Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-11-19
THE ARMENIAN BUTCHERY.

ing tnar attending the Bulgarian afro
city OF 1876, which preceded the Rus
so-Turkish war. The accounts of whole
sale slaughter and fearful atrocities
made public Saturday will assuredly
arouse the British government to pro-
test, and in demanding 8 complete re-
versal of the Turkish policy toward a
helpless race of Christians.
The details of some of the massacres
are so revolving that if they were not
overwhelmingly confirmed they would
be rejected as incredible, even among
the most savage races on earth. 1t is
understood Lord Kimberly is preparing
a remonstrance, which will be tele-
graphed at once to Constantinople, and
be presented to the Sultan in such
terms as to bring the matter to an i'm
mediate crisis.
The troubles that led to these crown
ing outrages began with the Armenians'
refusal to pay taxes on the plea that the
frequent Turkish raids had impover-
ished them. A few troops sent to col
ie ct the taxes were beaten.
At almost the same time there was a
Kurdish raid on Armenian cattle, re-
sultiug in fight in which two Kurds
were killed. The friends of the Kurds
took the corpses to Moush and de-
clared that the Amenians had overrun
the land and were killing and plunder
ing right and left.
The Governor of Hitlis, Asiatic Tur-
KEY, reported to the Porte that Sc
rious revolt had broken out and obtaiE-
ed permission to send all obtainable
troops to the scene.
Marshal Zeiki Pasha, commander of
the army corps stationed at Erzingen,
was ordered to proceed thither and di-
rect operations. The Governor ar
rived first, however, and before an i'm
posing array of regulars the Armenians
quietly submitted.
Then came the horrible part of the
story. The Governor of Bitlis resolved
to make an example in order to pre-
vent repetition of the revolt. He or
dered the troops to fire upon the de-
fenseless people. The order was obey
ed with alacrity. The soldiers only
rested when 25 villages had been de-
stroyed and 5000 to 10000 inhabitants
killed.
No compassion was shown to age or
sex, not even when the victims fell sup
plant at their feet All met such fate
as even the darkest ages of darkest Af
rica hardly witnessed. Woman
l,ooJ ippooopoa ht,t
mockery before the soldiers cruel
lust, that ended its debauchery
by stabbing women to death with the
bayonet. Tender babies were impaled
with the same weapon on the dead
! mothers breast or perhaps seized by the
hair to have their heads Topped off with
the sword.
In one place 300 OF 400 women, after
being forced to serve vile purposes by
the merciless soldiers, were hacked to
pieces by sword and bayonet in the
valley. II another place some 200 weep
ing and wailing women begged for COM
passion, falling at the commanders
feet. But the blood-thirsty wretch,
after orderipg their violation, directed
his soldiers 20 dispatch them in similar
way.
In another place some 60 young brides
and the more attractive girls were
crowded into church, and after viola
ton were slaughtered, the blood flowing
from the church door.
At still another place a large COM
pany, under the lead of their high priest,
fell down before them, begging for COM
passion aud averring that they had
nothing to do with the culprits. The
proposal was made to several of the
more attractive women to change their
faith. in which case their lives were to
be spared They said:
"Why should we deny Christ? We
are no more than these" pointing to
the mangled forms of their husbands
and brothers. "Kill US too n And it
was done.
A great effort was made to save one
beauty, but three or four quarreled
over her and she sank down like her
sisters.
On the admissions of Turkish SOL
diers, some of whom tearfully protest
ed that they merely obeyed orders, at
least 5000 people were killed. Several
soldiers admitted that they had dis
posed of a hundred victims each. Some
families were burned with kerosene in
their own houses.
Mr.. Hallward, the British consul at
Van, went to the scene and reported
to the British ambassador at Constanti-
nople, who protested to the Porte The
Sultan expressed horror at the crime,
and ordered an immediate report from
Marshal Zeki, which appears to have
seriously involved the Governor OF
Bitlis. The latter, in self.defense, and
as means of obtaining revenge, for
mulated the grave charge against Mr..
Hallward of having incited the Arme.
mans to revolt. The matter is being
Investigated by British officials.
The Sultan has decided to send a
commission composed of three mem
bers OF his military household and one
civilian to Sassoun for the purpose OF
making an impartial inquiry into the
outrages on Armenians. The latest
news is to the effect that many of the
Armenians who were supposed to have
been killed fled from the soldiers and
! are now returning.