The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-11-17


Christians. instead of the Turks. reported
these things In the city of Bitiis and the
region where have been touring. the case
would be different. But now we are COM
PEELED to believe 1T. The magnates are hav-
ing papers circulated. and are trying 10
compel the Christians to sign them, ex-
pressing satisfaction that justice has been
dealt to the rebels, and thanking the King
and the chief magnate himself. The Chris
tians of Bitlis will not sign, though it is
said that in some of the outlying districts
a few of the Christians have signed. The
circulars have not yet been offered TO
Pr,testants, and as yet the Protestants
have not been thrust into chains or black
mailed very much. Though lately things
are beginning to look that way
Another letter says that some OF the reg
ular soldiers themselves admit that they
killed one hundred persons each in fiend-
ish manner. and that rape followed by
the bayonet. Twenty or thirty Armenian
villages. 1T would seem. have been wholly
destroyed, and some persons were burned
to death with kerosene in their own houses
The Butchery Confirmed.
LONDON, Nov. IA dispatch to the
Standard from Varna, Bulgaria. says that,
despite the Turkish governments silence,
facts have oozed out which leave no doubt
that massacre OF Christians has occurred
on as important scale as the butchery OF
Batak, Bulgaria, which sent thrill of hor-
ror through the civilized world. The trouble
began with the refusal OF the Arme-
mans to pay tax. on the plea, proba-
bly, well founded, that the frequent
Kurdish raids have impoverished them a
few troops were sent TO collect the taxes
and were beaten. In the meantime, the
Governor of Bitis, Asiftic Turkey, reported
to the Porte that serious revolt had brok-
en- out and cn.ained permission TO send all
obtainable troops to the scene
Marshal Zeki Pa ma, commander OF
the Fourth Army Corps. stationed at Err
zingen, was ordered to proceed thither
and direct operations. Before this imposing
array of regulars the Armenans quietly
submitted. Now comes the horrible part of
the story. The Governor of Bitis resolved
to make an example in order to prevent
a repetition of the revolt. He ordered the
troops to fire upon the defenseless people.
The order was executed with alacrity. The
soldiers only rested from their labors when
twenty-five villages were destroyed and
thousands of their inhabitants killed.
Mr.. Hallward, the British consul at Van,
proceeded to the scene, and then reported
to the British ambassador at CONSTANT
nopie, who protested to the Porte. The Sui
tan expressed horror at the crime, and
dered an immediate report from Marshal
Zek which appears TO have seriously in
volved the Governor of Bitlis. The latter,
in self-defense, and as a means of obtain
ing revenge, has formulated the grave
charge against Mr.. Hallward of having in
cited the Armenians to revolt
As Related by the Turks.
CONSTANTINOPLE Nov. 16.-The fol-
lowing official account of the Armenian
troubles was issued to-day:
"Some Armenian brigands provided with
arms of foreign origin Joined an insurgent
Kurd tribe for the purpose Of committing
excesses. They burned and devastated sew
eral Mussulman villages. AS an instance
OF the ferocity of the Armenians. it is re-
ported that they burned alive Mussulman
notable. Regular troops were sent to the
scene to protect peaceable inhabitants
against these depredations. The Ottoman
troops not only protected and respected
the submissive portion of the population
and the women and children, but they re-
established order and tranquility. 1t is not
true that the Kurds seized the furniture,
effects and cattle of the fugitive Armenians.
The later took their effects to the noun
tains before revolving. The Armenian wom-
en- at present with the Kurds belong to the
families of the brigands and went of their
own accord with their husbands to the In
surgent Kurds. Respecting the villages al
legged to have been destroyed, it was the
Armenians who carried OF all their be-
longings before becoming brigands."