The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-07-15
s,,.f,r c,,r,pond.nee ofae Associated Pre-,

Sa<sial Correspondence u ne A,'orln'ot PT,iS
VAN, ARMENIA, May 94-Fhe Sa'oun
massacre, it would appear, was one Of
the most carefully planned outrases in
history. The evidence OF this is cir
cumstantial only, but it is alleged to be
none the less conclusivO.
During the months Of June, July and
August, preceding the Sa'oun massacre,
the Kurdish chiefs in the country SUR
rounding the sssoun region, and par.
ticularly the districts in tho southwark
and southwestward, were apparently
unusually busy in gathering up the
scattered warriors OF their tribes for
an invasion Of the Sasoun region,
In July aud August enormous guam
titles OF petroleum Wero shipped from
Erzeroum to Moush. This petroleum
came originally from Russia to ErEa.
roum, aud 50 great was the quantity
brought over the mountain roads that
IL was q subject OF remark TO very
many persons. For a time i. looked as
thoagh nothing went over the roads ha'
tween Erzeroum and Mnush hut petro'
leum. Now, 1t is fact that Monsh
does not use great quantity of pcIro.
lsum hsrssli, nor do her merchants sell
much Of 1t to the surrounding country.
In the villages candles OF shesp IA. oil
are used for lights. What Mon4h
wanted with those countless cans OF
petroleum was n mystery.
MYSTERY 40 LONGER.
But the mystery wN, mystery no
longer after the saioun massacre, for
that petroleum wa, usol to burn the
houses Of the Sasouu villages and to
cremate the bodies OF the wretched
villagers who fell victims to the awful
butchery. Iu burning the houses the
petroleum was thrown upon the wood.
work in generous quantities aad set on
fire, with the result that everything
that could burn went up Ia smoke In
cremating the dead the bodies Wero, in
many cases, placed between layers OF
wood and built up into q sort Of funoral
pile. The entire mas was then satu'
rated with petroleum and set on IRE.
tits charged that living mon wore cSe-
mated in the same way. Bat this was
q merciful way OF putting the nntortu'
nate creatures TO death In comparison
with the tortures inflicted upon many
others.
The masling OF troops near tho
Sasoun region, and particularly n!
Moush, was carried on for some time
before the beginning OF tho massacre,
in order that everything might be in
readiness, according to the programme
said to have neen caratully made out a!
ConstRnlinople.
Several weeks after the Sa9oun mas.
Iacre, 1t IL claimed, orders were sent
from the palace at Conatantinople for n
massacre Of the inhabitant4Ot OF MOdikan,
district lying to the south AMI south
east Of Sasoun, but when 1t was seen
that an investigation nj the Sasnun
massacre was inevitable. the order, it Ia
said, was recalled and Modikan was not
moested, except in the ordinary course
Of the persecution general in oil parts
Of Armenia.
An AWFUL SACRIFICE.
In the city OF Van, at this moment,
there are five hundred young mon sworn
10 give themselves as a sacrifice to Turk.
ish butchery in the hope that tho at.
tsntion Of England NAV no moro strong.
" called to the desperate situation OF
their people.
The Armenians cannot accept any
scheme Of reform which docs not havo
for its fundamental principle tho abin.
lnle control by the European powers.
Unioss Europe controls tho reforms
there will DO massacre OF twenty
thousand Christians in the city OF Van
within three months Tho Armonians
themselves will bring this about rather
than bs cast adriit by their follow
Christians Of the wOst.
There Ia no language quito adequate
10 description of tho roAl situation OF
Armenia at present Men aro bnaton.
robbed and murdered, aud women ara
tavIshod by KurdB aud Turkish soldiers,
WOO and want and despair and death
stalk abroad In this beautiful land that
was once part Of tho garden Of Edon.
Tho Inhabitants Of Van arn living on
the brink Of massacre from day to day.