The sun., 1895-12-27
THE 11TACK ON sITIS.
Men OF Four Races, with Police and Sol
dicrs, Joined In KiIiing Arnenians.

bOtneu IN huItng ArmeDtnnN.
| The Rev. DIR. Charles C. Creegan, Secretary
OF the American Board OF Commissioners for
Foreign Missions. in tho Bible House, received
yesterday private letter from n woman mis-
| sonary of the Board In Sivas, western Turkey,
containing some Of the details of the attack by
| the Turks on the Armenians In that city In the
middle OF last month In tho progress Of this
onslaught upon the Armenlans In Sivas over
1000 were slain. The letter bears date OF Nov.
81, with apostscript written on Dec. 4. and says
that one of the women missionaries OF the sta
tion was compelled to go to Divrik, large village
three days distant, TO look into proposal for the
union Of the Protestant schools with those of tho
old Armenian church early In the month.
They had not much more than got away
from Sivas," tho letter continues. when we
heard that there were Kurds and robbers begin
ming TO overrun villages to tho east of Divrk,
carrying Off herds and plundering the houses. We
then heard that the missionary could not secure
her return papers from Divrik. She telegraphed
our Consul saying: There are no zaptich police
mem. What shall we dor At our Consul's request
our Governor General Immediately telegraphed
to the chief officer OF Dirrk to furnish her with
her written report that the Kurds were de-
yastatinE the villages beyond Dyrik, and were
three weeks ago. since then there has been one
continuous series of reports concerning all vii.
~,
finally y was known that the Kurds were NOV
ing on Sivas We did not know what to think.
Finally. men from only three hours distance
began to come and report that the villages had
been robbed of their herds and household goods.
Tne air was filled with wild rumors. DIR. Jewett,
our Consul was on the alert. He interviewed
the Governor General and asked for protection
for us, for the United States vice-Consul. and
fully promised, and the next day, Nov. IL, at
midday. like n cyclone. Sivas was smitten.
We had steRifastly refused to believe that
such violence would take place In our city, and
walls had been taken down for a distance OF 1876
feet. Our girls school building had been cut Off
40 feet on the southwest side. and both our
schools and dwellings were in an entirely un-
protected state. The day OF the terrible disaster
the city water was cut or from our street. and
for several days the heat was unusual for this
time OF the year. Tho dead were buried two
days afterward. under the direction OF the Gov
ernment. in the Armenian graveyard. priest
of the Gregorian faith being present to offer
prayers.
Our good native pastor was in the market to
attend to the interests OF his people. when at
given signal q trihc OF mountaineers known as
karsluks suddenly fell npon the Armentans
with clubs and were soon followed by Cirees-
SLAMS and local Musseinten with knives and pis-
tolls Quickly and lastly the police force and
the regular soldiers Joined in with their Mar
tint rifles. 1t was n combined assault Of four
other races against the Armenians.
"Of our six native pastors, one of them. Bad.
Gnrabed. died martyr. his life being offered
him three times IL he would deny Christ. He
bore noble testimony before many witnesses.
He then fell in their presence. sealing his faith
and testimony with his blood. or the remain
ing native preachers four were robbed OF every
thing they possessed. while in some instances
their houses were burned. Only one was un-
harmed in any way. Our servant. Neshan, was
killed. also Dlkran Totian our last new church
member and Hagon."