Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-03-19
.M0HAMMED'S CASTLE.
TIE FORT THAT SEALED THE DOOM
OF CONSTANTINOPLE.

Story of the Russ by Which the site of
the Fertilization Was Secured-How II
Was Constructed In Such short Time-A
Conflict That Waged Over 500 Years.
The castle of Nohanmed was built on a
height overlooking the Bosphorus at its mar
rowest point, and just where Darius threw
across his famous bridge of boats for the pas.
sage OF his Persian invaders. 1t was planned
some two thousand years after that invasion
by the young and ambitious Mohammed II,
whose bold aud determined nature prompted
MN TO do and dare far more than had ever
before been attempted for the conquest of
that much coveted and much fought over
capital, Constantinople
That fortification like this and in this To-
cation was of almost immeasurable import
ance TO the besiegeIs of Constantinople was
well understood by Mohammed IFS grand
tather, Sultan Bayazid, as early as the year
1871, when he built the stronghold on the
Asiastlc shore directly opposite, and only six
miles from Constan tinople. By building this
castle the young sultan completed the circle
his ancestors had been forging about the
doomed city.
STRETCHING AN OK HIDE.
Traditions differ regarding the ruse- by
which Mohammed i first gained foothold on
the rocky heights of Heromoion. One tells
us it was through the influence of traitor
ous Greek priest, who humbly sued for per-
mission to build there hunting box On land
that could be covered by an OK hide This
modest request being granted, an OK hide was
cut in strips so narrow that when Joined they
could be stretched around the site of this i'm
mense fortificatiOn, from whose high towers
Ill IafNr- 4
while its great guns commanded the passage
OF the Bosphorus, and thus held the kew to
both empires
There Is disagreement among historians
about the time occupied in building the castle
of Mohammed Some say it was built in
forty days, others in four months, still others
tell us six months we're thus consumed Ger
tain 1t Is that Mohnmmed had been industri-
ously gathering material in the forests of
Asia Minor, along the shores of the Marmora
and the Black seas, around Nicomedia bay.
and when all the men and material he could
command In his own dominion were collected
ne had no scruples about appropriating any
thlng ne could lay his hands on i'll this yicin-
lty We are told that when digging to lay
these walls he unea, 'thed massive foundations
or a former castle and baths, which he at
once utilized. 1t vas during the winter of
l45l-52 that men and material were hurried
here from all parts OF his realm. Then the
efeminate and luxr rious rulers of Byzautiun
were first awakened to their peril and great
CONSERVATION prevailed in Constantinople:
but so needless and given to procrastination
had they become that, although 1t was begun
March 90. 1852, ard doubtless occupied at
least four months, the sultan was interrupted
but once in his work, and that was when the
Church of st. Michael at Arnatukue was be
ing dragged away.
The Importance of this site for "a fortifica-
ton could hardly b. overestimated as it af-
torded short and easy passage for troops
between bays that were protected from the
violent winds and waves OF both the Black
sea and the MarmoIa. The foundations were
lald IN such a form as to spell the sultans
name. 1t was to have four gates, facing the
four cardinal poin-s of the compass. The
circumference of the central tower on the
top was 225 feet; height, So feet; inside di-
ameter, 4G feet; thickness OF wall, 10 OF more
feet. The outside diameter of two of the
huge towers was about 60 feet One thou
sand masons, each with two assistants, worked
on the outside of the walls, as many on the
inside, as well as countless carriers
FATE OF THE WEARY WORKMAN
A large number of troops were stationed to
protect the workmon. The sultan was pres
ent all the time II push the work with all
possible dispatch. The building of the three
larger towers was intrusted to three of the
sultan's ablest generals The Turks Of TODAY
Will tell you with an ar of great solemnity
that the dark sculptured head you see high
up in the massive wall of the white tower.
yonder Is truly the mummy of q workman
who refused TO perform his task. and the gem
eral in charge had him walled in at that I'M
mense height. The cannon upon these walls
and upon the sea TO wer carried balls weigh
ing 600 pounds
You may See many of these great balls of
granite still piled W on the quay beneath the
castles. The sultan placed a garrison com
posed OF 400 picked men within the fortifca-
ton when completed. Many of their de-
scendants still live IL ere, and eke out scanty
subsistence by following the peaceful occupa-
tion Of fishermen. In one of the strong
towers Mohammed II placed his treasure,
another was used "a a magazine, and others
were used as prisons, not only for persons of
rank, but after time for the dreaded jan
nisaries. Today these white towers stand like
sheeted ghosts in the moonlight, sole witnesses
OF the mighty host that stormed the great
capital OF the Roman empire in the east,
Hitherto Moslem vIlor had dashed in vain
against its triple walls, and might again have
done SO If only internal feuds and jealousies
had been set aside. But the day had come
when people SO sta med with sin and cursed
with greed must give way to stalwart arms
and trenchant SWORDS despite their strong re-
sistance for long centuries.
1t was in the year 633 that the Mohamme-
dan host first began their inroads, and the
conflict ragged until the 29th of May, 1453, not
continuously, it is true, but in three furious
storms. The first was the Argonaut onset,
which listed $40 years, and tore from her
scepter the provinces Of Egypt, Syria and
Mesopotamia. Next fell the assault Of the
Geljourhian Turks, lasting two centuries and
a half, and ending N the loss of almost the
whole Of Asia Minor Then came the Turks
of the house of Othman, strengthened by
memories of the remarkable and, to them
prophetic, vision of heir founder.
Mohammed IFS tr rlumph was not alone the
result of the power Of one mans will he but
echoed the voice o. past generations His
deeds embodied the Efforts that had gone be-
ore.-Constantinople Cor. San Francisco
Chronicle