The Delta independent., 1920-02-20
WRITES OF
SIGHTS AND DOlNGS IN TURKEY

That life and the experiences one
meets with in the military and naval
service of the country.is a wonderful
educator, may be gathered from the
news features contained in a letter
from Byron Charlesworth to his
youngest brother, Lee Charlesworth.
The letter was received this week.
Byron is still at Canstantinople where
his ship is waiting for repairs in
order to return to the United States.
Among the items contained in the
letter is the following:
"a few days ago a party from our
ship went ashore to witness some
Turkish religious exercises. l was
among them. We were instructed but
not entrtained. These exercises are
solemn, serious and silly. In addition
to our party there were a number of
dependent turks and some Greeks.
twenty-five people took part in the
ceremonies. At first there was little
or no excitement Those who made
confessions of wrong doing were tor
tured. The priest first made them
lick red hot iron, after which he &C.
tually nailed them to the wooden wall.
He kept them nailed up in this fashion
for fully fifteen minutes before he let
them go. The nails were driven right
| through their cheeks and into the
wall. The priest then took small
sharp sword and slashed at himself
with it, thus toturing himself. 1t was
sight l would not care to see again,
but it was worth seeing once.
Another time / went out and visit
ed an old Christian church. 1t is
named st. Sopie. 1t was built i'll the
year 1876. The Turks captured it in
the year 140O and murdered thousands
of Christians. The bodies were all
thrown inside this church and We're
piled to a depth of fifteen feet. The
Sultan, at that time. rode through the
church on a horse and upon the top
of the piled up bodies of the Chris
tians. In one place where the walls
of the church were of fresh made
cement, the Sultan's horse slipped
and he kicked this part of the wall.
The Sultans saber also hit. and the
, Sultan's hands went against 1t. To-
day, the prints of the horses hoofs,
the Sultan's hand and saber, are to be
| seen on the wall about rs feet from
the floor of the church. This is the
story that is told visitors and do not
doubt its truth.
Solid marble pillars inside the
church support the roof, and in one
of these pillars is small hole. This
is called wishing hole" When you
go in the church you are supposed to
stick your finger in this hole and
wish. Your wish is then supposed to
come true. l put my finger in the
hole and wished for the proposed in
crease in the pay of navy men. VIII
my wish come true? ~
During another of my leaves I was
shown a place where the Turks chop
off peoples heads. 1t is upon high
cliff overlooking the sea. There is
long chute leading to the water. AS
soon as the victims head is off It
rolls down this chute into the sea and
the body is thrown after it.
"Constantinople is about the most
| cosmopolitan port / have visited.
| People of all nations are here. Fights.
pistol duels, and robberies. both in
the day time, as well as at night, are
common occurrences. Not long ago an
American sailor, who was formerly
with me on Eagle 1, was assaulted by
three Frenchmen. The sailor drew
his pistol but before he could use 1t
one OF the Frenchmen struck him on
| the head with bayonet which floor
ed him. He had fifteen stitches put
in. Last night a fight took place on
the dock near where our ship is lying.
One bullet came through into the en-
gine room, and another went through
a window. / have never interfered in
any OF these fights unless an Ameri-
can sailor or civilian Is involved. 1
can say this. however, that have
| never known of any fight of this
character where an American was in
1 volved, that he did not come out on
top The only way they can get the
best of an American is to mob him
| when no one else is around to help
him, and then the towards will run.
1--WE are still waiting for repairs.
They are reported on the way, and
| just as soon as we are able to travel
| on our own power we will start on our
return to the good, old U. s. A.
II have lots of things to tell when