The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-04-19
KNIGHTS or MALTA.


KNIGHTS or MALTA.
The interesting history OF the order is
continued ia this issue.
Acre, tie only remaining stronghold Of
! the Christians, was located on the shores
| OF Syria. Here it was determined TO hold
ont against the infiGeIs at any cost, aud
| the progress of the Mohammedaus were
held IN check for while by the arrival
OF fresh crusaders from Europe, and a
| ILestv was made IN l2a2 which secured
| the Christians ten years peace But
the Knights did not give up the hope of
| regaining the Holy City, and even secur-
| Ing the pilgrim privilege of visiting the
holy places. Even then they could not
bear 10 be pent up III single town, and
! no sooner hxd the ten years treaty ex-
pired, Notwithstanding their feebleness,
they awaited themselves of every oppor-
| tunity to sally forth and attack the Mos
| lem merchants whose chance threw into
the vicinity df Acre.
This continued until the Sultan Khatil,
! enraged ut the afldacity Of the remaining
| soldier of the Cross, swore that he would
| exterminate the last Christian dog within
| the limits Of his dominion. III 1891 war
! again broke over the heats of the Chris
tians,. and the Sultan. with an army Of
| two hundred thousand men, pitched his
camp before the city. Within the city
| the utmost confusion prevailed. Almost
every nation OF Europe was represented
In the multitude that thronged the
| streets Such was the distinction of
councils prevalent in the city that no ade-
| quate measures of defence could be car
RED into effect. The rarnparts were inl-
| perfectly defended, and the crowd of nom
combatants soon came TO the conviction
that safety from the swords of the Name
| Lukes lay in escape. In a short time the
| ships in the harDor were crowded by
those who we're fortunate enough to per-
ceive the situation and avail themselves
| or the opportunity. This process of de-
barkntlon went on steadily until it ap-
| peared that Acre would be left without
| an inhabitant. But the knights and a
| few other warriors, to the number of
twelve thousand In all. showed different
| mettle
Perhaps nothing more heroic has been
| witnessed In the annals of warfare than
| the resolRte aud uuwaverinQ courage
| displayed by this band of Europeans III
| defending the last fortress OF Eastern
1 Christendom. For thirty-three days they
manned the ramparts against two hum
| dred thousand Of the best warriors OF the
| East; with ever-incyeasing yehemence the
/ enemy leveled their destroying engines
| aguinst the tottering wallis and towers.
| AT last an important defence known by
name of the Cursed Tower yielded to as
saiiants and went down with a crash
The breach thus affected In the defences
it was that Hugh of Lusignan, whom
the folly of the times still called tae King
| OF JeruSalem, gathering together band
| of followers and favorites, fled in the
darkness, went on ship board and left The
city TO its fate. But the three orders OF
| Knights, the HospitaluterS, the Tenn
| plars, and the German or Teutonic
| Knights, scorning the conduct of
the royal poltroon, rallied in the breach
with an energy born Of heroism rather
than despair, and b at back the Moslems
with terrible slaughter. The latter rallied
again aud again to the charge, and at
last the bleeding knights. reduced to q
corporal's guard, were driven back In the
| city fighting every inch and covering the
ground with their foe. At the moment
of the crisis, while the infidels were
rushing through the breach, a body of
the knights, headed by their Grand Mas
ter, secretly left the city, aud stealing to
tue enemy's rear, rushed into its camp
The Sultan, however. was not taken by
surprise; a most of Matnelukes met the de-
voted band. who at that instant received
news of the death Of the Grand Master Of
the Templars. and nearly all the knights
In the city were captured, aud Acre was
in possession of tho iufidels. The rem
nant turned their steps toward the sea
| fighting all the way. and on the shore
they found small boat into which they
| threw themselves. A large vessel was
| not requisite, only seven knights re-
| NAMED alive This sad remnant of a
numerous body escaped to the Island of
| Cyprus
In the city the remaining Knights of
| the three orders retired to the monastery
| of the Templars and for three davs after
/ the capture OF the city they there de-
/ Tended themselves until the Sutton, APP
preciating such rare heroism, granted
| them honorable terms of capitalization.
/ No sooner, however, had they surrendered
/ than they were assailed with jeers and In
| suits by the Infatuated Mamelukes. Eu-
ragged at this treatment, the Knights at
| tackled their enemies with redoubled
fury. and fought until they, were exter-
minated to man. This ends the history
| of the Knights in Palestine. We will
next follow the seven who escaped to
! Cyprus.
p. G. Van Antwerp was in Brooklyn on
| Wednesday evening. He has another
Comlnandery under way there.
| Jappa No. SO was instituted IN KeeCer,s
| Hall on Saturday night with thirty men,
bers. d. D. Jones was assisted by p c.
| from Columbia, No II; Alpha, No. 73
| Robert Bruce, No. "a, and Damon No. 81.
! Past Most Eminent Commander McClen-
| took was present, as were many of the
companions from Robert Bruce in their
! new uniforms
p. G. Clark of Robert Bruce looked ex.
| quisite in his gold uniform. He has at
last gathered material enough to make
| him Il belt
DIDN'T P. C. Doc Morris of Robert
| Bruce look every bit knight in his new
| p. C. uniform Drill the boys, Doc, and
| Damon will have to look to their laurels.
| Come. Alpha; you were first. Get to-
| gether and hustle or the children will dis
| lance the parent.
| Don't forget Alpha's sociable and pound
| party on the 23d.
The Conimandery in Newark will be
! instituted on the 25th. Big night, Sir
Knight. All night.
What has become of Sir Knight Prof.
Blaze His sweet singing is missed.
| The application tor the Degree Com
mandery Is ready. Red Cross Knights
can sign itaat p. G. Steup's.
| p. G. Clark is assisting in the organiza-
| ton of Commandery in Elizabeth.
| Have the Knights OF Malta adopted a
high hat as part of their uniform or is
Len Alinef
| We hope soon to see p. G. Trouten in
gold. Alex will look well.
| p. G. Commander Van Antwerp was in
| Newark on Sunday.
| Alpha has several candidates. Com
nIander F0rshey will have his hands full
McCintock Commandery WORKED the
Malta on two candidates. They have
several more for the next meeting.
Damon Commandery, No. 81, has re-
moved TO No. 43 Montgomery street ana
viii meet hereafter on the second and