Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-20
CHRISTIANS KILLED
On Very Flimsy Pretext by a Body
Of Turkish Troops, Aided by
FiendiSh Mob.
ERZER0UM'S CATHEDRAL LOOTED
In Vain Endeavor to Find Weapons Said
to Have Been Concealed There
by Insurgents.
ERZEROUM'S CATHEDRAL LOOTED
TRR ENGLISH POLITICAL SITUATION.
The Daughter Of the French Murderer Ryraud to Go
Upon The Stage
ny CABLE TO THE DISPATCH. !.

LONDON, July 19.-Authentic advices
from Armenia prove that the recent outrages
upon Christians perpetrsted at Erzeroum
and elsewhere were worse than at first re-
ported. Nor were they, as was supposed,
provoked by Russian agents with view OF
furnishing pretext for Russian interven-
tion, but they were genuine acts of oPpres-
sion and outrage perpetrated upon the
Christians by the Turks. They were, how
ever, largely due to the Vaccinations Of a
certain Turkish or Kourdish agents provo
cateurs, who make a business Of stirring up
such strife in order to cause occasion for
pillsge and plunder.
1t appears that one of these professional
mischief-makers recently reported to the
Constantinople Government that rebellion
of Armenian Christians was imminent, and
that in preparation for it a vast store of arms
and ammunition had been collected and
concealed in the Erzeroum Cathedral, and
he hunted that Russia was secretly cooper
ating with the rebels. There was also an
intimation that the Governor of Erzeroum
was party to the plot.
A CATHEDRAL DEMOLISHED.
This set Constantinople in a fiutter, and
instead of telling the Governor of Erzeroum
to look out, the Porte sent word to the Gen.
eral commanding the Fourth Army Corps.
stationed near Erzeroum, to take a regi-
ment or two and search the Cathedral. This
was done. So thoroughly was the search
ing done that the floor of the Cathedral was
torn up. the windows smashed, the altar
demolished and the holy place containing
the sacred relics profaned in q shocking
manner.
or course, no arms or ammunition was
found, but the agent who had instigated the
outrage was enabled to steal much gold and
silver from the altar, including part of the
communion service. This, of course, caused
great indignation among the Chris
tians, but they were helpless, being outnum-
bered three to one by the Mohammedans.
A day or two after the wrecking of their
cathedral great number OF them gathered
about it to begin the work of repairs
Thereupon the Turkish General sent a
squad of troops to disperse them as an un-
lawful and dangerous sssemblage.
At this some of the Christians lost their
little remaining patience, and forcibly re-
sisted the troops. A general fight followed
Turkish soldiers and the Turkish mob
Joined in a general onslaught upon the
Christians, not only killing and wounding
hundreds of them, but assaulting the
women and plundering their shops and
houses. For hours the city was in the hands
of brutal mob, and the Turkish authorities
made no effort to restore order. With night
came q cessation of the outrages.
A WHOLESALE SLAUGHTER.
1t was then found that no less than 1SO
persons had been killed or wounded, and
that almost every Christians house in the
city had been wrecked and plundered. Even
the houses of foreign consuls mad not been
spared, but those of the American, English
and French consuls had all their windows
smashed. The houses of the American mis-
sionaries and their seminary for girls were
also much damaged. The next day order
was partially restored and many arrests
were made.
Ali those arrested, however, were Chris |
tians. The Turkish authorities insisted that
by resisting the soldiers at the Cathedral the |
Christians had begun the trouble, and so |
had made themselves responsible Ior all that |
happened atterward. All the efforts of the |
Government have since been put forth to |
discover and punish the Christians who re- |
sisted the attack of the soldiers upon their
church, and absolutely nothing is being
done to punish the mob and its ringleaders,
or to indemnify the sufferers from its acts.