The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-12-14
Armenians of STEAMBOAT, Galata
and Pera Thought There
Was a Massacre,
But It Turned Out to Be Only
the Result of a Bad
Quarrel.
Illustration of the Nervous Feel
ing Which Exists Every
where in Turkey.

o%NS
There was q disturbance in STEAMBOAT.
alarming that Galata and Pera were
soon in a state of panic and serious out
breaks were threatened. This, in view
of the passage through the Dardanelles
Of the British gunboat Dryad and the
Italian gunboat Archimede, the extra
guardships for the British and Italian
embassies, formed the basis for the
report that the rioting predicted by the
Yildiz Kiosk courtiers had actually com-
menced. But happily the trouble was
not Of q serious nature. although the
Armenians. as usual, are accused of
having attempted to bring about an up
rising Of the ~populace. The panic.
however,
Was . Most Extraordinary Occurrence.
and is striking evidence of the nervous
ness and apprehension which prevail
here as one of the results Of the long.
drawn out negotiations between the
powers and the sultan, regarding the
suppression Of the outbreaks in Asiatic
Turkey. and the admittance of the
extra %guardships into the B~osphorus.
The least note of alarm now suffices to
produce widespread terror, and If proof
were needed that the powers were right
ditional protection for the foreign popu-
lation of Constantinople and its vicin.
ity, it is furnished by these occurrences. )
Simmered down to bare facts, the
cause of the panic was. on the face of
it. q fierce quarrel between two Ar.
menians in the STEAMBOAT quarter. dur.
ing which they came to blows.
Finally one of the Armenians drew a
revolver and free at his opponent. The
stampede of the spectators. and event.
ually a panic which spread FAR and
wide, from one quarter to another.
until matters began to look very serious
indeed. The Armenians and the other
Christians, terrified by the shouting
and yelling. the rushing here and there
of excited crowds. naturally
Imagined = Fresh Massacre Had Beg"n.
They hurriedly closed their shops and
houses. barricaded the doors and win
dows. concealed their most valuable be-
longings in various ways. and made all
the preparations possible for defense.
The women, as we'll as the men. armed
themselves as best they could after the
recent visits of the police who searched
the Armenian residences high and low
for concealed weapons and left the un.
fortunate people very little to fall back
upon for defense in case Of an uprising
of the Mussulmans.
The example of the Armenians of
STEAMBOAT in hurriedly closing their
shops, etc, was followed in street after
street, until in the briefest period OF
time imaginable. every shop was shut
and nearly all the houses were barri.
caded. Crowds of people, male and fe.
male, old and young, were seized with
terror, which grew in strength as time
wore on. and the confusion increased.
People fed hither and thither. aim
lessly, helplessly. apparently unaware
of what they were doing, not knowing
what had actually happened, but with
the general impression that a massacre
was in progress somewhere.
Spread to Galata and Fera.
From STEAMBOAT the wave of terror
swept to Galata and to Pera. carried
forward by the panic stricken fugitives
from the first named quarter. who were
evidently under the impression that
they were fleeing for their lives.
The inhabitants Of Galata quickly
caught the fever of alarm. and in turr
shut their stores and houses. and joinec
in the scene of confusion. an exampl.
which was promptly followed by thu
people of the Pera quarter.
Seeing people fly through the streets
in terror. caused others to do the same
until the air was filled with excitet
cries and the noise of a rushing multi
tude. Those who could not join in tn
stampede barricaded themselves within
their houses and repaired to see thei
most horrible fears realized.
Disgusted ut Their Own Fright.
Eventually, the police regained their
presence of mind and, DESTROYS of put
ting an end to the panic. they circulate
the report that the stampede from tn
STEAMBOAT quarter was occasioned b
the escape of q lion from q menagerie
and that the animal, having been killed
there was no occasion for any furthe
alarm. This report, as good as An
other under the circumstances
spread quickly, and the disturb
ance began to subside. Finally til
~gendarmes circulated among the poop
and explained to them the real state
affairs. which soon caused the maiorit
to return to their usual occupation
somewhat disguised at having bee
needlessly frightened.
The whole affair clearly demonstrate
how small a spark Is required to start
confagration here. The panic last
exactly two hours.
Gas Works Explosion.
ST. PAUL, Dec. 14.-An explosion til