The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-15

the surrounding country and made
himself familiar with every OBJ
stscle in the hundred and fifty
miles that lay between him and
the object Of his ambition. OF all these
the greatest were the walls Of Constan-
tiuople. He knew it would be next to
impossible to capture that city unless
be could dsmolish these formidable de.
lenses. His purpose was to take it by
storm on the west at the same time
that an attack was made from the water
on the east. The Turks had already
profited by the discovery of gun pow
der. and were famous for their field ar
tillery, but up to this date had no seige
guns suitable to the designs of their
imperial master. The difficulty was to
supply this need. Unfortunately for
the cause of the Christians, the defec-
ton OF one of their number solved the
question for the Turks. A European
engineer had. for some cause, deserted
to the Ottoman camp. Being inform
ed of this, Mahomet at once made use
of his opportunity. Having summoned
this officer to his presence, he demand
ed of him whether he could construct
artillery that would project balls against
the walls Of Constantinople from such
distance as would prevent his
army from being reached by the
missiles of the enemy. He promptly re-
piled that he could. La due time a
foundry was erected at AdrisnopIe. A
! bronze gun was there cast of such di-
mensions and calibre as would. by the
use Of powder. throw q stone ball
weighing six hundred pounds more
than one mile. and with such force as
10 bury it mole than twenty feet into
the earth. The success OF this expert
ment sealed the fate of ConstautinOple.
When the attack was made. her walls
were so broken by these powerful en-
g.hes that her fierce assallants were at
last enabled to carry the city by storm.
Whether this engineer constructed the
stone balls, or found thelI already III
the country, does not appear. BE this
as it may. another gun was subsequent
~ cast which threw a stone ball weigh
ing six hundred pounds, the calibre or
bore of which is said to have been
twelve palms This may mean
thirty-six OF forty-eight inches. accord !
ing to the two accepted measurements
OF "a palm
From the account just given it will /
be perceived that these immense pro
jectiles were certainly made effective IN
war as early as the year l453. 1t should |
also be observed that the two interesting
relics in our possession are probably
just about the weight and diameter of
these mentioned by the historian. 1t .
also appears that on anoth er occasion a /
still larger gun was constructed, from /
which ball weighing twelve hundred /
pounds was thrown entirely across the /
Dardanelles by ,the explosive force of
three hundred and thirty pounds of .
powder.
After the Turks had firmly estab-
lisned themselves in Europe. they de-
termlned to fortify their historic and
beautiful capital against the danger OF
future conquest. Accordingly the sue
cessors Of Mahomet erected towers and
ports at all the salient point, along the
several water APPROACHES to the city.
Chief amODg these were the two famous
works or castles known as the Oar.
danelles, one on each side of and guard
ing the entrance To the strait of that
name. Here they mounted a number
of these heavy guns from whose capa
cious mouths coull be elected mas
sive projecules like those decribeI
above. 1t may be well mag
med with what concern an enemy
looked upon these terrible guardians of
the sacred waters that led up to the
very gates of the Imperial Palace. For
centuries. through the changes of dy-
nasties and the chances of war. they
have continued tdatand as faithful SEN
tinels at their post OF duty. Nor have
they done this in vain. Even in mod
ern times. on one occasion they gave
signal evidence Of their power. In the
year 1907, during the wars between the
great powers OF Europe, the French
were in favor at the Court of Constan-
tinople, and England had become the
ally Of Russia against the Sultan's gov
eminent In order to enforce certain
demands she determined to send pow
erful feet to Constantinople. Admiral
SIR John DuckwOrth was ordered to 9
this important duty. lie had already
Eec )me distinguished as a skillful and
victorious naval commander. The Turks
were taken somewhat by surprise when
his fleet appeared off the mouth Of the
straits. He succeeded IN forcing their
passage, although vigorously resisted,
and had almost reached the OBJ ct Of his
when he was at last forced {
TO retire before the Overw helming fire OF
the Ottoman batteries. His retreat was a
disastrous one. Not only were the YES
sells of his feet seriously injured. but
his own flag ship was seriously dam
aged. if not entirely destroyed. A gun
much larger than that used by Na.
homet at the siege of COnstantinOple,
had long been in position at the en-
trance to the DardaDelles. Ga this oc-
caslon. with great insenience, II was
brought into play. Its fire was directed ,
particularly against the admlral's flag
nip with the result stated above.
In view of the facts given IN this hurried
account of the big balls in front OF the
Armory. they should at least command
the respect Of those to whose care they
are entrusted. They are doubtless the
only specimens OF me1iRval ORDNANCE
TO be found 20 this country. aud al (
though from the land OF the inltel,
should be regarded with the same toler-
ance of strangers that now prevails IN
their native land. 1t IN the possession
of some communities, they would az
least be so cared for as not
TO be constantly IN danger of being seri-
ously injured by the unwarrantable
conduct OF street bra lers and the ruth
less deyOteos of baCchus. They would
rather be looked upon as ''stOnes of
WORTH the "halIowed relics" of
ARRANGE eyeDtful history !