The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-01-11
The Cretan War.
THE CONVENT TRAGEDY.

Many were disposed to doubt the
truth that some five hundred and
twenty persons-men women and chill
dren-at the Convent of Arcadian,
in Gambia, rather than surrender to
the Turks, blew up the building which
was likely to fall into the hands of
their enemies, and sacrificed their
lives, and those OF some two thousand
of their besiegers; but there is no lon
ger any reason to disbelieve the story.
The convent is very ancient one,
and has been famous for its hospitali-
ties for many generations. So noted
was it in this respect, that it stood un-
molested through many wars. Pagan
invaders even, respecting it and its
reputation. On the 18th of last Mo-
vember, it was invaded by an army of
10000 Turks, commanded by Musta-
pha Pasha. The inmates at the time
numbered $40 men, women and chill
dren. About 1877 were men capable
of bearing arms, yiz:-63 Monks, 3
Greek volunteer, and 131 Cretans.--
No assault was made for some days.
A letter from Athens in the New
York Herald gives the particulars Of
the tragedy which ultimately occur
red:
upon the morning of the Goth the
Pasha summoned the Cretans to sur
render, and upon their refusal imme-
diately began the bombardment In
the afternoon Turkish messengers
reached Rethymnos, requiring fresh
artillery, men and munitions; and all
that still remained in the town were
at once sent on, so that on the 2lst
twenty-six heavy guns and two NOR
tars were playing on the convent
The seige continued uninterruptedly
two days and nights, when, breach
being effected, the Turks entered the
convent court, and the Greeks contin-
ued firing upon them from the cells.
But this inoessant fire terminated by
putting most of the firearms of the
Christians out of order, many OF their
number had also been killed and
wounded.
The rema nder- men, women and
children assembled in hall,
under the leadership of Father Ga
briel, the Superior of the convent.
and determined to blow up the build
ing. The powder was deposited in
the cellar A young Monk, twenty
years of age, Emanuel I. Coulas. ap-
piled the match, and the bulk of the
convent was Immediately blown into
the air. Thirty-nine men, and sixty
women and children, most OF them
wounded, who were in the wing that
remained intact, survived the catas-
trophe. The greater part of these are
reported to have been massacred. -
The Turks applied lighted torches to-
the faces of the wounded stretched
upon the ground, to see which of them
still lived, and then dispatched them.
The large and beautiful church OF the
convent was not shattered by the ex-
plosion. The Turks rushed into it to
pillage the wealth accumulated tor
ages, and afterward set fire to the
building.
The Turkish wounded began to ar
rive at Rethymnos and the adjacent
towns on the 22d. The hospitals be-
ing insufficient To accommodate the
number, private houses were trans
formed into infirmaries. The humber
of two thousand Turks killed BY the
explosion. stated previously, is below
the truth. The bodies of insurgents
in the other parts of the department.
fastened to the aid of the besieged az
soon as ahey heard Of the attack; but
Mustapha Pasha detached troops to
meet them and hold them in check.