The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-08-30
The Massacre of Christians at Eski
Saghra.

The Bucharest correspondent of the
London Times, writing under date of Au-
gust IL, gives an account of the terrible re-
prisals Inflicted by the savage Turks upon
the helpless Bulgarians, who were left
without protection by the Russian with
drawal across the Balkans. The town of
Eski Slgbra and the neighboriug villages
were the scene of sickening murders and
outrage, which are graphically described
by the Times correspondent. These mas
sacres and Others like them have called out
protest from Germany and other of the
great powers; and the Turkish appeals for
the sympathy of Europe take on o new in
terest when read in the light of such events
as these:
"When General Gourko's small force
took and occupied Eski S ,ghra order was
quickly established il the town the chief
Turks ran away, and the principal Bulga-
rians could hardly be persuaded to under
take the charge Of fairs, for they said
that the ant of government was unknown
TO them. Yot in the presence of Russian
force all was well, and Eski Saghra was
soon garrisoned by ne Bulgarian legion.
On the 90 h of July the Bulgarian legion,
with three squadrons of Cossacks, pushed
forward ana drove back the opposing
Turks till they arrived at Karabunar
Next day they were again Engaged, and re-
tired within an hours march of Eskl
Saghra. On the 3lst tho Turks advanced
again, and, after me, large forces came
up from Adtiancple and turned the place,
that tho RnlUqrion lpUinn Onlu neropaA
with heavy losses. The terrified inhabt-
ants endeavored TO follow, but Circassians
occupied the road to Kczanlk, and the
rks set guard round the town, 80 that
might escape, and then began scene
1ish cruelty, the details of which
yer be published. Neither age nor
as spared, and death was not the
Injury inflicted for the Turks well
low how to make men, women and child
, Zen long for oblivion before they accord il.
The notables, who had fled before the
Russians and spent the interval in the
neghboring villages with bands of Bashi-
Bazouks, now resppeared and sought out
and slew the jewellers on their own farms.
Thc names of these notables given to me
are Tefik Bey, Sedik Bey, Akif Bey and
Dajla Ahmed. The hospital was burnt
with all the Russian and Bulgarian wound
ed, only few inhabitants escaped, and it
is supposed that in the town and the neigh
boring vilayet, one OF the fairest aud rich
est spots in Europe, 80 churches, 500
schools and thousands of houses were
ruthlessly burnt, while the number of
peasants and townsfolk massacred amount
ed 10 as many as all the Russian killed and
wounded in the battle of Plevna In this
carnage took part the Turkish merchants
ihnCn Upptlerla p1rya I'D
mired for their quiet and digni6ed manners.
The massacre went on during the night by
the light Of burning houses, and the tale
was told by one of the inhabitants who only
escaped by a miracle. His testimony
was sifted before it was given to me, and
may be verified or contradicted by our En-
glsh embassy at Constantinople. The
names of several schoolmistresses are given
who, in company with numerous girls,
were many times subjected to the dir
est humiliation and then slain, and the
Turkish Inhabitants, who had remained
submissive and protected during the Rus
sian occupation, threw Fl their smooth,
gent lemanlike exterior, took hatchets and
knives in their hands, and only rested when
they we're were weary of slaughteriDg those
under whose governing care they had lived
in safety II is needless to say that all
who could dee from Kezanlik have done
80.
AT Kabrovs there are, or were lately,
some thousand starving fugitives. At
Lovatz the massacres were less startling;
but Selvi, which is now held and and forti-
fled by Prince Musk, was filled with
crowd of poor creatures who had thrilling
tales 10 tell. An eyewitness of the entry
OF the Ru, slams described to me how the
troops marched in, singing, as it is their
wont, between lanes of famine-stricken
BulgariaDs, among whom were to DO seen
many grown men, cycling with despair the
misery of the weak ones whom they had
been unable to protect. If you have re-
ceived The letters sent from Bulgaria, You
will understand the good and bad points of
the people, whose four centuries of op-
preston have left them demoralzed in
many respects, yet hoping for and aiming
at higher type of civilization. 1t is to be
hoped that military discipline will with
stand the thirst for vengeance of those who
murdered or mutilsted the wounded But
put English troops in their place, call
Plevna Delhi. and Shipka Cawnpore, and