The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-16
TURKISH BARBARITY.
HORRIBLE MASSACRE OF DErENCELEss INHAB-
ITANTs AT JLNI sAGHRA BY THE TURKISH
IkREGULhRS.
From the London Times August 2

of front since my letter Of last night Like every
other stratcgical Of like nature its success de-
ponds upon the result; and perilous is. am CON-
PEELED Tor the sake OF truth to make II.
must distinctly proclaim that there have been
massacres oil most appalling kind at Jeni Saghra;
and, moreover, that, as far human evidence Is ac
ceptable am convinced that they have incone sably
been committed by tho bashi-bazouks, without
rhyme or reason. think it is necessary such an
important matter to give a history, at least
an explanation of this change of opinion, and
/ venture to hope that the very candor of the con-
fession will carry with 1t some weight Last night,
arriving at Jeni saghra. found II impossible to get
any but Turkish guides, and indeed not permitted
to enter the town, which lies some distance from the
railway without such an escort The TWO gentIcmenl
| by whom was accompanied had each a kavass. but
these lunctionaries unable to find out any moro
OF lne real state OF affairs than were. Tho concu-
sion arrived at last nght that the town had been
destroyed. first by the Bugaraus burning tho Turkish
quarters, and second by the bash-bazouks sacking
the Town reprsaL AS far the first portion Of the
story concerned is difficult to obtain any correct
information, for naturally each side has lis own YER
sion. Later however, hope TO prove that even this
part of IL is not entirely obscure also thought that
possibly dozen people had been Killed IN the general
scrlmmage, these beng chiefly men, who might have
offered resisiaDce even though unarmed.
The conclusion We have arrived at day is almost
Numerically opposed 10 this, aud 1t matter of
satisfaction to me that | was accompanied in my
searches to-day by gentleman OF nign position IN he
diplomatic service 1t Is fortunate for the sake OF In
partial truth that this gentleman and determined to
another nieht at this place and to continue
investigations next day. For ourselves, perhaps, 1t Is
not fortunate, hear The Russians have taken
possession oil the line between us and Adrianope, aud
thus our line OF retreat Is cut OIL so this morning my
companion and sarted of for the town again, this
tine taking Bugarans witn Us rs guides. IL easy
to understand tAat IN our search OF last night in
town winch contained nearly SIX thousand in
habltants we had been easily diverted from a
proper investigation by our Turkish guides.
To-day visited entirely different part Of
the town, and thus stumbled or were led
what proved tue most awful evidence. The FIRST
place visited was house lying IN the outskirts OF
the town. and once the properly OF a cer'ain Monn,
who, believe, can be produced necessary. We were
informed that MS wile had boon deiled and then
slaughtered by blow the mead and buried IN q
manure heap in the iarmyard. We procured men and
work our horrible task, and a short time
came the corpse OF woman Of apparently thirty
i've forty years old. The head Was battered of
ali recognition ana the dress over the breust was
saturated with blood. The limbs, which were lying
exposed, seemed fair and whito and showed signs
OF struggle. Her dress was very good ornamenIcd
with good deal Of embroidery and her long, white
undergarmcnt was as fresh as when first put on,
proving that she had not been many hours that
damp soil. We next went TO place close by, where,
In u few moments without hesitation, our workmcn
uncovered the remains OF man IN rough Bulgarian
clothes, with terrific sabre hrs and
face, and indication Of bullet in the forehead
This man was apparently about thirty years old. We
then went TO house S''s sing to certain Dobrou-
Ion Minchon (which belle Interpreted Is the "Good
Demerlus''), where We found blood sprinKed the
had just been removed On the floor, amid "a heap of
garments, / found a womans chemise, of rough coan-
try cotton, saturated with fresh blood from
to the waist The history OF this garment was very
plan. IL Is worn wide open at the throat and is tod
round the by tho belt which holds up the petit
and other garments. The wound in the
threat, aud the blood had poured down
the body aud was arrested exactly where
waist belt would Tue evidence OF this was
apparent to the dullest. l picked up thus
awful mennonite and brought it away. Exactly
opposite tins house is a caravanscrai No. SO Eskir
EskI
beiieve kept by one Iaskel olon-Ivan Here !
barn covered witn little straw we found the bodies
three peope--a young, fairhaired woman OF about
twenty TO twenty-five, with "a iull, round form, and
light golden hair in great masses all about her lace
and shoulders, lying across the bodies OF apparently
two men, though 1t is possible there may been
more 1t was an awful sight and the story seemed
scli-evdent. These poor deicnceicss people had
sought shelter III III" barn; the men had been
dered first, aud the woman, having been Grst raw
isAed, had been thrown across their bodies In a
house close by found, lying tho open space
IL front oil the little vcrandah the body oil
young with his head half severed by
sword cut. HIS name was JORDAN ogon GcordL
forgot to mention that my Trend picked up two
bullets IN Inc house where | Iound the blood
stained cheniise, hattened aud with bone adherng
They are on the table before me as write and have
been fired IRON Remington. We then drove into
the country, and the plain, about quarter "A mile
out, the body OF Il man who had been
apparently making hay, or perhaps had been driving
hay cart The condition which We found HIM does
not permit OF description HIS head also battered
10 pieces. After this time failed u.s. and, moreover,
take long lime TO enace But our guides were, and
STILL anxious TO conduct to all kinds Of places,
guaranteeing the like awful spectaces may, out OF
curiosity, prosecute my researches further but no
further evidence is necessary Tor mo- What matters It
whether The number is ten, twelve, hlty or u hun
dredY To each OF these creatures the extreme agouies
OF human liie--death, dishonor and mortal pain-bad
been awarded; and what more could they have sui
feredf
Having given in detail what our researches lead to,
must sum up the evidence which has convinced
that .his massacre was cold booded, undeserved
attack by Inc bashl-pazonks on the dcenceIess Bull
garlans To uegn with, not single Turkish corpGe
mas been or, apparently can BE- produced The ac-
count gwen by great many Bulgarans who have
since come forward that Saturday the I4th, at
three p NJ, large body oil the bash bazouks arrived
IN the town and warned the Moslem population that
the Russians were within a short distance. The
Moscfas then all He'd and IL these people, arriving
IN Constantinople ON Sunday morning Who brought
the story that the Russians driving them
out and massaoring them. The bashi -bazouks
camped that night outside the town and near
the dcienceiess town again at midday and began by
pniaging the bazaar. Now, the shops OF the bazaar
though IA the Iurhish quarter entirely owned by
Buigarians, and, alter having ransacked the shops
tue basin oazonks set tire TO the place. Here con.
less. there Is difficulty. How did the mosque on
tue other side OF "A broad road to be burned? 1t
very probable that the Bugarians did set fire 10 H.
and probably 10 other parts oi the Turkish quarter
But they were all quite uDarmcd could have offered
resistance. The scene Of slaug htcr and robbery
went on for iwenty-four hours, beginning with tho
better classes and The universal testimony OF all The
Bugsrans Is that the women were violated in nearly
every house.
The DaHhi- Dazouks went backward ami forward to
their camp all that day, sunday and all that night
Tho people lying from them into the fields were pur
sucd ana killed IN the hope OF finding money on them
and al place had not time to visit am told there
are sixteen bodies Iying together but OF this am
certain, though can see no reason to disbcevo it,
Gu Monday the regular troops arrived from Kazanlik
and other places rercatng before the RUSSIANS and
the massacre seems TO have ceased by ths time up
ward oil 1000 people had left by the trains, packed
away IN every kind OF thing that could hold tbcm
most OF them having fed from their homes with
Dothing but the clothes on their backs
When 1 arrived Tuesday evening saw the last
two heavy trains leaving, and IL was significant that
even then the General did not THINK them safe from
these brutal rrcguars, as strong Gordon OF Infantry
regulars VAS posted all along the rain until u actually
70, out oil the station. lndueu perfect, aware was
the "eneral OF The peril OF these poor people that
lac begged the station master TO his utmost
deavours TO get them all away which he did with
most pra'seworthy promptitudc. The General, Seim
Pacha, said 10 the station master, For Gods sake get
these people away, Tor cannot for my
troops"
our searches today showed not gle house
or shop mas escaped ~ seems Incredible how they
nave ransacs.d the pacn 30 conpeleIy In ~ snorl