The record-union., 1895-03-04

them, and some soldiers were sent to
watch them until they had all perished
After this the massacre continued, and
many women and young girls were sent
to Moosh. The bodies of the Armenians,
who were killed in large numbers to-
gether, were buried in common graves,
and the bodies of those who were killed
in isolated places were left unburied. The
ArmenianS who were not killed fled TO
Russia. Many Armenians are confined
in prisons for political matters. The eX-
act mum Der OF prisoners is unknown, but
there are more than 1000. They are i'm
prisoned for so-called political offenses.
But what the Turks call a political Of
tense has not been designated. For in
stance, for Christian to protect his
property from plundering is called po-
lltlcal ot1enSe in the Turkish empire. In
prisons all kinds of torture are employed
against rich and poor. The state Of the
turkish prisons is simply dreadful. For
instance, the chief monk of the monastery
was fastened to a wall with nails driven
through his hands, and was delivered
from that position only on admitting that
he acted wrongly, although he was inno-
cent. on the hands and feet were
| fastened chains and shackles of wood.
Sometimes these tortures ended in the
death of the sufferers. Sometimes the
tOrturers executed their task simply to
punish the victims.
here were about ia villages and
hamlets raided. One of these villages
was lamadan, in the Turkish distriC..
Inc whole number of ArmeniOn families
was about 3, ,1S4. The Armenians have
preserved the ancient tribal system. The
maximum number TO one OF these
hearths is eighty persons. Taking
twenty as modest average, the number
OF inha abitants in the district amount to
more than 5000 souls. From the infor-
nation brought to me, l believe the
troops have destroyed number OF
villages and the number of people killed
is II ,000.'
With reference to the Turkish commits
sion, Mr.. khirminian said: 'tThe chief
interest at present centers III the Turkish
| commission OF inquiry, but it looks for
no results from the commission, but it
will only deal with the Sassoun matter"
Ihe correspondent Of the Associated
Press interviewed several Armenian ref
ugees at IitliS. The stories they told of
the massacre correspond in every respect
with what has been published in local
Armenian papers. The Armenians held
their ground against the Turks for twen-
ty-lour days, when their provisions and
ammunition being exhausted, they were
forced 10 Ly or to surrender. After reach
ing the village OF Clievoson the Turks
lied. The old and young women and
children were tortured TO death. Among
this number were two priests, one OF
whom, Terpross, was stripped Of all his
clothing and pierced with twenty-five
thrusts of poignard, which caused his
death. But let the refugees speak tor
themselves. The informant of the Asso-
clated Press continues:
TO defend ourselves we were united
as one family. We held our ground as
long as we could, but only had 3GO old
fashioned guns. There were men ready
| to Kill any of us who might attempt to
fly. But we had not The slightest inten-
tIon OF so doing. However, after twenty
| i've days we held council as 10 what We
should Go. The Turks sent word that if
we surrendered they would not kill us.
They did not keep their promise, and
began TO cut oil our heads and disem-
| bowel others, and to outrage our wives
and daughters. Ten days later those
refusing to embrace the Moslem faith
were put to death, Those Of US who
| were not killed received wounds, and $50
VINO were not wounded were thrown into
ditch. Seeing that the Turks would
Kill all, we al last lied. We were only
SIX hours marching the distance from
Aloosh, but our escape was attended with
many difficulties"