The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-07-18
SOME NEW FACTS IN CONNEC
TION WITH THE SASSOCN
MASSACRE.
LARGE QUANTITIES OF PETRO-
LEUM USED.
The Houses of SassOun We're Saturated
With the Infammable Fluid-Men
Were Roasted Aliva-Another
Massacre Likely at Van.

Van. Armenia, July 14.-CF'rom the
special correspondent of the Associated
Press THE SassOm massacre, it would
appear was a carefully planned outrage.
Evidence of this is circumstantial only,
but it is said to be none the less con-
elusive. During the months of June, July
and August, preceding the SassOun mas
sacre the country surrounding the Sas
SCUM country, and particularly the dis
trict to the southwark, were particularly
busy in gathering up the scattered war
riOrs of their tribes for an invasion of the
SaSsOun region. In July and August
enormous quantities of petroleum wert
shipped from Ezroum to Moush. This
petroleum came originally from Russia
and so great was the quantity brough'
over the mountains that it was a source
of remarks to many. Now, it is Il fac
that MouSh does not use a great quantity
of petroleum herself, nor does her mer
chants sell much to the surrounding coun
try. What MouSh wanted with countless
cans of petroleum was mystery, but the
mystery was u mystery no longer after the
Sassoun mystery, for the on was used &c
burn the houses of the villagers and tC
consume the bodies of the villagers who
fell victims to the awful butchery. In
burning houses, the petroleum was thrown
on the woodwork in generous quantities
and was set atire, with the result tina,
everything that could burn went up in the
smoke. The entire mass of buildings We're
burned.
1t is charged that living men were ere
mated in the same way. But there was
merciful way of putting the young UNI
fortunate creatures to death in compare
son with the tortures of many others
The massing of troops in the Sassour
region. and particularly at MOush, was
carried for some time from the beginning
of the massacre in order that everything
might be in readiness to fulfill the pans
carefully laid at Constantinople.
In the city of Van at this moment there
are 800 men sworn to give themselves as
a sacrifice to Turkish butchery in the
hope that the attention of England may
be more distinctly called to the situation
of the people.
The Armenians can not accept any
scheme of reform which DOES not have
for its fundamental principle the absolute
control of Armenia by European countries
Unless Europe controls the reforms there
will be a massacre of 10000 people in the
city of Van within three months. The
ArmenianS themselves will bring this
about, rather than be cast a'irift by their
fellows.
There is no language adequate to a
description of the condition of present
Armenian. Women are ravished by
Kurds and Turkish soldiers; want and
woe. despair and destitution stalk abroad
within the land. The inhabitants of Van
are living on the brink of a massacre
from day to day.
The Turkish government has taken a
decisive step toward quoting public eN-
element in the Eastern part of Armenia.
The governor of BOukala has, during the
week. added several interesting facts TO
the alleged confessions of Harry Williams,
the captured bandit. According to the
governor Harry Williams has confessed
that the revolutionary party, which sent
him to begin THE revolution, has 5000 rifles
at Trieste Austria, which will be shipped
to Armenia at the earliest opportunity.
Your correspondent yesterday met the
representative of Il fourth revolutionary
party. which has agents in Russia, Eng
land and America. Their headquarters
seem to be in America, where Il party
newspaper is published and revolutionary
funds collected. This agent is Il Russian
Armenian and he holds strong views on
the situation. The fourth revolutionary
party has no guns in Armenia, nor does
the agent say that he has any arms hid
den in the mountains. The mountains,
however are of the most radical and aid
V9uGsl sort.