The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-15

After descending the valley and crossing
the river Lycus. which is. however, now
bat small stream. it is evident from the
battered state of the walls and of both
lines OF towers that here the city has been
subjected 10 some Of its severes, and most
successful assaults. Close at hand is the
Top kapusi. or the Cannon gate so called
because IL was here that Mohammed in the
last great siege Of iia3 placed his largest
cannon. which discharged both stone and
iron balls of enormous size and weight
Some Of those balls may he seen even to-
day iyins a The moat and placed above
the gates.
The real name of the Cannon gate is the
Gate Of ST Ro-nanuS. Near Ii on the ia
tai morning Of May ~. 1i55 Constantine
MI, the last OF the Greek empcrors made
his final stand. and felt lighting to the
END An hour or two afterward the yicto-
ro4s Mohammed passed through this gate
and entered triumphant into the great and
beautiful city.
Over one of the public gates a little 10
the north Of the Seuvri kapusi is a sa.s.s>
WAX Wanting Latin Inscription which
reads 81 English thus: by the command
OF IhecdostUS. ConstSnt!nus placed thsse
strong forti.c&tions in their position In
less than two months. Scarcely would
Pallas herself have built a fortress so
strong In time so short" Mos; OF the gates
and some ct the towers bear Hike iGSCvIp-
tons ~ Greek and Latin TO commemorate
Nictories or demonstrations one reads:
The fortune OF Constantinus our Coz
protected sovereign. triumphs." And an-
other John Palaeolosus, emperor IN
Christ"
There IS. perhaps not a more beautiful
and comprehensive view of tho laadwar<i
walls than that which presents itself %
one who, having walked from the Se!ivri
hapNsl about quarter of raile toward
the MaTmora. turns ard looks back upon
his path The gaunt and dedan, line. IT
towers, 80 white where on the horizon
they meet the dark clunp OF stately cy-
presses. Is insxpressihly beautiful in the
SNrihsflme. when the air is laden with the
fragrance of the earth ard tise Scent ~
the neig6horing sea, for tower ard Wall
and coUnteYscAFp are all clothed with the
first fresh pink ana snowy bloom 81 al
fnona trees. accacias and judas trees he
labaruuHl's dropping wells 81 golden
ARE and the early green Of the clinzinS
ivy
Aad now We are nearing the end Of the
lcag line. Viewed from the northwestern
aspect. The citadel Of the seven towers.
the continuation q walls 20 the sea coast
the deep lspis-lazull blue CT the Msrn,ora
itSfit @stA the purple mountains % Hffhy-
MA beyond, combine ~ form q Str!k}nSfv
lovely snd impressive picture SIX q tha
seven towers remain, ere having been
thrown down by the great earthquake q
La Like the Eastllie ard the tower az
london fer many q long year under ina
Turks this imperial csssIe fulfilled an az
aIcgcns function rs state prison
Time was when en- tne Outbreak or der
1rattou - war the @altan threw foreign
aT1o3SsG doris into these towers and their
names are stin 10 he seen carved on The
dungeon walls Even the ambassador II
Russia suffered this indsgn.5y at The hands
of IRE suhIIT7e porte The last example 4
sEcA irsolers treatment WAS 80 late az
Atee-roi yei century ago vsea re
FFencn ambassador at the porte was I'M
pTiSoneai in tniS citadel IN TIE strong aays
az ne Jszsssaries more than one tfeshror.
- sultan Was brought here 20 prison and
u death; and The hattiernArss OF the
towers have many ttnle rssn4sgersass 70 ira
exhibition Of ths heads az grand xfz5ers
and OTHER not more fortunate victims.