Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-21
GERMAN SLAVES IN THE EAST.
Public snIos OF EurODsaa Girls In
Cousrautinopic.

Public sn.os OF EurODsaa Girls In
COustsntinopie.
A ConstantiuOple letter says: A con-
siderable sensation has been created both
IN the diplomatic world and among the
foreign colony by the discovery two
weeks ago that market exists hero in
which European girls, imported for the
purpose from Germany, Austria, Italy,
and Russia, are publicly sold as slaves.
Incredible as it may appear, the matter
has ieen duly authenticated and IS now
occupying the earnest attention OF the
Embassies OF the great Powers accredited
to the Sublime Porte. When ques-
toned by Europeans the Turks will in
varianly assert with all kinds of strange
oaths that the public and private sale OF
slaves has entirely ceased on the shores
Of the Bosphorus since the treaty on the
subject signed some twenty years ago be-
tween the Sultan and the great Powers,
and il was only when one OF bis own
secretaries went into the bazaar here and
publicly purchased little Circasslan
slave that Lord Salisbury when last III
Constantinople could be convinced that
the trade in human flesh is just as brisk
rs ever, notwithstanding the stringent
terms OF the treaties which bind the OF
toman authortiea
it has now been definitely ascertained
that every week large shipments of Ger
man and Italian girls arrive here ria
,arna, Odessa, Salonica, and from the
Adrlatic ports. Needless to add that
this human freight is not disembarked
on the ordinary custom house quays OF
the Golden Horn, where passengers aud
cargo are usually put ashore and where
its presence would speedily have attract
ell the notice Ot the consular authorities.
The girls are landed in small boats at
the Turkish quarantine station at KAYAK,
whence they are brought overland
through BuJukdcre into Constantinople.
None arc aware OF the fate In store for
them. having been lured TO undertake
the trip to the Turkish capital by means
of promises Of munliicent remuneration
as goyern,sses, planistes, and other
forms Of respectable and honorable en-
p,oyment. On arriving they are taken
t. a place which goes by the name OF
the "Casino." and which is nothing
more nor less than an exchange or mart
where human cattle are dealt in rs
freely as breadstuiis on the Produce Ex
change in Few York. The news of
their arrival has already preceded them
in telegram addressed to Michael s.,
the vice president Of the "Casino, and
reading somewhat rs fellows: Await
arrival of three dozen silver spoons,
twenty hogsheads OF flour, and thirty
sacks Of potatoes" The "silver spoons
refer 20 girls Of quite superior quality,
the 'hogsheads OF flour to a somewhat
inferior quality OF human merchandise,
while lie sacks of potatoes are in
tended to mean ordinary peasant and
servant girls
Before being placed on exhibition
they are taken into some OF the native
houses adjoining tho "Casino" and are
there bathed, powdered, and rouged by
professional "maquilleurs, and 1t Is
only then that the true nature OF the
promises and prospects held out TO them
becomes clear. Some OF them at once
resign themselves to their fate, while
those who are disposed to resist are
speedily tanned by confinement IN dark
cells. hunger, and i'll treatment. The
feeling Of utter helplessness and friend
illness IN strange and unclylllzed city,
about which asar rule they have only heard
in fairy tales, goes far to break all spirit
of resistance. 1t Is unnecessary to de-
scribe here the ignominy of the barter
and sale, or the manner in which each
individual is discussed and valued by
both purchaser and vendor. The prices
realized vary from 800 down to 500.
L ho finest If the stock rs a rule are dis
posed OF to wealthy pashas and beys
and are lost to sight forever, for not even
the police have right to penetrate the
oft indies 'ribable mysteries OF an
Oriental harem. The "hogsheads
OF -four" and sacks OF potatoes " are
partly bought up for export to Cairo,
alexandria, Smyrna, and other Layan-
tine ports, while the remainder are
sold TO the proprietors of various houses
which constitute so marked feature OF
this city, especially in the Pera quarter
OF the town. Their fate here is even
worse than that Of their "silver spoon ="
comrades. They are kept as closely con-
fined to their prisons as il they were Be-
Guided in a harcm. IL IS notorious fact
that almost all the denizens OF these
houses throughout the Orient, extend
ing from Cons.antinople to Cairo, are
Germans, Austrians, and Italians, whose
first sale was effected at the "Casino" or
white slave mart in this city.
1t is asserted here by those intrusted
with the investigation OF what Is now
known as the Casino scandal that a
considerable traffic has also been carried
on between this city and the Western
Hemisphere, aud that some OF the ex-
hibits at the "Casino have been bought
up for shipment to America, but whether
America il meant to refer to Buenos
Ayres or to the United States l am
unable as vet to discover. Atany rate 1t
may be well to put the Commissioners OF
Emigration in New York on their guard.
AS a rule the girls are in charge OF re-
spectacle looking men and women. The
man who has conveyed larger number
TO Constantinople than any one else Is
an old man by the name OF
L.. and over seventy, who was form
erly a we'll known courier. With his
snow-white beard and venerable appear
ance no one would ever guess his real
calling.