San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-04-06
M0HAMMED'S CASTLE.
THE FORT THAT SEALED THE DOOM
OF ONSTANTlNOPLE.
Story of the Ruse by Which the Site of
the Fertilization Was Secured-How 1t
Was Constructed in Such Short Time-A
Conflict That waged Over 800 Years.

The castle of Mohammed was built on a
height overlooking the Bosphoius 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 and determined nature prompted
him 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 fertilization like this and in this To-
cation was of almost immeasurable import
ance to the besiegers of Constantinople was
well understood by Mohammed lis grand
father, Sultan Bayazid, as early as the year
1871, when he built the stronghold on the
Asiastic shore directly opposite, and only six
miles from Constantinople 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 II first gained foothold on
the rocky heights of Heromoion. One tells
us it was through the influence of a traitor
GUS 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 fortifcation, from whose high towers
the doomed city could easily be overlooked,
while its great guns commanded the passage
of the Bosphorus and thus held the key to
both empires
There is a 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 were thus consumed Ger
tain it is that Mohammed 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
he had no scruples about appropriating any
thing he could lay his hands on in this vicin-
ity. We are told that when digging to lay
these walls he unearthed massive foundations
of a former castle and baths, which he at
once utilized. 1t was during the winter of
l45l-52 that men and material were hurried
here from all parts Of his realm. Then the
effeminate and luxurious rulers of Byzantium
were first awakened to their peril and great
CONSERVATION prevailed in Constantinople;
but so needless and given to procrastination
had they become that, although it was begun
March 20, 1852, and 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 fortiffca-
ton could hardly be overestimated, as it af-
forded short and easy passage for troops
between bays that were protected from the
violent winds and waves of both the Black
sea and the Marmora. The foundations were
laid in such form as to spell the sultan's
name. 1t was to have four gates, facing the
four cardinal points of the compass. The
circumference of the central tower on the
top was 225 feet; height, SO feet; inside di-
ameter, 46 feet; thickness of wall, 10 or more
feet. The outside diameter of two of the
huge towers was about GO 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 workmen. The sultan was pres |
ent all the time to 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 air of great soIGmnity |