his own lips:
by appointment We went one morn
ing to the old palace in which the crown
jewels are kept, having rs our es-
cort, Pangeria Boy, one of the
Sultan's aides de- camp and q man Of
superior intelligence. On reaching
the builling we were received by some
twenty five or thirty officers in gli.tering
uniforms, who formed two lines through
which wc passed to the door of the treas
ure chambers This door, which was
solid bit of wood, had two locks, which
we're sealed with wax. Two officials ap.
pearcd upon tho scene, broke the seals
with certain formalities, threw open the
door, and acted rs our guild :. 1t seems
impossible for me to give you an ade-
quate idea of the immense wealth stored
in those three or four chambers. In them
are the gems collected during centuries
past by rulers Of despotic power, and
these precious stones represent q money
value that is extraordinary. although the
amount can not even he conjectured. as
no one has ever set n price no each sepa-
rate gem. 1t ~ safe to say, however,
that this collection is far more valuable
than that celebrated one in the Green
Vaults Of Dresden; while the latter is
estimated to DO worth some $50 ,OOo 900.
Under glass cases, which are ranged
around the walls and through the center
of the rooms, are basins filed with
diamonds, rubies, emeralds, pearls and
other precious stones, both cut and
uncut. Cimeters, daggers, pistols, rifles,
shields and other weapons Of many
curious shape are to be found here, the
handles and scabbards of each of them
studded with jewels that represent
fortune. Ornamentcd in like fashion,
We find saddles and saddle cloths, tur-
bans, robes OF state, carpets, velvet.
silk and satin canOpies, pipes, and
Heaven knows what else. Here are
wax figures Of all the Snltans who have
reigned, and each Of these figures is
decked with gems that would have ram
somed q king in the olden days. Here
is the gorgeous throne of the Caliph,
Haroun ell Kesched, more brilliant and
costly than anything we dreamed Of
while reading the arabian Nights"
Numberless other things there are Of
precious worth, and after glancing them
over q person can only wonder how
Jewels retain their high standard Of
value while SO many of them ore known
to exist IN o single place. When we
passed from the treasurer chumbers the
outer door was again doubly locked and
sealed, according to the form prescribed
by law, and after coffee had been served
We drove back to our quarters, dazzled
by what we had seen.
"The day before the ono appointed
for our leaving Constantinople, ! was
much surprised Mt receiving through a
court official an invitation for the fol-
lowing afternoon to private an Hence
with tho Sultan, during which he
wished to question me concerning the
material developments of Turkey.
While approaching the honor con-
ferred, l was embarrassed by tho con-
siderable delay that its acceptance
would necessitate, and tried to explain
that fact as politely rs possible. The
officer said the matter could easily he
accommodated by delaying the Austria
mail steamer for day, and this was
done by the steamship company in COM
pliance with request from the Court.
At 2 o'clock on the appointed day ]
reached the palace in company with
General Wallace and Pangeria Bey, and
we were Mt once ushered into private
audience chamber where the Sultan
was seated, with several officials stand
ing around him. After exchanging
bows. he motioned Gen. Wallace and
myself to seats that were placed in front
of him, and then at once commenced to
question me through an interpreter, as
he either is not or seems not to he
acquainted with either English OF
French. There was nothing rcmarka-
/ bic about the room, except, perhaps,
the fact that it was furnished in French
style, nor vas there much OF Oriental
splendor in the dress of the Sultan.
He wore blue untlress uniform of Eu-
ropean cut, the only traces of Eastern
costume being plain fcz, and a mag
nificently mounted cimeter. He APP
peared to be rather slight man, some
thirty-five years Of age, with an intelli'
gent face that showed a somewhat tim
id character, / should judge, and o dc.
cidedlv Jewish cast of features.
"He first Intercepted me ut some
length and in Q manner that showed he
had already studied the question. upon
the political and material situation in
America, and then questioned me close.
ly as to the advisability of building o
railway from Constantinople to the head
of the Persian Gulf. His questions were
to the point, while my answers were nee.
essarily somewhat longer, rs they had
Tn he of an explan atOry nature, and at