Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-05
FIRED FROM THE WINDOWS.

FIRED FROM THE WINDOWS.
at was from their shops and bazaars,
| from the windows of the upper stories and
! indeed from anywhere and everywhere that
they fired at random on soldiers, police,
zapties and citizens alike. The vail pro-
ceeded at once to the scene. Notwithstand-
ing his presence, the shooting continued, di-
| rected against the officers of the regular
| army and the zapties, who were stationed
before the shops, exhorted the rioters to
drop their arms and place themselves under
the protection of the authorities, who would
know how to defend them. Indeed, they did
not even respect the person Of the governor,
at whom they fired. At the sight of one
soldier and one or two Mussulmans wounded
and two others who were already dead, the
agitation of the Mussulmans and Of the
Greeks who had Joined the brawl, reached
It's climax.
'It was o'clock before. with great
trouble, they could re-establish order The
corpses lying in the street and in the shops
were taken that same night to the un-
tenanted stores and the wounded were con-
veyed to their homes or to the hospitals.
after the riot was put down the Ar
eLians, who had remained shut up in the
houses and stores, were deprived of their
gurs Until the calm should be restored,
they were lodged in the edifices of the civil
and military authorities. These individuals
and families who were deprived Of means of
support were cared for in the Mussulman' s
house and received bread and whatever was
necessary to them. When order was finally
restored the old offenders and the others
regained their own firearms.
TROOPS GUARDED CONSULATES.
"The Ottoman subjects and the strangers
who had sought protection at the residence
of the foreign consuls at the moment of the
riot were conveyed to their homes, and for
the purpose of protection from all attack
the foreign consuates and the school and
other religious establishments, as well as
the residences Of foreigners, while the trouble
lasted, were guarded by the regular troops
and the zapties. Certain particular families
were lodged for protection in the houses
Of prominent Mussulman citizens and
wherever the zapties and the troops failed
1t vas the Mussulman and Christian leading
men who took their places.
'In order to aid the authorities In their
work Of restoring order committee was
formed under the presidency OF the receiver
general Of the villayet composed of promi-
nent citizens, both Mussulman, Orthodox and
Catholic. Its mission was to reassure the
timid, provide for the wants Of those in dis
tress, care for the wounded, cause goods to
be returned which had been stolen during
the riots, prevent all attacks on the Armenian
villages in the neighborhood of the town.
finding objects which might have been lost,
and should 1t learn OF any proposed attack
Of Mussulman or Christian villages by the
population Of neighboring Armenian villages
to inform the authorities thereof and In con-
cert with the troops and the corps Of zap
ties to take the necessary precautions. The
resources OF this latter body not being suf-
fcient, 200 more zapties were enrolled pro-
visionaly. In word, all that forethought
dictated was done. with view of meeting
every possible emergency.
"Aftlr the complete suppression of the trou-
bles an elaborate inquest was held to dis
cover the authors of the first shots 1t was
discovered that on the morning of Tuesday,
the Sth of October. the day of the riot, sew
eral Armenians were expected from Constanti-
nOple by the Austrian Star. An unusual as
Eemblage OF Armenians having taken place
near the wharf popular curiosity was ex-
cited. Among the letters distributed was
addressed to certain Chvarch Of ErZndjan,
who lived at the han, Immediately opposite
the town hall, which Is situated on Charkis
square. This letter contained details OF the
troubles at Constantinople and announced
the death Of the brother of the person 1t was
addressed to. This person, the moment he
had rad the letter, placed himself at the
window of his room and commenced to fire
wildly on all the passersby contending that
1t %as thus that one should act under such
Immediately afterward four
or five shots were fired from the stores OF
DiradouIian, opposite the han and under the
town hall. These shots were followed by
others fired by the Armenians assembled at
the landing. 1t was thus that the crowd
which found itself in the square and the ad-
joining streets was obliged to respond
THE facts were that some of those who
fred during the riots from the windows OF
Armenian houses were inhabitants of neigh
boring villages who had only come 10 town
that morning, and that the first shots were
indesd. fired by them. that simultaneously
with the commencement OF the riot these