Middletown transcript., 1895-06-15

and exact toll from all who passed
that way. When this castle was fin
ished, the cannons forged and placed
in their positions and all things in
readiness the siege of the city began.
We of the Janissaries, who had been
in COnstanlinople, were ordered to
remain in the tents near at hand to the
Sultan, in order to advise with him,
for MahOmet had not yet visited the
city and deemed our knowledge of
value to him.
The siege began on the 9th of April,
1853 and lasted forty days; the city is
q triangle in shape, two of the sides
fronting On The sea and - firmly pro-
tected that we found it impossible
to attack from either of those sides,
the base of the triangle was the side
of the city next to the land and this
was protected by deep wall and
ditch 200 feet in depth, and this de-
fense extended for six miles. From
this side we made our attack and kept
up the firing for many days but found
we could make little or no impression
on the ranks Of the Greeks; many of
the bravest of our youths climbed on
this wall only to be shot down by the
Greeks as they came in sight and we
knew that an attack must be made
from the harbor or our cause was lost.
Accordingly Mahomet devised the
plan of dragging number of our
vessels and ships up from the Bosphorus
to the higher parts of the harbor, a
distance of ten miles and over an un-
even path, overgrown with shrubs and
trees, but the craft and skill of our
leader overcame these difficulties. The
Genoese on the opposite side were
persuaded by the bribes and a promise
of our continued favor to lend their
aid, gangway of strong oak planks
was constructed, creased with oils,
dozens of our boats were placed there
on and by the aid of pulleys, sails and
willing hands the boats we're dragged
the entire distance during one night,
the heavy cannon were moved in the
same laborious fashion, until the en-
tire distance was crossed and the upper
harbor reached. Over the harbor
bridge of casks and hogsheads was
formed, on this the cannon were placed
and the heavy firing began. The terror
our appearance excited, no less than
the material shocks did much to weaken
the strength of the Greeks. After
many days of heavy firing from this
point of attack the towers and walls
were demolished and the city given
over to Mahomet II.
During the latter days of the siege
my heart was consumed with anxiety
concerning the fate of the Italian and
his household. No words of affection
had passed between US, but my intense
reverence for the Italian Blanca had
been deepened to an ardent passion by
the anxiety of the last days of the |
siege. AS the heavy firing carried |
destruction into the heart of the city, |
we knew that many were perishing |
from the attack and when finally the
city was declared open to the besiegers
l hastily sprang on my steed to find my
way to the Italian. My haste was so
great that how I found my way among
the shattered dwellings l know not,
and when the mansion of the Italian
was reached, broken walls and hush
about the spot showed me severe havoc
had been wrought. Some one motioned
me to an upper apartment and l stum-
bled into room flooded with sunlight
IS it came through the shattered walli
but dark as night 20 me save for the
brightness of the face that lay on the
couch before me.
A strange pallor showed me that
stronger hand than mine had already
grasped the wan hand l strove vainly
to chafe into life. A broken wall,
some fragments of shell showed me
the cause Of the injury and the Italian
Blanca had been fatally wounded by
the dread missile of the Sultan, and
was dying. Nay, was already dead
save for the life that glowed in her
eyes. With mad pleadings I begged
her forgiveness for the fate that had
Overtaken her from our Turkish enemy
and murmured brokenly few words
Of the undying affection l cherished
for her. A whispered word of love
that 1 cherish in my innermost soul,
the name of the Christ child fluttering
On white lips, and the italian maiden
had closed her eyes to the light Of the
world. How long l remained sunk on
my knees, gazing on that face clothed
now with the majestic veil of deaths
presence, know not, nor how l found
my way to my horse: Blindly rode
from the city; what to me the capture
If the prize the Janissaries had longed
'Orl what to me the victory of Mahomet
when won by religion of war and
the faith Of the christ ian
God is the only one to live for and to
lie by, for the light Of true faith
vas in the eyes of the Italian Blanca
Is she died, and to see tina: light again |
lave I labored in the gray dark Of th is {
monastery. /.
Not for many years did further
idings of the Imperial City and the
ate of its Emperor reach me; but one
lark, stormy nigat broughta a wanderer
o our convent portals, Haroun my
;omrade, who went with me to the
2mnoror,a paluoaa wanderar had