Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-01-08
HoRRID MASSACRE OF HISTORIANS,

The New York Courier publishes from the
correspondence ofthe London papers long ac-
count ofthe massacre of large number of Nes-
toran Christians by order of their great persecu.
tor, Beder Khan Bey, in the month Of October
last. 1t seems that Bcdar Khan Bey collected
various detachments of troops under the COM
mand of the Beys of Halkasai and Bevari, him
self taking command of a large body of Kurds
marched into the country of the defenceless and
unresisting HISTORIANS. He then divided his
force into small parties, and fell upon the villages.
The correspondent of the Morning Chronicle
gives the following revolving details of this expe.
dition:
Thirty.six oftheso villages, at the least, have
been thus made the scenes of the most narrowing
wholesale murders. To speak of their having
been sacked, plundered and burnt to the ground,
would be TO draw attention to an incident of fsmall
importance in the face Of the greater horrors
which these bloody barbarians committed Men,
women and children crying for mercy; the wo-
men and children in the agonies of terror, were
put to death by every species of tortures which
cruelty could invent Happy were those who
were shot, or who fell by the sword, who had
not their bowels rped out Of them while living,
or who were not impaed amid the shouts and
| laughter Of the murderers. Two ofthe bishops Of
the HISTORIANS, if not more were impaed, and
several Of the priests. But that was not the worst
torture that was inflicted. Children were torn
from their mothers, some from their mothers
breasts, and in presence Of their mothers, who
were obliged, screeching, to look on, put, in the
most shocking manner to death. The mothers
afterwards were sacrificed.
The youth of both sexes underwent sacrifices
which cannot be mentioned, before their throats
in disgust and safety, were cut. The pen refl-
ses to record more of these atrocities, though
might 60 on, and allude to denominations of cru
city, and worse than cruelty, which call for q re
tribution nearly equal to their bestial ruthless
ness in severity as can be inflicted. Three thou
sand Of the HISTORIANS haze perished in this mas
Sacre, on the lowest calculation. The mos
extensive slaughter took place at large village
called the Bias, where Beder Khan Bey was him
self present. Here the two bishops were impaleC
and from this place were sent the three hundred
heads (pickled) to the Pacha of Mossoul, will
the insulting message, that if the Porte presumed
to molest the sender, he would send to Constan
tinopIe, instead of HISTORIAN, Turkish heads e
nough to make pyramid.
While these things were happening, a coun
Gil, over which the HISTORIAN Patriarch, who ha
escaped from Moussoul, presided, was held at
town called, if recolect Alright, Artchy, one o
the principal HISTORIAN settlements. Here j
was determined that, as resistance was vain; tht
whole people of the HISTORIANS should emigrate
without an hours delay, into Persia, where
numerous body of their countrymen are seuet
on the banks Of the lake Oroomiah. The exc
cution Of this design was, however difficult, peri
e lous and disastrous. The fugtives were oblig
> cd to leave behind them all their property mos
= of them crossed the mountains in struggling
II frightened, wretched bands. But one corps
> emigrants, stronger than the others-command
. ed, am told by the Patriach-were attacke
u on their passage by the soldiers of Beder Kha
: Bey. After an obstinate conflict, in which ma
: ny fell on both sides, the HISTORIANS gained tn
victory.
But the whole mountain district of Kurdstar
q on the Turkish side, is at this moment file
y with houseless, famshed wanderers, hiding ther
: selves in dens and caves, under all the wor;
Il circumstances and guises of MISERY, from thei
pursuers. Beder Khan Bey swore, before
Q started on his expedition, with all the solemn
J ties of his creed, before two Imaums, that h
9 would exterminate the whole HISTORIAN people
. and all ofthem who have not strength to reac
: Persia will certainly experience the full realiza
! ton of this oath.
The same correspondent says that this ruinOu
e onset was doubtless provoked by the act of th
: Turkish Cabinet, in deposing Beder Khan Bey
S from jealousy of his power and this, it was sur
posed, had been done by an arrangement wit
IT the HISTORIAN Patriarch then at Moussul, VIII
a had promised the aid of the HISTORIANS in at
n complishing this object.
v These people were thus exposed to the fur
a Of the barbarians and the Porte could take no e
7 icient steps for ther protection. Several Of th