The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-12

haircloth sacks, such as are used by Turk
ish merchants in packing goods for ship
ment. At first the Russian captain thought
ne had disclosed a smuggling scheme. Upon
investigation he discovered that the sacks
were filled with human bodies, each sack
containing from fifteen to twenty. Further
investigation disclosed that they were the
bodies OF Armenian political prisoners. For
eign ambassadors TO Turkey had recently
Crowded with Armenian prisoners, and the
government decided to remove the cause
OF complaint Accordingly about three
hundred prisoners were taken on board a
Turkish man-of-war, ostensibly for trans
portation to Africa. In the night, how
ever, the poor fellows were murdered, their
TO the other and thrown into the harbor.
This is in keeping with the Grand Vizier's
declaration a short time ago that he would
settle the Armenian question by annihilat-
ing the Armenians as a race
The following. a dispatch from Constan-
tinopie, is from the Washington Star: An
earnest appeal has been presented TO the
Armenian Patriarch to use his influence
IN behalf Of the Christian woman and girls
or Armenia, who are being carried off in
large numbers by Kurds. 1t appears that
women are scarce among the wild tribes
men, who, when they want wives, swoOp
Gown on some Armenian neighborhood and
bear away all the good looking young
women they can find. In several. instances
the kurds have broken in on wedding par
ties and carried the brides off from the
feast or church. 1t is believed that the
kurd tribesmen nearly all have wives.
IOdS liz IHe NUMBER SIOlen. altnODRn
1t is minated that they dispose of the sur
plus at a fair market price for Turkish
harems. The Turkish authorities are ac-
cusSd or encouraging the Kurds in their
lawleSsness, and instead of trying to catch
and punish the raiders, they arrest and i'm
prison the Armenians who resist them. One
armenian father at Sivas, blessed with four
daughters, went TO the Valy to ask for
protection. as he feared a visit from the
kurds, and was seized and kept in prison
Tor a week. When he vas released his
daughters were gone
IN TURKISH DUNGEONS.
The following is from the same paper,
under a Con~stantinople date: The condi-
ton OF affairs in Armenia is becoming more
serious daily. Constant arrests of Armen-
ians are reported in private letters. 1t is
estimated that between eighteen hundred
and two thousand Christians are now In
Turkish dungeons. The recent announce
ment that the Sultan had proclaimed a
general pardon Of Armenian prisoners was
mere humbug. Only a few Armenians will
be released, and they will be set free only
because no evidence whatever of their con-
nection with the pretended sedition could be
obtained
THE following Constantinople dispatch is
clipped from the New York Tribune: Mos
lem mobS have possession of Caesarea-
They have established a reign of terror
over the Armenians, nave robbed hundreds
and have killed many. During service in
L IIlcIlldu CHuTCH6S, Tile IlODS DurSI
in the doors, stripped the women of their
jewelry and beat and cut the men. After
the ArmenianS fled, the MoSlemS sacked
the churches. They afterward went through
the streets, attacking all the Armenians
they met, bursting in private houses and
sacking shops All places of business are
closed and trade is utterly stagnant. Vio-
lence and theft continue day and night.
Christians caravans are being robbed and
the merchants murdered. The prisons are
crowded with Armenian prisoners. Most of
the conspicuous ArmenianS of CaeSarea
nave been imprisoned. A few escaped by
paying a high ransom"
The letter concludes as follows: 1.-The
ArmenianS are a law-abiding and peace
loving people, rendering honor where honor
is due. They are easily dealt with in a
spirit of justice. They believe in the great
power and the influence of moral suasion,
and the force of public opinion throughout
the world. 1t is to this that /. as an Ar
menian, appeal. If the situation and the
condition of the Armenian people under the
by the President, / have no doubt but that
he would modify his message.
Public sentiment in this country forced
the British House of Commons to pass the
bill granting home rule to Ireland, and
public sentiment in this country can force
the sublime Porte to cease prosecuting, 10
deal justly with, and to grant religious
liberty TO the Armenians. To that enlight-
ened public sentiment l appeal on behalf
Of my oppressed and almost despairing
countrymen. To you they hold out their
hands. The cannot leave Armenia If they
would. They have no means, and the
Turkish government values them too much
In a financial way TO let them on easily.
Moreover, they have lived in one spot for
many centuries, and they have their mother
country. To Americans, who love and are
Justly proud of their country. they appeal
for SYMPATHY"