The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-12-06
The Green VAULTS
they Hold the SuItan's Vast Store
of Hidden Wealth.
BILLIONS IN RICH TREASURE,

,estaes the Gem Laden Throne OF
Beaten Gold, These Heavily Guardej
Caves Secrete the Hoardings of All
the Greedy Rulers of Turkey.
In the green vaults of the porte lies
hidden away what is perhaps the great
est treasure in the world, collected for
centuries by Turkeys greedy rulers
and boarded away from the gaze of
any inquisitive mortal. No one has
ever been able to estimate the value of
the sultan's jewels, for the treasures
are guarded by day and night. There
are at least twelve sets OF heavily bar
red doors to pass before the actual en-
trance is reached to this Aladdin's
cave. For every lock there are two
keys, intrusted to as many custodians,
each having twenty-four guards. These
are supposed to spy on each other, as
well as protect the guardians of the
keys.
The green vaults of COnstatio, as the
treasure caves are called, are within
the grounds of the porte. Approached
through court called Dar-es-So' adet-
the court of felicity-it Is seen to be a
low domed edifice with an interesting
doorway, enriched with marbles and
tiles.
The jewels appear to consist mainly
Of set and unset precious stones. All
information regarding them, however
is kept secret because of the impover-
ished condition Of the country, and If
the exact amount Of the sultan's wealth
were discovered certain INSCRIPTIONS
leaders might be tempted to "break in
and steal" The gossipers Of Constan-
tinople say, however that If person
offered f6OO,OOO,0OO for the green vaults
and secured their contents he would
make great bargain.
Perhaps the throne Of beaten gold
adorned with millions of rubies, pearls
diamonds, sapphires and emeralds sci
in mosaic, is the most dazzling object
In the treasury of the Shadow of God
on Earth" How Selim l. ever brought
it from Persia away back In the fif
teenth century, when travelling was sc
difficult, is quite beyond human com
prehension.
Nowhere in the world are there pre-
cious stones to compare with the two
great emeralds which adorn the top OF
the Sultan'S throne. One Of them
weighs four pounds and is as big as q
mans hand, the other being trife
smaller.
On table of ebony and sandalwood
within reach of the throne, stands 6
marvellous golden tankard incrusted
with 1000 diamonds. BY its side lies
platter wrought Of the purest gold
and literally veneered with diamonds
On the ground surrounding this daz
zling site are scattered thousands OF
rubies, pearls, turquoises and emeralds
mingled, with exquisitely carved dia
mOnd buttons. The magnitude of tht
whole thing makes one gasp with
amaZement.
There are efigies of the sultans clat
in robes Of state from 1851 to 1889
with jewels on the feathers of theil
turbans, daggers and swords which are
priceless, as are the wonderful rubies
and emeralds in the clasps of Ibrahim
and Solyman III.
No museum In the world can boast &
richer collection of armor, scimitars
shields, pistols, saddles, sandals, canes
and the like, all bejeweled or wrought
of gold.
When the sultana gives banquet IL
her harem the treasury is generally
raided for the occasion. At one OF
these revels bouquets of diamond flow
ers stretching from shoulder to shout
der were worn by the sultan's favor
ties. The sultana herself was adorned
with ropes Of pearls of unparalleled
size, and in her ears were birds the
size Of butterflies holding in their beaks
| sparkling gems. The sultan's grand
daughter, mere infant of eleven, used
to be tortured by having her hair done
up in a knot on top of her head inside
| a diamond crown, the front of hel
dress covered with diamond orders
while her hands were incased with
golden mittens studded with precious
| stones.
/ Few are aware that the sultan Is In
receipt of the largest income paid t.
any earthly sovereign-something. like