New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-04
Neic- York, March 81, 1879
MAEAsH, Turkey. Jan. %, 1879.
MAEAsH,
Rec. II. II. JEssUP, DID,:

Ne,c- York. March 81, 1879
MAAsH, Turkey, Jan %, 1870.
Rcr. II. IT, JEssUP, DID,.
DEAR BROTHER: / trust yOu will be in
ere,ted IN It iitte episode mission lto The city
ZatoOn with It's 10000 nominal Christians Is IA open
rebellion. It's people long sub nttrd 70 the eNor-
ton Of their Turkish Governor with Incredible patience
while with little thought OF mercy or justice hc mas
wung from them an annual tax Of nearly 100000,
while lie has spent scarcely dollar OF Tor che good OF
the people, and he has thrust whomsoCyer he chose
into oatnsone dungeon, rejecting with scon every
remonstrance and petition. At ast 100 men, driven TO
desperation by this ntoerabe taxation and IN fear OF
the dungeon, cl to the caves Of tho mountains ami IN
defiance O the Government have supported themselves
by raids upon Mosiem villages ana passing CARAVANS
They do not seem 70 be robbers by drberaJe utenuon
rather under the plea % necessity 70 escape strya
ton though the step is very brief from SUCH life to
awless brigandace. few weeks ago they entered the
city body and destroyed the prison where men were
dying a dark, damp cellar aEd IN sharp hSdt win
large police force sent Marash repair The prison
and put them into It, they killed and wounded dozen
or more. dlsarmIng The sent them nome, and
then quietly returning - their own houses are stu
waiting vita weapons in hand, ready al moments
warning rally IN mutual defence. Daring these tlOts
the treasury was robbed ard the local government
prudent retired from the Troops hurryng
to Mlrash from all directions and formidable
awaiting orders AT to Zltoon and destroy
the town. The Government. IN its chlgrn, seeks not
the cause OF disrurban, es wmle II know
but ono remedy. TIC OF another E>Ae ziinra
seemed inevitable, but nd PrJyldepce has arrested
the calamity IN an uae1 pe:ttd manner.
Saturday evening, January IL, l surprised by
telegram tie Bug su Consul and the Turkish Cow
eluoI-Gonerai at AIepp0 inviting me 10 20 To I.toOn
and seek adjust the dInicUitiS there without aid
OF soldiers. promising that Tao army should
until tie =, could reported. The obstacles Ia
way seemed almost iusrm0uatablo. but soon decided
to 20. Zato0n thilty->IN mics distant, among tho
wild peaks OF the upper Taurus Half the road Is III
fesled with Clrcasaian tramp7 and robbers from rhs
Moscm villages the other half - IN the hand, Of tbs
Atom ~ Dcls. took VITA two naive friends, and
the Government furnished me with armed guards as TAR
Is the ZIt0o1 territory, when sent them bics for II
seemed better meet the ZIt0on people alone A. We
threaded our way through eh,s OF the mountains
" frequently saw the neads oil MOsem robbers, and
the giea OF teir weapons peerng down upon us from
tne cgag, above, but passed them all IN safety. aud
entered tho town just after dark We apent week IN
earnest large bodies OF influential meu
and hcld several meetings at night with this band OF
outlaws. We were received by oil parties with kind
ness aud confidence. We listened O. the sad story II
their wrongs advised unqualified submission 10 the
Government, while We gave hope that knssh Influence
would protect them from repetition OF paa, OppEes-
sons.
They gaVo us paper containing apologies FOR their
msdecds, strong assurances OF loyalty IN the future.
~ practicable. THIS paper was siSned and
scaled without dissenting vote, ANA tncn, proof II
their sincerity, they ected the they had taken
from TO po.iccnicn aud sent tHem by Us 30 4drAsn
The robbers gave MS the pledge tha n tneY could
be saved from the of tie IarA tIey would at
once deliver mp their arms and become obeilrnt cil-
Zens. ~ Iti uaay 'tiOd bless y0u" ArinoD n.
CGthOiJ Protestant ana rubber ohof, reJdrned 10
Horasn saturday evening the lS,h Instant
We found tAe army impatient adsGuce at once. aud
| heard CNctyNheIo among Tie MOelena The cry Tor
| vengeance upon the Christians OF itoon There was
|
order advance should actually DO gwen before
could report to the Governor General aud Eng
su COu.u Aieppo. SIX hOur, the next day the tcie
graph operator. ~ one pFetXt aud another dcerrcd
message, ana WHOM ~ las, be begau 20 lex On the
words, thc suddenly broke and could not
pared I'll evening Tuoso 1000 lives must Do saved
Two hours later Just at dAA MI christie anu native
brother We're IN thlr saddles and. with our report IN
hand. were ciuterng down the street tOgdr0 Aleupo
horses they hoped to be- there IA hours Ito
went WIKI Sherman 10 tho and /, usually ready ia
Mon ~ We delivered to the Government orty-four
miles, nineteen swords, captains horse and various
smaller articles We hd taken from the rebels, ANA on
Tuesday we visited tie prisons and distributed tGo
money and clothes the TRENDS the prisoners h,d sent
10 them There are 100 Latoon men coni"ed IN Aarash
PRISONS many Of WHOM are not even accused OF any
drive the robbers back 10 ire mountains and smut
~ sOmo OF thein 20 waste ieli lFeo ia dungeons Dlt
We have pleaded earnestly tor policy Of cOnclnaunn
and justice, by which tue wrongs Of tie people may 10
rgllcd and the Government honored Tor us mercy aud
wisdom. We rejoice greatly that an English Consul sits
| beside the Turkish GoyernorGeneIaI at Alcppo, and
that be has been able thus fiT STAND between he
poor Christians ot ZAtoon sni the that Is frted
| 10 destroy them. rhis ZatooR affair FURNISHES
perhaps the nrst good opportunity Tor the Eng
fish Government try ITS hand at the
| promised reIormauon of the Turk, aud tho
! efficient manner IN which nj. Henderson, tue Consul
taken mold ~ the matter gives hope that brighter
day iur tue oppressed Christians OF KEY Is n he near
future. ON "Wednesday telegram IA cipher assuIts
that report fayOrahy received 10y the aUthor
ties AleppO Tho telegraph operator Ia summary
dismissed n his office because tho wires broke Nnsu
be sending message ... lie Governor OF Ma
RASH instead ot leuoug M ulpy against Latuon rs no
had fondy hoped, Is himself summoned To Aeppo 70
| answer for hts inlsruie. A Carisuau mHn - aP
pointed Government agent an EltOOn tl suitable Go"
ernOr can be found, and plans new system OF tax
atOn the release OF pOilcal pIisOnois ANA sehciG
amnesty tue rebels. arB under consideration; aug
later tnsre comes both from the Engllsh Consul ana
from the Turkish General an oncsi vote OF
thanks rendered IN the INTERESTS of peace
] z,tnon 4. saysdl Henry MARpEa.