Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-11-30
BUTCHERED BY TURKS.
SIX THOUSAND CHRISTIAN
ARHENIANS MASSACRED.
Equals the Bulgarian Atrocities
Which Led to War-Women and
Girls by the Hundred Assaulted
and Murdered - Innocent. Babes
ImpaIed-Horror Upon Horror.

The London Standards correspondent In
Varna describes the massacre of Armenian
Christians as of equal importance with the
Bulgarian butcheries which led to the Russo
Turkish war. he says:
1.-THE trouble began with the refusal of the
Armenians TO pay taxes on the ground that
the Kurdish raids ha so impoverished them
rs to render it impossible. This probably
wastrue. Troops were sent 10 enforce the
payments. but were beaten OF.
1.-THE Governor of Bitlis then arrived with
an imposing force of regulars. The people,
seeing that the struggle was hopeless, yield
ed, but the Governor resolved to make an
example OF them. He ordered the troops
to fire on the defen oeless populace, and they
obeyed with alacrity. They only ceased
when the residents OF twenty-five villages,
Numbering some thousands. had been
killed. Some reports say 5000 were slain.
Great Britain sent her Consul in Van,
Mr.. Hallward, to report On the slaughter.
The British Ambassador in Constantinople
upon receiving the report communicated it
II the Porte.
The Sultan was Mortified, and he ordered
the local military commander, Zeki Pacha,
to make his report on tine matter at once.
"Zfki bad been originally instructed TO
proceed to the scene after the repulse ofthe
troops, but the Governor OF Bitils arrived
there ahead of him. 1t seems that Zeki's re-
port confirmed Mr.. Hallwards, whereupon
the Governor formulated the grave charge
that the latter was melting the Arm to
revolt, thus causing the whole original dis
turbaAce. This was submitted to Sir Philip
Currie, who has sent out British officials to
mako inquiries
Mr.. Hagopian, Chairman of the Armenian
Patriotic Association in London, has sent
Lord Kimberley, Foreign Secretary, letter
sent from Bitlis. 8Ir. HaSopian, after de-
claring his belief in the reports of the mas
Bacre, submits that, in view of the horrible
fortunes and prosecutions of the Arme-
mans, the time has come to abolish the ad-
ministration OF the Porte and substitute a
regime approved by the s:gnat cries of the
Berlin treaty.
The letter from Bitlis gives details of the
origin of the disturbances. There was a
Kurdish raid on Armenian cattle, resulting
in a fight in which two KurGs were killed.
The friends of the Kurds took the corpses to
MOush and declared that the Armenians had
overrun the land and were killing and plum
dcring right and left. This furnished the
pretext for the massing of the troops.
The latter then describes the horrors of the
massacre. 1t says that on the admissions
Of the Turkish soldiers, some of whom t0ar-
fully protested that they merely obeyed or
ders, it Is asserted that no compassion was
shown to age or sex. In one place 400
women, after having been forced repeatedly
to su bmit to the sOldi6ry, were hacked to
pieces with swords and bayonets.
In another place 200 weeping women
begged at the commanders feet for mercy.
The commander after ordering that they be
outraged, had them all dispatched with the
sword.
Similar scenes were enacted in other
places. In one case sixty young brides and
maidens were driven into church, and af-
ter being violated, were butchered until
their blood flowed from the doors.
A large company, headed by priest,
knelt near the church begging for compass
sion, averring that they had nothing to do
with the culprits who killed the Kurds. 1t
was in vain; all were killed. Several at
tractive women were told they might live if
they would rocant their faith. They re-
piled "Why should we deny Christ? We
have no more reason to do so than had
these" pointing to the mangled bodies of
their husbands and brothers. "Kill US, too"
This was done.
The letter says that between COCO and 49,
coo were killed Babes were impaled on
the same weapon with their mothers. Sew
eral soldiers admitted they had disposed Of
hundred victims each. Nearly thirty vii
lagos were destroyed. Some families were
burned with kerosene in their own houses