The Hawaiian gazette., 1881-07-27
THE OTTOMAN TRAGEDY.

I II IUluAN
| Details of Great onspiracy.-Revelation
of the inner History of the Revolution of
IS76-Some of the Highest Dignitaries OF
the Empire Charged with the Murder of
the Sultan.
from the regular correspondence of the Tribunel
Constantinople has been convulsed by the
discovery, after five years, of secret which
is alleged to condemn to infamy some of the
principal Pachas of Turkey. In the latter
part Of May, 1876, the Turkish Ministry de-
posed Sultan Abdul AIN, and proclaimed as
| Sultan in his place his nephew and legal heir,
Murad Efendi This action was hailed with
delight by the people of Turkey, who believed
new era of freedom and Justice bad been
ushered in by this revolution. The deposed
Sultan was assigned to quarters in the old
! Seraglio, but was shortly removed to the
| palace Of Cheragan on the Bosphorus The
/ reason given for this change of residence was
! the dislike of Abdul Aziz for the old palace
| of the Seraglio, and this reason was supported
by a letter from the ex-Sultan to his success
sor But within forty-eight hours after his
removal, Abdul Aziz was found dead in
pool of blood upon his sofa A jagged wound
/ in each arm, and pair of small scissors lying
/ by the side of the dead man, showed the
manner of his death.
/ The death OF the eX-Sulldu WOulu
relieve the new Administration of some anx-
iety. In view of this fact the populace as
| cribed the death of the ex-Sultan to foul play
| But jury of eminent and highly trustworthy
/ physicians examined the body of the deceased
ruler, and unanimously declared that upon the
body were no marks of violence; the wounds
in the arms were sufficient to cause death J;
that these wounds were such as would be
made by scissors, while their position and
shane indicated that the deceased had inflicted
them with his own band. The jury therefore
| declared its belief that Abdul Aziz had COM
mitted suicide, by opening his veins himself
with the scissors found lying by the body. The
responsibility of the jury compelled the people
to accept the theory of suicide as an explana-
ton of the death of the ex-Slltan. The coin
cidence of his death with the State necessity
! for its occurrence was, therefore, set down as
happy accident.
About week after this Circassian Major
| in the Turkish army entered Ministerial
/ Council and shot Hussein Avni Paclla, Min
lister of War; Rashid Pacha, Minister of For
eign Affairs, and Ahmet Pacha, Minister of
Marine The first two named dignitaries were
| instantly killed. but the Minister of Marine
escaped with flesh wound. The other Min
listers meanwhile fled into an inner room, and
barricaded the door, until the guards had
overpowered the assassin. The next morning
the Circassian was hung. The Ministry prom
Used an investigation into the mystery of the
savage attack, but it never found anything
which il could reveal to the public. The
| tragedy of the Ministers remained a wonder
until few days later, the outbreak of the Ser
Wan war concentrated popular attention upon
matters of more pressing Importance than the
solution of political conundrums. Following
the Servian war came the great Russian war,
and by the time that its long series of catas-
trophies had eliminated at San Stefano the pro-
longed agony had already obliterated the
memories of the revolution of 1875.
The inner history of the revolution of 1876,
as set forth by the recent discoveries, begins
with an intrigue between Hussein Avni Pacha,
then Grand Yizier of Turkey, and one of the
ladies of the harem of Sultan Abdul Aziz,
some seven or eight years ago. As usual IN
such cases the secret amour was discovered
after some time. Hussein Avni Pacha was
banished, and in his Punishment received in
formation of the execution of his lady-love,
together with a message from her own lips to
the effect that she died for his sake. For the
blood Of this unhappy woman, Hussein AVN
Pacha vowed vengeance upon Sultan Abdul
Aziz. With Oriental patience he concealed his
wrath and hatred. In due time his friends
induced the Sultan to receive him again into
favor. He was made Minister of War, and
instantly he began to plot against the Sultan.
Outside events favored his enterprise. Europe
was pressing demands for the reform of Turkey;
the population of Turkey was plunged into
distress by the financial impolicy of the Gov
eminent; and the people attributed all their
ills to the extravaganza of the Sultan. Hus-
sein Avni Pacha also found ready support
from Nouri and Mahmoud Pachas, the hus-
| Of IF f,a Gn1t piao md ha
discontinued victims of an economy which had
curtailed their lists of perquisites. Others
were gradually drawn into a scheme for depo-
sing Alb ul Aziz, and this purpose was easily
accomplished.
After the deposition of Abdul AZiz, some, at
least, of the conspirators entered into a plot
for complete change of dynasty in the Empire.
1t was decided to make bold stroke; to de-
stroy the new Sultan and all of the blood
royal, and to place upon the throne Sheriff
of Mecca. This man being of the lineage OF
the Prophet Mahomet, would have quite as
much title to the rank of Calipla as the Turks
of the house of 0sman, and would introduce
an entirely new element into the politics OF
the country. In pursuance of this plot all Of
the Princes were invited, soon after the ac-
cession of Murad v, to dine at the palace
At this banquet they were all to be killed by
the conspirators All but one of the Princes
accepted the invitation. Abdul Hamid, the
present Sultan, for some reason absented him.
self from the feast, and in fact disappeared
entirely during several days. This disap-
pearance prevented the proposed massacre
since the success of the plot depended upon thC
entire extinction of the royal family. A single
Prince omitted in the slaughter might be GER
tain to gain large following as the Legitimate
heir to the throne, in case of an attempt II
proclaim the Sheriff of Mecca as Sultan.
HOW ABDUL AzIz MET HIS FATE.
The disappointed conspirators determine &C
to murder Abdul Aziz without waiting for al
opportunity for the full execution Of theil
plans. They laid their plans with great fore
thought The doubts of the people and thu
queries of the inquest of surgeons were al
anticipated. Professional athletes were hireC
to aid in the work and to overpower the ex
Sultan. All weapons were carefully removed
from the apartments Of the victim. Then Hus
sein Avui Pacha, with two of his aids, to oil
the hired butchers to the palace where Abdu
Aziz was confined. Under pretense of am us
ing him with exhibitions of strength, the
athletes drew near to the exSultan. Then
they suddenly threw themselves upon the poo
old man. A palace serva mt stopped til,
Sultan's mouth one powerfuel man seized hi
arms another was specially tdetsiled to maxi
him faint with pain by wrenching a part o
the body where comparatively slight CON-
preston would unnerye the strongest man
Tie devilish ingenuity Of this device pre-
vented any struggle on the part of the victim
/ II ~ I-.v. sto~ asru ~ d.