Sihon

Sihon, a name applied by some geographers to the Sir Darya or Jaxartes. (See Jaxartes).

Siieerness

Siieerness, a town of Kent, England, at the N. W. end of the island of Sheppey, on the river Medway at its junction with the Thames, 37 m. E. by S. of London; pop. in 1871, 13,956. There is here an extensive naval establishment, defended by batteries mounting 100 guns, the dockyard and buildings in connection with which occupy 60 acres, and have cost since 1815 £3,000,000. There are sometimes as many as 70 ships of war moored at Blackstakes, a little above Sheerness. The town has recently been much improved, and is becoming a favorite watering place. In the time of the commonwealth the ground on which it stands was unoccupied, and after the restoration a small fort was begun, but the Dutch destroyed it in 1667. Soon afterward strong fortifications were constructed and the dockyard was commenced.

Silas Horton Stringham

Silas Horton Stringham, an American naval officer, born at Middletown, N. Y., Nov. 7, 1798, died in Brooklyn, Feb. 7, 1876. He entered the navy as midshipman in 1809, became lieutenant in 1814, and served in Decatur's squadron in the Algerine war. Subsequently he assisted in the capture of slavers off the coast of Africa. In command of the Ohio in 1846 he took part in the bombardment of Vera Cruz. He was in constant service on sea or shore duty till 1861, when he became flag offi-cer of the Atlantic blockading squadron, and in August cooperated in the capture of Forts Hatteras and Clark on the coast of North Carolina. He was promoted to rear admiral on the retired list in 1862, was commandant of the Charleston navy yard in 1864-6, and was made port admiral of New York in 1867.

Silenus

Silenus, in Greek and Roman mythology, a satyr prominent in the retinue of Bacchus. He is differently called the son of Mercury and of Pan, and is represented as a jovial old man with a bald head, a pair of goat's ears, and a fat, sensual face, always intoxicated, and either mounted upon an ass or carried by satyrs. In the contest with the giants Bacchus was assisted by Silenus, who slew Enceladus. Silenus is also represented as an inspired prophet, and a sage who despised the gifts of fortune. When he was drunk and asleep, any one could compel him to prophesy by surrounding him with a garland or chain of flowers. There was a temple sacred to him at Elis. Several poems and works of plastic art introduced more than one Silenus at a time, representing the older satyrs.

Silica

See Silicon.

Simcoe

Simcoe, a W. county of Ontario, Canada, bounded N. E. by the Severn river, N. W. by Georgian bay, and S. E. by Lake Simcoe; area, 1,846 sq. m.; pop. in 1871, 64,247, of whom 31,645 were of Irish, 15,020 of English, 11,585 of Scotch, 3,031 of French, and 1,754 of German origin or descent. It is traversed by the Northern railway. Capital, Barrie.