The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-01-09
Butchered Like Sheep.
Fifteen Thousand People
Brutally Put to Death.

| 49, ~
BosroN, Jan. Letters have been
received by we'll known parties ia this
city from reliable sources in Turkey.
giviug still further testimony regarding
the ootrages in Eastern Turkey. The
following letter comes !rom city not
great distance from TIE scene Of the
outrages. The writer is man in whom
the highest confidence may t'e placed,
who has spent more ban thi'.! o. q
century in that country. aud knows the
country aud people perfectly. This tes-
tim ony is from source wlch is entire
ly independent of any which has been
given before. Later accounts increase,
if possible. the horrors of what has
taken place. The letter just received is
as follows
The Armeniaps oppressed by
Kurds aud Turks said they could not
pay taxes 20 both Kords and the gov
ernmen:. PIundered and Oppressed by
the Kurds, they resisted tbeu and
there we're some killed Then false re-
ports we're sent to Cops;antinople that
the ArmeniaDs we're in arms in rebel
liou, and orders we're sent to the Mus
hire at Erzingan to extermlnate them,
root aud branch. The order read be-
fore the army. called in haste from all
the chief cities Of Eastern Turkey,
was: Whoever spares man, woman,
or child is dsIoyal.
The outiawed region was surround
ed by soldiers OF the army aud 20, 900
Kurds are also said to have been massed
there Then they advanced upon the
centre, driving in the people like a
flock OF sheep and continued thus to ad-
vance for days No order was given !;
20 mercy shown Men, women, chill
dren we're shot down aud butchered
like sheep Probably when they were
set upon in This way, some tried to save
their lives and resisted in se'f-defence,
while those vino could. fed in all direc-
tons. but the majority were slain.
"Tbe mos: probable estimate is 15,-
900 killed, with 35 villages pluudered,
razed and burned. Women were out
ragged aud then butchered. A priest
was taken to the roof Of his church,
backed to pieces and set on FIRE.
"A large number of women and
girls were collected iu church, kept
for days, violated by the brutal soldiers
and then murdered. 1t is said the num-
Der was SO large that the blood flowed
out of the church door. The soldiers
contended over beautiful girl. They
wanted to preserve her, but she too
was killed.
Every efor, is being made and will
be made TO falsify the facts and pull the
wool over the eyes Of the European
governments. But the bloody tale will
Gually be known. the most horrible it
seems to me, that the nineteenth CEN
tury has known.
"As confirmation Of the report, the
other day seven hundred soldiers were
returning from the seat of war aud at
village near US oae was heard to say
that he alone, with his own hand, had
killed thirty pregnant women. Some
who seem 10 have some shame for their
a,rocious deeds say: What could we
do? We we're under orders. ,"
THANKS TO GLADSTONE.
BosroN. Jan. In consequence of
meeting of the Armenians of Boston,
held 10 Friendship Hall, last Sunday
evening. the following cablegram was
sent this afternoon
TO Hon. W. 4. Gladstone, London,
Eng:
..Armeulans of Boston thank you
for your sympathy and aid .
tarmeniaus of this city feel that the
diplomats Of Europe will never take
interest 10 the affairs Of their country
men unless it is shown that every act in
their favor is keculy appreciated aud
they haye taken this means of express
ing their sincere gratitude for the
stand taken by Mr.. Gladstone in his
speech last week.