The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-26
TIE GREEN VAULTS
.Ihey Hold the SuItan's Vast Store
Of Hidden Wealth.
BILLIONS IN RICH TREASURE.

Desldss ths Gem Laden Throne Of
Beaten Gold. Thsse Heavily Guarded
Caves ssersts the Honrdinss Of All
ths 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 ablc to estimate the value of
the sultan's Jewels. for the treasures
are guarded by day and night. There
are nc least twelve sets of heavily bar.
rcd 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
arc supposed to spy on each other, as
well as protect the guardians of the
keys
Tho green vaults of Corstatio, as the
treasure caves arc called, are within
the grounds Of the porte. Approached
through a court called Dar-cs-So' atlet--
tho court OF felicity--it Ia seen to be a
low ,Lomed edlfice with an interesting
doorway, enriched with marbles and
tiles.
The jewels appear to consist mainly
or set and unset precious stones. All
Information regarding them. however,
IN kept secret because OF the impover-
ished condition Of the country, and IL
the exact amount of the sultans wealth
were discovered certain mscrupulous
leaders might bc tempted to "break I'm
and steal" The gosslpers of Constan-
rinople say, however. that II a person
offered f6oo, 600 900 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. sapphlres and emeralds set
IN mosaic, is the most dazzling object
In the treasury Of the Shadow of God
ON Earth" How Selim 1. over brought
'it from Persia away back In the mr.
lIeenth century. when travelling was so
'hhicult, is quite beyond human com
l)rchension.
Nowhere In the world are there pre-
',ious stones to compare with the two
great emeralds which adorn the top of
The su. rs throne. One Of them
weighs four pounds and is as big as a
mans hand, the other being q trlAe
smaller.
On table OF ebony and sandalwood,
within reach OF the throne, stands a
marvellous golden tankard incrusted
with 1000 diamonds. By its side lies
q platter wrought Of the purest gold
ind literally veneered with diamonds.
On the ground surrounding this daz-
king site are scattered thousands Of
rubles. pearls, turquoises and emeralds
mingled with exquisitely carved dia-
mond buttons. The magnitude Of the
whole thing makes one gasp with
arnazement.
There are efilgies Of the sultans clad
in robes OF state from 1451 to 1889,
with jewels on the feathers of their
turbans, daggers and swords which are
priceless, as are the wonderful rubies
aud emeralds I'm the clasps of Ibrahim
and solyman III.
No muAsum I'm the world can boast a
richer collection OF armor, scimitars,
shields, pistols. saddles, sandals, canes
and the Ike, all bejeweled or wrought
tf gold.
When the sultan. -es banquet In
her harem the treasury Is generally
raided for the occasion. At one Of
these revels bouquets OF diamond fow-
trs stretching from shoulder to shoul-
der were worn by the sultan's favor
ties The sultana herself was adorned
with ropes OF pearls of unpal alleled
sizc, aud I'm her ears were birds the
size OF butterflies holding I'm their beaks
sparkling gems. The sultans grand
daughter. mere infeut OF eleven, used
to be tortured by naving her hair done
up I'm knot ON top of her head inside
. diamond crown, the front Of her
crcss 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 to
any earthly sovcrcign-somcthing like
ff.oCO.OOO a ycar-and has the right to
ask for moro should his privy purse
rim short. The treasury OF useless
wealth boarded away I'm the green
vault. II converted into cash and used
fIr national purposes. would transform
the miserable Ottoman empire into one
OF tho richest powers Of the world
Exchangc.