The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-06-19
THE sASSOUM MASSACRE.
Stories Of Eyewitnesses, Many OF
Whom We're Victims.
Most Horrible Atrocities Practiced-Men
Bodies Thrown into Ditches-Whole
Families Massacred Because They
Would Not Apostafise.

DOu1cc 1hFoWn INTO D1tChGS-WhOla
Families Massacred Because They
Would Not Apostafise.
Boston, June 6-A rehearsal of
the Sassoum massacre has been
made by refugees. The story
has been recorded in detail and forwarded
for publication in the United States. 1t
comes from Bitlis in the mountain region
OF Eastern Turkey and may be relied
upon.
Parih, of the Dalverig region, Hotink
village, of some 35 houses says: "We
were II souls in the house, but three were
killed by soldiers My husband, Boghas,
was shot through the head. His brother
Harton they killed with two bayonet
wounds on the head and 10 on the body.
After thus mangling his body they hung
it from tree exposed to the sun, to be
food for rapacious birds. Khanadali
kurdagha pleaded with the soldiers, fall
ing at their feet, and SO we women and
the children for the most part We're al
lowed to escape, though other nomadic
Kourds from the south plundered the
village, stripping us of our clothing,
burning the houses, etc.
cat Ashpig, near the village, Marc was
burned in his house, Turro's small
children were hacked to pieces by the SOL
diers A woman's head was found and
recognized.
Shameh, woman of the above village,
says "There were "a in the house, and
two were killed. My son, Ajpker, some
II years old, and little daughter were
killed. My father is Chalo, of Salaguzan,
and from that house were killed Sahag,
Mardi, MICRO, Sarkis, Doneh, and
Charsera -
Her testimony also confirms what is
given elsewhere by others, as to how
Geliguzan woman, Hapseh by name her
OWN aunt. led on her four sons in the de-
Tense, calling out: Come on, my sons,
am ready to sacrifice you to the race. +"
In the end she was killed, when they
We're discouraged and fled. II also saw
another Hapseh by name, native of
Daiyerig, ripped up by the soldiers the
child put on her breast, and the two
bayoneted after that
Der, (priest) Johannes of Seminal and
Der (priest) Bedrase of Cell guam were
her uncles, and she, like others. says:
uc eyes VI DoI DGuFOS were aug OuU
and 40 bayonet wounds inflicted
Hohannes, of the 40 bayoneted into the
ditch by the soldiers, asked for a few
minutes to pray and was told that if he
| would not change faith he would be
killed; I can't he said, but my people
| (many drawn up before him) are free to
do as they like. AS they, too, refused
| into the long ditch grave they had been
| forced to dig. The soldiers took out Der
Hohannes' eyes, seized his hands and COM
PEELED him to dance Not only was he
deprived of his beard, the insignia of this
priestly office, but the cruel creatures
took along with the razor some of the
skin and flesh as well. Having pierced
his throat, they forced him to drink
water when it flowed from the CHASTITY
cut down on either side. His head was
kicked this way and that as if foot ball
Human flesh taken from some of his
mangled people was put into his mouth.
He. too was pitched into the ditch with
more than two score men that had the
promise of safety if they would cease re-
sistance and surrender. Independent tes-
| timony respecting the terrible torture in
f1icted on this priest by Others and
among them that of his own family, an
own sister in law, KhuZzan, of 30 years,
and bride of 20 years, by name of
Khuzzo, is said to confirm the above ac-
count. This Khuzzan also tells how her
husband Boghos and his brother Urko,
the latter's wife ripped up, child put on
her breast and the two bayoneted to-
gether. :"
Ermo Geliguzan, of so years gives in
dependent testimony confirming what
was said above by Shemmeh as to the
killing from their family of Sahag Mardo
Magro, Sarkis, Doneh, and Ghazar; and
adds how MDoro Tl1padQd with tho dio,,
| to take his pet boy from his arms to a
distance SO he might not see them kill
his father. She also confirms the torture
and death of Arakel Vartabed (prelate,
higher than priest) who was her nephew
She, as also Marian, of 30 years, testifies
as to how Hovseh of Shinik was nearly
beheaded face mangled, while his arms
and legs were mostly disjointed; he was
her relative. Awak, Steffo's son also
killed. and was relative. Her compan-
ion, Marian, tells how her husband.
Chazar, was also pitched into that ditch
and two year old little boy burned in
the house. They both tell how in Geligu-
Fan a four year old boy, son of Hebo, was
sacrificed upon fire made for the purpose
by the soldiers. Marian saw from her
hiding place the soldiers hang from
tree and fiay alive one Harton, Mano's
son, and there he was left hanging, his
groans being heard for days, prey to
rapaclouS birds and the scorching sun
Both of them tell how "brave Vartan"
is killed, being pursued by nine soldiers
who mangled him, scraping skin and
flesh from his face thrusting flesh from
his own person into his mouth.
ManOng of Seminal says Tabo didn t
betray Tamatian, as has been reported,
but that Kourds under lead of their Der
wish chief took him, though as Tabo was
present and chief of the village, some
charged it on him. Tabo had two broth
ers, Khacho and Boghes, pitched into the
ditch Manong's companion, Steppo, of
II years, tells how his father, Sherro and
uncle Giragos and ten years old sister,
Shuahan, were killed. These both relate
how Kalo's wife, Tori, was ripped up
and the child flung into the air on bayo-
net.
Khazo of Shrink, 20 years of ag,, who
has a babe in arms of four months tells
how her husband Boghos and his brother
Ghazar were killed, also three others of