New-York tribune., 1895-12-16
THE MASSACRE IN CAESAREA
ONE THOUSAND SLA UGHTERED
no DOUBT THAT THE GOVERNMENT Or
DERED THE PIf.LAGING.
BRAVE ARMENIAN DEFENDERS OF zErToUN 10
vE ExTERMINATED-IsLAM FORCED UPON woM-
EN-CHRIsTIANs TAKEN FROM HARPooT +
CHURCH AND MURDERED VAN AND
TREBIzOND FILLED WITH FAMIsIIING
nErUGEEs-THE FOURTH EXTRA
GUARDsHIP AT CoNsTANTI g.!

London Dec. 15.-The representative in Con-
stantinople Of the United Press. telegraphing
under yesterdays date. says that advices from
the interior show that forced conversions from
Christianity TO Mahometansm are occurring
everywhere. Women and children, whose hus-
bands and fathers have beer killed and whose
homes have been destroyed have. rather than
lead life OF vagabondage. accepted Islam,sm,
whereupon they were housed and fed by Turks.
The sincerity Of these conversions may be Judged
from what has occurred in Caesarea. In this
place. to many women whose protectors had
fallen in the massacres was offered the choice
between embracing the tenets Of the Koran or
being hacked TO pieces or meeting the worse
fate Of being kidnapped. Ostensibly the women
accepted Islamsm and thus rendered their lives
and perhaps their hOnors secure
II Is known that perhaps 1000 persons were
killed in the massacres in caesarea. The fury
Of the Kurds was not satisfied with the death Of
its victims, but vented itself upon the inanimate
bodies The mutilation of the, corpses was
frghtful. and in many cases was of nature
that cannot be described.
In Harpoot sixty Christians fed to church
In the vain hope that its walls would furnish
them a shelter against those VINO were crying
for the blood Of the Arrnenans. They We're per-
mitted for time to believe themselves secure,
but suddenly the church was surrounded by a
great number Of Kurds. The doors were then
blown in, and the Christians thought that
they would be massacred within the sacred
structure. They were not. Their captors took
them one at a time outside the church. and
there needless Of the pitiable cries for mercy
from the women and children. killed them either
by shooting or stabbing. The first victim was
,l.,, 10 h.a
was dragged out bade the others if they had to
die to die as Christians. He met his death like
a martyr Some of the refugees in very agony
Of terror offered to abjure their faith and ac-
cept Islamism. thinking thus to save their lives.
The offers availed them nothing. for their in
satiable enemies after accepting them, dragged
the converts out and killed them one by one.
The Armenian church has been turned into
mosque, and the Protestant church into
stable.
in Caesarea the soldiers Joined in the looting
tiat accompanied the massacres.
Van and Trebizond are rapidly filling with
refugees from the pilaged villages adjacent TO
those cities Hundreds of women. almost com
petely exhausted from fear and lack of food,
have reached Van and Trebizond Their condi-
ton is most deplorabe. They have been robbed
Of about everything they possessed. Large
covering they had for their bodies were thin
chemiscs which furnished no protection against
the inclement weather. There is doubt that
many of those who escaped death at the hands
Of the Kurds will die from the effects Of the
posure they have undergone. while many others
will fall victims OF starvation The promptest
aid that can reach the sufferers from foreign
countries will not avail to prevent an enormous
death list from these causes. bur unless aid be
promptly furnished from some quarter the
deaths from famine will reach an appalling num-
ber
THE CAESAREA MASSACRE CONFIRMED.
The Daily News' will tomorrow publish
dispatch from Constantinope confirming the
statement Of the representative OF the United
Press In that city regarding the number OF Chris
tians killed in the massacre at Caesarea. The mas
sacre occurred on November so. The gendarmes
Joined the marauders IN outraging women and
girls. There is no doubt tn Al the pillaging was
done under direct orders from the Government
All the details Of the massacre. giving the names
of the victims. etc. are in tn, hands of the repre-
sentatives of the Powers. who find that It is
less to demonstrate with the Porte. The Sultan
is OF the opinion that the European concert is a
mere feint ....
The dispatch adds that the tragedy at Zei-
toun Is rapidly approaching the final stage.
The statement that the Armenians in Zeitoun
attacked the Moslems and burned their vii
lages Is an absolute lie. invented by the Arab
Izzet to ALLEVIATE European sympathy. The lie
means that the doom Of the Armenians in
Zeitoun ia sealed. The Sultan will order them
to be exterminated without delay
The Sofas intended to make demonstration
against the palace on Thursday last. but the
police, who had been Informed OF the proposed
action OF the theological students, prevented
IT by arresting many OF the intending partici-
pants
The dispatch further says that it Is reported
that there has been further massacre at
Caesarea, but no confirmation Of the report
can be had. and no details given.
The Standard has dispatch from Constan-
tinoplc which declares that the continuance
OF the Inassacres proves that the Sultan. while
promising the Powers TO effect reforms is act
ing with his pen hand for the determination Of
the Armenans. People in Constantinople can
not understand how the Powers hesitate 10 end
this state Of things. which is due TO the per
versty and wckedness OF small clique. when
instant Intervention would be welcomed by the
whole Turkish nation.
The Constantlnople orrespondent OF The
Standard sends the text OF the letter written
by Kutchuk. Little, Said Pacha. the ex-
Grand Vizier. to Sir Philip Currie. the British
Ambassador. when the former left the British
Embassy. In which he sought refuge when he
thought his life was endangered. The letter
confirms the published reasons for his taking
the step he did. and IS that. despite his con-
ndence in and respect for his sovereign he
was tired of the intrigues at the palace. The
letter then refers 70 the gracious messages sent
to him by the Sultan while he was at the En-
bassy. and says that. notwithstanding these. he
was compelled to consider the outrageous pal
ace intrigues,
Constantinople. Dec. 15-The torpedo cruiser
Faucon. which Is TO act the second French
guardship. has arrived here. This makes the
fourth extra guardship that has arrived before