Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-12-03
THE FIRST CRUSADE
RI MARKA5lE Arr Y THAT WENT
% CAPTURE TIE HOLY LAND.

r
Jerusalem. While there he had wit
to preserve the true faith among the
hordes of barbarians who had swar:ned
upon and now possessed the lands of
Asia Minor. He saw the shocking prof
anations of the sacred places of the Holy
City, and his heart burned within him
to release it from its oppression. At
nighttime dreams came TO him from
which it was pointed out to him that his
mission was to rouse the nations of Eu-
rope TO holy war.
Fired with this ambition, he made his
way back to France. The reports of his
powerful preaching spread, and greater
numbers flock each day to hear him.
Finally, in November of 1895, such
company is gathered as probably has
never been seen together before.
The plain of La Limagne, in Auvergne,
was covered with white tents, in which
were lodged $4,000 people, 1000 priests
and 400 bishops and abbots were there,
while also there was there one man who
was mightier than all of them, Urban
II, pope of Rome, TO whom all western
Europe did homage.
A lofty stand had been erected in the
open air, for no building would accom-
modate the throng. Upon this sat the
pope, and beside him stood the hermit,
holding aloft the cross. With burning
words and fearful eyes he described the
shameful sights he had witnessed in
l. TO
go with him to wrest the Holy City from
the infidrl.
His appeal was seconded by Urban,
who promised all who fought that if
they won the land they conquered should
be theirs: while if they died place in
heaven should surely be their reward
The cross was held out to them and they
were invited to come forward and take
it to wear upon their persons as the badge
of their devotion.
; Adhimar de Monteri, bishop of Puy
was the first to comeforward. and thou
sands poured after him.
The excitement spread and all Europe
resounded with the preparations for this
undertaking. Peter, with excess of zeal
and absolute lack of wisdom, gathered
multitude of peasant men, women and
children, unarmed and unprovided with
the sustenance for the march which he
undertook to lead in person to Jerusa-
lem across the mountainous parts of |
central Europe.
whom they passed, and set upon by |
them in revenge. the pilgrims fell in
every road, cut down by sickness, star
walton and the sword. Others no doubt |
ran back to their deserted homes, until |
in Hungary Peter found himself alone.
Meanwhile very different army had |
been gathering on all sides, made up of |
the very flower of chivalry Of all the
European nations.
Godfrey de Bouillon, duke of Lor |
lraine, the Count of Toulaun, Barmond,
sTancred, Felei de la Flichs and many |
another warrior whose name stands high |
in history led their armies to join the |
host.
William Rufus was now king of Eng
land, man SO avaricious and unscrupu
lous that he never hesitated to take by
force any possession of his mobiles that
was left unguarded. Under such mas
ter it is not strange that the English no
'bles were loath to leave their castles for
30 long journey, and hence few Eng
lish names have figured in the first cru
sade.
Impetuous, improvident, trustful Rob
ert of Normandy, however, who never
could remember evil of his brother the
next day after he had most cruelty
abused him, now turns to William for
aid. His generous heart burning to re-
Aieve the sufferings of the Holy Land
leads him to sacrifice every future pros
pect for the purpose of obtaining the
means of gratifying the present impulse.
He mortgages his duchy of Normandy
to his brother William Rufus, king of
England, and with his money thus OBJ
tained fits out his portion of the holy
army.
The science of navigation was in that
age too crude to be able to provide
means of transit for so large an army
by water, and the whole force, 500, 900
infantry and 100000 cavalry, marched
by land across central Europe and over
the Hellespont into Asia Minor.
The pitiless sun, the finty soil, a
strange climate, lack of food, want of
water, all fought on the side of the Turk
against the Crusaders, and the path of
the devoted army was marked by trail
of graves.
At Nicea, at Antioch, and in other
places the contending armies met. As a
general thing the Crusaders were victo-
rious, and on a January morning in 1898
the advancing army, Tancred in the
lead, ascending a hill, looked for the
first time upon the city of Jerusalem.
General and soldier, prince and
peasant, fell PROSTATE upon the ground.
I;ome wept for joy at the sight; Others
With sorrow, because above the temple
nd the sepulcher the crescent of Mo
Iammed glistened in the sun.
The siege which followed lasted for
months, and when at last the city was
AIKEN the few inside whom the assaults
lad spared fell by the swords Of the con-
Iuerors.
In making arrangements for govern
ns the city the conquerors decided to
lect one of their number king, and the
rown was offered to Robert of Nor
nandy. who declined it. Afterward
sodfrey de Bouillon, who seems to have
cen an irreproachable knight, was
.hosea to this high place with its cares,
,ut would not take this title nor the
crown. He made a most successful
uler until his death, only one year
later.
Thus ended the first Crusade.
Courier.
London's Yearly Fruit Supply.
In one year the quantity of fruit IN
loaded at London bridge was no less than
17,716, 900 bushels, the value Of which
was estimated at $2s. $40, 900. This
chiefly consisted of apples, oranges,
lemons, onions and potatoes, the two
4 Il 4 l. Il