The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-01-02
Another Massacre of the Nesto-
rians.

The New York Courier contains some eX-
tracts Of letters from Constantinople, publish
ed in the London papers, giving the particu-
lars of another terrible massacre Oflhe Mes
torans by the Kurds, A letter from the lou
don Chronicle, describing these atrocities pnn-
not he read without feeling ofhorror, 1t is
stated under date ofNov. 9, Tint The Kurdish
Chief, Deder Khan Bey, having collected ii
considerable body of men, divided them into
several small bands, knowing that 10 resiS-
lance would be offered, and directed them TO
fall upon the HISTORIAN villages. Of the re-
suit of this expedition. the following details
are given:
"'rhrty six OF these villages al the least,
have been thus made the scene Of tue most
narrowing wholesale murders, To speak of
their having been sacked, pInndered and
burned TO the ground, would be to draw at
tention to AN incident of small importance in
the filce of'greater horrors WHICH these blood
y haFharjaIls committed. Men, women and
children, in the agonies of terror, were put TO
death by every species oftorlure which cru
city cond invent. Happy were those who
were shot, orwho fell by the sword, who had
not their bowels ripped ont of them while
living, or who were NOT impaed amidst the
shouts and laughter ot'lhe murderers.
Two ofthe Bishops OF the HISTORIANS, ifnot
more were implied, aud several of the
priests, What ilnpaling is, l suppose your
readers TO understand. But that was not the
worst fortunes that was inflicted Children
were torn from their mothers, some from their
mothers breasts, and i'll presence OF their
mothers, who were obliged screeching, TO
look on, PM in the most shocking manner to
DEATH I'hp mothers were afterwards sacri-
feed. The youth ofbolh sexes underwent
sacrifices which cannot be mentioned, before
their throats, in disgust and safety, were cut
The pen refuses 10 record such atrocities,
though might go on, and allude to abomina-
tons of cruelty, and worse than cruelty,
which call for retribution as nearly equal to
their bestial ruthlessness in severity as can
he inflicted. Three thousand oft,e HISTORIANS
hare persisted IN this massacre, at The otreSt cal
c,tutioq! The most extensive slaughter took
place NJ large village, or township, called
Bias, where Bcder Khau Bey was himself
present. Here the two Bishops were impal-
ed, and fipIl this place were sent the three
hundred beads (pickbd) to the I'aclta of
Moussoul, with the insulting message, that If
tho Porte presumed to modest the sender, he
would send TO Constanstinope instead of
Nestoria, Turkish heads enough to make
Pyramid Hu o".
Whilst these things were happening, n
council over which the HISTORIAN Patriarch
who has escaped from Moussoul, presided,
was held at town called, ifrecolect Alright,
Artchy, one ofthe principal HISTORIAN settler
ments. Here il was determined that, as resis-
lance was vain, the whole people OF the Mes
torians should enigrate, without ;ul hours
delay, into Persia, where humorous body of
their countrymen are settled on the hanks of
the lake ofOroomiah. The execuiion ofthis
design WINS, however difficult perilous
and disastrous. The tugftives were obliged
to leave behind them all their property;
most ofthesN crossed the mountains in stiag-
Cling, frightened, wretched bands. Bat one
corps of emgrants, stronger than the others.
commanded, I ARA toltk by the patriarch, was
attacked on their passage by the soldiers of
BecIer Khan Bey. After an obstinate conflict
in which many fell OH both sides. the Nesto-
iians gained THO victory.
But tite whole mountain district of Kurdis-
tan, onthe Turkish side, is at this moment
filed with honseless, furnished wanderers, hid
ing themselves in dens and caves, under all
the worst circumstances and g,ises OF misery
from the purstsers. Beden Khan Bey s,vore,
before he started on his expedition, with oil
the solemnities of his creed, before two iaa-
aunas, that I've would exterminaie the whole