St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-04
ALL BURIED ALIVE.
Story Of Armenian Atrocities
Almost Without Parallel
in History.
MEN THROWN INTO DITCHEs
And, Although Not Wounded,
Are Buried Alive by the :
Turkish Fiends.
MANY VILLAGES DESTROYED
The Number Of Persons Mas
sacred Will Reach Eleven
Thousand.

LONDON, March 3.-The corre-
spondent of the Associated Press
who was sent to Armenia with in
structions to thoroughly investigate
the stories told of Turkish atrocities
in that country under date of Tifiis,
Russia, Jan. 25, forwards the follow
ing interview with the father Of all
the Armenians, Mgr. Khrimiran:
After a hesitation of several days
the very reverend father granted the
request of the Associated Press cor
respondent for a statement of the
condition of Armenia and the causes
which led to the SaSsoun massacre.
Additional weight is given to the
statement by the fact that Mgr.
Khrimiran is at the present time pre-
pairing a memorial on the same sub
ject to the Car of Russia, and it
may be inferred that the substance
of the statement contained in the
in this interview:
Mgr. Khrimiran's home is at
StSchmiadzin, in the Arat region of
Russia, within short distance of
the Turkish frontier. In an outer
room Of the house the Associated
Press correspondent met a monk in
a black habit, and at the farther
end of the room was a man dressed
entirely in red, holding a long mace.
The
SANGUINARY APPEARANCE
of this man contrasted strangely
with the air and quiet of the house.
Sometimes four Of these red-gar-
mented men are in attendance. On
the occasion of the first visit of the
correspondent to the quiet house
he was introduced by the eminent
Armenian gentleman, editor of the
Ardziagank. On the occasion of his
second visit, Mgr. Khrimiran, hay
ing decided to make the statement
asked for by the Associated Press,
talked f1uently and eloquently of the
wrongs of his people. Among other
things he said:
talns was the result of a long period
OF Turkish misgovernment. In the
Armenian provinces of Turkey a pol
Icy of cruelty and oppression has con-
tinued for long time. I myself have
been an eye witness of all kinds OF
Turkish oppression. In fact, about
hfty years of my life have been passed
In connection with the prosecutions in
Armenia. Twenty or thirty years age
the Armenians, whose minds and con-
science were still narrow, did not un-
derstand the cause of all the calam-
tiles which befell them. They thought
there troubles were
SENT BY HEAVEN
as punishment for their sins. Such
is always the belief of the people de-
priVed of education and the printing
press. But later when the people be-
gan to think and understand the wicked
acts OF their oppresSors, there came q
change, and they saw clearly the real
cause of their troubles. One reason
for their change was the war between
Russia and Turkey in 1876 which
ended so happily for the Bulgarians
who received freedom and self-govern-
ment. The Armenians suffered from
misgovernment of the Turks much
more than the Bulgarians, who lived
in the neighborhood of the Western
| European powers, whereas the Arme-
mans were at such a remote distance
/! from the civilized world that their
cries could not be heard. At the close
of the Russo-Turkish war the Arme-
mans, encouraged by the improved con,
Of fhA D,,J.- -
the same guarantees which were given
to that country. All kinds of com
plants, grievances and petitions poured
into the patricate of Constantinople
They were so numerous that, If they
had been thrown into a large room
they would have filled it as full as ar
| egg. In the meantime, the European
powers were compelled to sign the
/ Berlin treaty. At this period / was
| sent with another delegate to the chief
capitals of Western Europe to plead the
CAUSE OF THE ARMENIANS.
| / visited London, Paris, Vienna. Rome
and Berlin, but my mission did not pro
! duce satisfactory results. 1 presented
i to the Berlin congress a memorial Civ.
| ing full details of the Turkish atroci
/ ties in Turkish Armenia. Moreover
I there was printed in Berlin the same
/ time my description of these atrocities
But what we had worked for was moi
realized, as with reference to the Ar
menian question the Berlin congress
| adopted what is known as the sixty,
| first article of the Berlin treaty. and
although the treaty was signed, 1t had
| no influence in lessening the prosecu.
| ton of the Armenians. Our hopes were
! in vain. The cruelty of Turkish mis-
| government did not cease 1t merely
| took new form. But, keeping in view
| that there was a treaty, the Turks
| sought for some legal means for justi.
! flying all atrocities. What happened.
The tax became heavier, and all kilds
| OF duties. became greater and the
Kurds received full permission to piun.
| der Armenian peasants. Here lies The
cause. Why should those who have a
| sufficient quantity of land, even toe
much, and very fertile and well-frri.
| gated land, leave their native soil and
emigrate to other countries? If there
were no proof of Turkish misgovern.
ment in Armenia, this circumstane &c
alone would present sufficient evidence
| of those expressions which the Arinen.
ians in Turkey are enduring. Nearly
/ $4,000 Armenians
SEEK WORK IN CONSTANTINoPLE e
| in order that they may be able to pay
the taxes which the Turkish govern,
ment imposes upon them. In the whole
Turkish empire, including Asia, there
are about 100000 Armenians.
Regarding the Sassoun affair, the
| reverend father said;
..As every action brings Its results