The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-05
AROUND THE CORRIDORS.

"The full extent Of the Turkish outrages IN
Armenia will never be known to the outsloe
world, said Rev. j. E. Scott last evening a'
the occidental. DR.. Scott was stationed a' 'no
city OF Van in Armenia for ten years as a mis-
slonary, and is fully acquainted with the CIT
cumstances surrounding the massacre WHICH
thrilled the civilized world with horror
1.-THE Kurds," continued DR.. Scott, occupy
the mountain region about Van ana Bulls
Ihey are half-civifzed, cruel and warhAe
people, predatory in habit and bloodth1rsty oy
nature, without any other ambition than W
make war upon their peaceful neighbors OF the
valley region. the effeminate and pastoral AT
menlan, who finds his greatest delight III car
ing for his ocks or filling the fertile soil OF his
valleys and in the joys of domestic life, undls-
turbed save by the tocsin of the barDarous
jewellers of the hills.
1.-The Armenian is not g fighter, He KNOWS
nothing of the science of war and his character
rs wholly lacking in the aggressive quality SO
aonormally developed in his neighbors OF the
north and their allies, the fierce ana cruel
Turks.
while in Armenia saw two Kurds r1de INTO
an Armenian town of 5000 inhabitants ana
load up mule train with merchandise stolen
from the principal merchants OF the town.
AND this in broad daylight and in the presence
OF two-thirds OF the population. No one dared
to resist these bearded bandits, armed to the
teeth and hoping, no doubt, for opposltoh'
which would have given them an opportunity
TO glut their thirst for blood. For any show OF
fight on the part of the people they might nave
taken the whole town. When they had Sc
cured all the plumber that they could carry
they started the train homeward, making faces
at the townspeople as they drove through The
streets en- route to the mountains. THESE peo-
pie levy regular tax on the Armenlans for
miles around, and it was for refusing to pay
this tax that the Turks perpetrated this lasl
fearful massacre.
1.-THE Turks are always looking for an opportu-
nifty to prosecute the Armenians, and THIS is
not the first time that they have murdered the
lnofensive people by the thousands.
'Tne number slain was reported to be between
5000 and $1,000 in this last outrage. The
number was PROBABLY much greater than that,
but, as 1 have said, the full particulars will
always remain mystery. Missionaries are
afraid to write the truth about existing condl-
tons to their friends in the outside world. The
mail ls subject to a close scrutiny by the TURK
1sh authorities, and it would go Ill with any
person of whatever nationality found sending
out letters criticizing Turkish rule. The only
hope for the Armenians to-day is in English or
Russian interference. There seems to be a fair
prospect of this intervention"
Colonel C. F. Croker, who has been travelling
round the world for recreation and rest, is ex-
pected to arrive here to-day. dispatch was
received yesterday at the Southern Pacific
Company's Offices stating that he was coming
in his special car over the Central Pacific route
and would reach here to-day. Colonel Croker
went by steamer to Japan, where he fingered
short time, and then set off for China, India,
the Mediterranean and Europe. When he sets
foot in San Francisco he will have completely
encircled the globe, and it is understood that
he feels much better for his long journey.