The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-03

Then the ships were selected-mlsntS So
levs of from thirty to fifty oars each-
lust as the darkness fell these were drag
eed no from the sea, mounted on rollers
and started along the track, all TINS Dem .
accomplished by the strenuous eHorts OF
a multitude of men heaving at ropes ana
puNeys.
When once the procession of boats was
fairly under way the task became easier
Crews were put on the decks, the sans
were set and the force of the night Wlnds
helped urge them on in this strange over
land voyage-though each was still at
tended by a swarm of men, pushing and
steadying. So swift was their fight that
by morning they were all safely launch
ed on the waters Of the inner bay, close
under the Turkish guns; such at least
is the story told by the historians OF both
parties. The next step was the construc-
ton of a floating bridge across the mar
rowest part of the harbor to give access to
the walls. This was a huge raft of logs
and plank, buoyed up by innumerable
casks and hogsheads. Several daring at
tempts were made to destroy it, but with
out success, and one of Mohammed's big
gest cannon was soon mounted at the end,
bearing upon the most vulnerable part of
the wall at short range All was now
ready for the final assault.
Yet Mohammed delayed. Like most
Turks, he was superstitious-a firm believ-
er in astrology and fate He had con-
WINGED himself that the 18th of May was
the day ordained for the fall of the city
and the triumph of his ambitions; and
for some days his guns lay silent and his
hosts stood inactive, waiting for the pro-
pitious moment.
Prophecies often fail, but in this case
the prophet fulfilled his own prediction It
was no longer difficult. The walls and
towers were wrecked in many places by
the long bombardment and portions of
the deep trench had been filled almost to
the brim, with little resistance from the
discouraged Christians. When the morn
ing appointed by the stars, or by Moham-
med began to brighten the Turkish army
closed in upon the city with an irresistible
pressure which has been compared to the
crushing force of a might cable, frightened
by steady torsion about it's walls. On ev-
cry side echoed the sonorous creed and
war cry of the Moslems-"La illaha Ill,
Allah, wa du-rasul-Allah!'-
feebly answered by the Christians with a
very different cry-"Kyrie eleisonw-O
Lord, have mercy.
But little mercy appeared that day from
God or man. Little, perhaps, was deserV-
ed. The great mass of the craven popula-
ton ran through the streets, througing I'M
der the great dome of ST. Sophia, so soon
to become a mosque of Mahound A mere
handful of resolute defenders, led by the
emperor himself, fought deSperately-but
1t was like beating back the sea. Some,
even of these lost heart A bullet pierced
the gauntlet of Justinial, a Genoese cap
tain of note. Overcome by the pain of his
mangled hand, he turned to run.
Your wound is nothing!" cried the EN-
peror. Your duty is here; where can you
flee?'
Il will fee,' yelled the coward 'by the
same road which God has opened to the
Turks and with the word ne rushed
away through a breach in the inner wall.
At last came the terrific charge Of the
Janizaries, whom Mohammed had reserved
for the final act, and the defense melted
before them. The first to mount the battle
ments was a gigantic warrior named Has
san, eager for the rewards of the Sultan
or of Paradise. He was flung from the
rampant; he rose on one knee but again
sank under a shower of missiles. But the
wall was now covered by his companions.
who were leaping down by scores on the
other side. The city was taken. The heroic
Emperor ''fell by an unknown hand. and
the body was buried under a mountain of
the slain"-an honorable tomb for the last
of warlike race when all was lost. That
evening the muczzin chanted the Moham-
medan call to prayer from the highest tur-
ret of st. Sophia. and it has been heard
there every evening since for more than
four centuries
Such was the outcome of the worlds first
great bOmbdrdment