New-York tribune., 1897-08-29
BYRON'S SWORD.
HOW IT CAME TO HANG IN A CHICAGO DINING
From The Chicago Post.

ROOM.
From The Chicago Post
Between the windows Of a pleasant Chicago
dning-room hang three crossed weapons.
Worthy companion blades are these. each drawn
in the cause Of freedom; two by plain Maine
Yankees, and one by an English peer. They and
her fathers portrait are the most cherished pos
sessions of a gentle, white haired widow They
the precious relics she strained every nerve
to save on that October day quarter or a cen
tury back, when she saw her home and her
husbands business and the whole great city 20
up in flame.
One weapon is a yataghan gallanty welded
by her father in the war for Grecian indepcnd-
ence: another is a plain United States army
sabre. worn by her husband in our own civil
war: the third was carried by a more illustrious
and a NOR unhappy. though no braver soldier,
George Gordon Noel Byron, sixth Lord Byron
Of Rochdalc. and greatest poet Of his age.
This one has an embossed silver scabbard.
Da amascus blade with golden sentence in Ara
bic engraved upon il, which 1t chances has never
been translated 1t may be something quite
commonplace: Great is Allah. and Mahomet is
his prophet" or perhaps the mere name OF the
maker. still. Il never has been translated and
adds one more element Of romance to the coronet
and the initial b upon the hilt
Ryrou as every one knows. never lived to draw
that sword himself for Greece. though he threw
himself into her quarrel full of military ardor'
thouel he gave her his fortune his mighty
name ana in the end, his life. As his friend
Trelavney Wrathfully puts it, he was induced
to stick for three months at Missoonghi, mat
,nudlank shut in by a circle Of stagnant pools
which might be called the belt of death" Here
he raised oans drilled troops, negotiated the re
Ieasc Il prisoners. abored to reconcile the vari-
Gus Greek factions. faithfully performed all the
less snowy parts Of war. till fever clutched him,
and suddenly the news Of his death shocked
Europe. It was the extinction Of luminary at
the zenith II was the useless sacrifice OF
snlendid genius in the prime Of faine ana OF
manhood Scott said il seemed as II me world
I'D como TO an end. 80 man but Napoleon ever
filled such place in the Thoughts "i MS CON
tempOraileS. ~ ,.... -,
side the miserabe bier OF his friend was gamer
inc mn his last letters the p ohle Of his daughter
Ala '"Vith other tokens that the pilgrim had
,noet cherished scattered on The floor. an Anrrl-
.an volunteer was preparing 10 join the Greek
forces shortly after his death Jonathan Tcck-
har, Miller of Montpelier. came inqulrng ms
49, >, I,,,n'e house at MissOlonghi, now used
90 a meeting place for the Govern M nj OF West
.rr Cr.ece lie had served two years III the
Yr,ited states Army and was almost imnedl-
taiv oiven tho rank Of colonel on the stan OF
C.orge Jarvis New-YOrker, who had com
,nond Of Lord Byron's brigade There were
other Americans fighting the Turks, lhdeen
foreigners Of an kinds were scattered ,h'''1h
~. ranks Trelawncy. his fellow countryman.
ColonrI Gordon. Colonel Fabvicr, the gallant
Frenchman: Dr Mayer. the Swiss. VINO KEPT
valuable journal Of the siege OF MisSnloughl
~.re but a few Of the many bold adNentuTerS.
Colonel Miller served 10 the end oi the war with
- tntrenidity that won him the nickname of
-. "American daredevil" Many exploits of his
80 narrated but no man who went through the
famous siege OF MissOlonghi needs a ceruhca'e
of courage. go .o.to