The Green Forest tribune., 1917-03-02
ISLE OF SERPENTS
FANTASTIC LEGENDS THAT CLING
 AROUND SPOT IN BLACK SEA.
Fido-Nisi, Tomb of Achilles, Guards the SuIina Mouth of Danube-Once Nearly Caused War Between
 Russia and Britain.

Less than 30 miles east of Sulina, the only important Black sea port re- maining in the possession of Rouma- nia since Field Marshal von Macken- sen captured ConstanZa, is the tiny Island of Serpents, around which cling many fantastic legends as well SIS sev- eral historical episodes which at one time threatened to become of interna- tional moment, says the National Geo. graphic society bulletin.
 Unlike the monotOnous reaches of reed-covered marshland which stretch for 50 miles along the ROumanian and Russian shores to the north and south of the Sulina mouth of the Danube, seldom attaining an elevation of more than two feet above the level of the Black sea, the Island of Serpents, or FidO-nisi, thrusts it's precipitous cliffs above the water to heights ranging from 50 to 100 feet.
 It is a mere fieck of rock in sea whose depth a few yards from the shore is 20 fathoms. The islet is scarcely more than a mile in circum- ference, but it has been beacon guid- ing ships to the Danube for many cen turies, it's elevation being in such strik- ing contrast to the delta land of the great river.
 In ancient times Fido-niSi had q va riety of names. but Grecian poets and travellers referred to it most frequent ly as Leuce or the White island, on account of the numerous seafowls which at certain seasons of the year swarmed over it's cliffs,
 It was to this island that Thetis is supposed to have carried the ashes of her son, Achilles, hence the temple erected here in honor of the hero of the Trojan war. Another legend re- lates that Thetis snatched the body of Achilles from the funeral pyre, that he was restored to life and that there after he lived on the island with Iphigeneia, the daughter of Agamem- non, who had been saved from sacri- | flee by the goddess Artemis.
 The name Island of Serpents grew out of the fact that numerous black snakes from four to five feet long were discovered here by mariners. Achilles was often referred to as the snake born and his mother, Thetis, frequent ly assumed the form of d snake. The Amazons are supposed to have attempted to seize this island on one occasion, but the ghost of Achilles ap- peared and so terrified the horses of the female warriors that the riders were thrown and severely trampled-up- on, whereupon the expedition was abandoned.
 This meager rock brought England and Russia to the verge of war 60 years ago, following the treaty of peace, which ended the Crimean con- tiict.
 The island was not mentioned in the terms of the treaty and when Turkey sent a party to relight the lighthouse, which had been dark throughout the struggle of 1853 to 1S56 Russia at tempted to take control of the beacon which stands as guidepost to the 1 Danube's mouths.
 England protested, and sent a fleet across the Black sea to enforce her de- mands in behalf of her recent ally, the | sultan. Russia, after a brief threat of resistance, yielded. The island passed | into Roumanian hands when that na- Fion threw off the Ottoman shackIes in | 1877.