Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-12-17
TAKING OF CONSTANTINOPLE
Remarkable Account of the Siege of
Christians by Moslems.
Christians by Moslems,

I the smoking hill Christ and holy
church"
And now, the causeway crossed, the
leading assailants gain the foot OF the
rough ascent. No time to catch breath
none to look for advantage, none to
profit by a glance at the preparation
to receive them-up they must go,
and up they went. Arrows and jave-
lins pierce them, stones crush them,
the culverins spout fire in their faces,
and, lifting them off their uncertain
footing, hurl them bodily back upon
the heads and shields Of their COM
rades. And the brow Of the rocky
hill, a mound of bodies arises won
derous quick, an obstacle to the ward
ers OF the pass who would shoot, and
to the hordesmen barrier
The Christians suffered but few
casualties, yet they would have glad
ly rested. Then from the wall above
the breach, whence he had used his
bow, Count Corti descended hastily.
Your majesty" he said, his counte-
nance kindled with enthusiasm, the
Janissaries are making ready"
On his horse, by the great gun MO-
hammed had observed the assault,
listening while the night yet fingered.
Occasionally a courier rode to MN
with news from this pacha or that
one. He heard without excitement,
and returned invariably the same re-
ply: TO-.
At last an officer came at speed.
"Oh. my lord, salute you. The
city is won."
It was clear day then, yet a light
not of the morning sparkled in MO
hammed's eyes. STOPPING In his sad
die, he asked: What sayest thou?
Tell me Of it, but beware-if thou
speakest falsely, neither God nor
prophet shall save thee from impale-
ment to the roots Of thy tongue"
"As / have to tell my lord what
saw with my own eyes, / am not
afraid. Ny lord knows that
where the place Of Blacherene begins
on the south there is an angle in the
wall. There, while our people were
| feigning an assault to amuse the
Greeks, they came upon a sunken
gate"
"The Cercoporta-I have heard Of
MY lord has the name. Trying 1t,
they found it unfastened and un-
guarded, and pushing through dark
ened passage, discovered they were In
the palace. Mounting to the upper
floor, they attacked the unbelievers.
The fighting goes on. From room to
room the Christians resist. They are
now cut off, and In little time the
quarter will be in our possession"
Mohammed spoke to Kali: Take
this man and keep him safely. II he
has spoken truly great shall be his re-
ward; If falsely better he were not his
mothers son." Then to one Of his
household: Come hither. Go
to the sunken gate Corcoporta, pass
| in, and find the chief now fighting In
the palace Of Blacherne. Tell him l.
Mohammed, require that he leave the
palace to such as may follow him. and
march and attack the defenders Of this
gate, st. Roman, in the rear. He
shall not stop to plunder. / give him
one hour in which to do my bidding.
Ride thou now as If a falcon led thee.
For Allah and life!"
The besieged were exultent, as they
well might be-they We're more than
holding the redoubtable Flower Of the
Faithful at bay-there was even
merry tone in their battle cry. About
that time a man dismounted from a
foaming horse, climbed the rough
steps to the deck Of the gallery and
delivered a message to the emperor.
Your majesty, John Grand, Minotle
the bayle, CarystoS, Longasco and Je-
rome the Italian are slain. Bleacherne
is in possession Of the Turks and they
are marching this way. The hordes
are in the streets. l saw them and
heard the bursting Of doors and the
screams Of women!"
Constantine crossed himself three
times and bowed his head.
Justiniani turned the color Of ashes
and exclaimed: I'VE are undone-
undone! All is lost" And that his
voice was hoarse did not prevent the
words being overheard. The fire
slackened- Men fighting
jubilantly dropped their arms and took
up the cry-"Al is lost! The hordes
are in, the hordes are in
Not a Christian survived the combat.
Greek, Genoese, Italian lay in ghastly
composite with hordesmen and mailed
Moslems around the emperor In dy-
ing they had made good their battle
cry-For Christ and Holy Church! Let
us believe they will yet have their
guerdon.