Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-02-07

naval armament bearing down upon
them, which naval power consisted of
10000 fighting men in $50 vessels of
war. One of their principal fortresses
was named St. Elmo. The main
strength of the Turkish armament was
necessarily hurled against this bull
wark. When only sixty Of its brave
defenders remained alive, they, as we
are informed, ''partook of the Sacra-
ment in the little chapel below the en-
trance of the fort, and prepared to die,
sword in hand. Some, unable to stand
upon their feet, were placed in chains
upon the beach, and for four hours the
Turks were successfully resisted. At
last the survivors were simply over
whelmed by numbers. A few expert
divers made their way to Fort st. An
gelo, and nine were saved. Mustapha
caused the heads of the Knights to be
cut off and placed on poles. while the
trunks, extending on planks in the
form Of a cross, with the same figure
gashed upon their breasts. were thrown
into the harbor, and floating to st. An
cello aroused the frenZied indignation
of the garrison. who fired from their
cannon the heads of Turkish prisoners
by way of retaliation" This was the
account balancing Jewish law of AN
eye for an eye, and tooth for TOOTH
in awful reality. st. Elmo fortress was
taken, but in its heroic fall there fell
with it some 5000 Turks. When the
Turkish general stood amidst the ruins
of the dead-strewn fortress, he is quoted
L.. hn rfxF
to Fortress st. Angelo: What will not
the parent cost us, if the child has been
purchased at so terrible a price," AT
this siege the knights caused TO have
poisoned a spring of water from which
the Turks drank BY this means 500
of their number were destroyed For
some months the Turkish navy persist
ed in the siege, but all to no purpose.
At last, thoroughly disheartened at
their signal failure and heavy losses,
they took to their ships and gave bare
heels of their indominitable foes, sail
ing for Constantinople.
Europe went wild with joy when
news reached the continent that the
brave knights had held out against
their cruel foe. Wealth flowed into the
Golfers of the knights, while the Pope
offered a cardinals red hat to La Val
lette. but the courteous leader courte-
ously refused such clerical honor. Phil
LID. of Spain. sent Vallette poinard and
sword. the hits of which were chased
gold. studded with diamonds. After
the siege the Knights began to build
noble city as permanent memorial 10
the name of their Grand Master. Their
purpose was to cut down the rock or It's
chosen site to level, but in the midst
of their work report reached them
that the Turks were preparing for an
other onslaught. This ended the rock
leveling plan, hence the streets of La
Vallette are made up OF rock-stalrs,
which cause the strange traveller much
worriment and fatigue.
Some twelve years before the siege
of Malta. (1553), the regent OF the Eng
lish branch of language OF the Order,
Sir James Sandilands, embraced Pro-
testanism as taught by John Knox, OF
Scotland. The order had been sup
pressed in England some years before
this, in the reign of Henry Will, on ac-
count Of its recognition OF the Papacy.
Even before the English regents con-
version the order had in great meas
IRE shaken off the dictatorial yoke or
Popedom. The Knights of Malta were
still Roman Catholics, but in no Jealous
degree. The language in Europe grad
ually ceased to exist. The German
branch of language early embraced the
Protestant faith. In the year 1898, Ma
poleon Bonaparte, on conquest bent to-
ward Egypt, stopped at Malta, and
without firing a shot, the island became
tributary to France. The most con-
temptible thievery and spoliation OF
churches and hospitals followed. The
citizens rose in revolt. England's navy
under the famous Admiral Nelson, help
ed the islanders. The result was that
in 1914 at the treaty Of Paris, an article
was signed, giving Great Britain the Is
land of Malta. Over the main guard
house in the city of Malta, is inscribed
the following: "The love of the NAL
tese and the voice of Europe have con-
frmed these islands to the possession
of great and invincible Britain.