The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-29
MusSulman Laizes Armed With
Rifles Did the FiendiSh
Work.
MoBs PILLAGED THE VILLAGES
The Situation Serious and Missionaries
Are Reported in Great
Peril.

CONSTANTINOPLE, TURKEY, Oct. 2s.-
Advices from an Armenian source report
the occurrence of a terrible massacre near
Baiburt on the road between Erzeroum and
Erbisond. These reports allege that 500
ish Mussulman Laizes, armed with Henry
Martini rifles and supported by the Turk
inhabitants, made an unprovoked attack
upon the Armenian inhabitants of several
villages, and it is further alleged that a
mum Der of young men and women were
burned alive at stakes and that many
women were assaulted and horribly multi
ated.
After the churches had been desecrated
the Mussulman mob pillaged the villages
and stole all the cattle and other property
of value they could carry off. 1t is stated
upon the same authority that over $50 Ar
menians were killed. The inhabitants of
these villages had made application to the
Governor of Baiburt for protection against
the raids of the Mussulmans, but the Gov
ernor sent only three gendarmes, who did
not arrive until after the murder and pill
lsge were over.
Later Armenian advices from Erzingian
estimate that several hundred Armenians
were killed in the disturbances. The
Turkish version speaks of fifty being
killed. 4 dispatch from Treblzond says it
is reported that Turks have attacked the
Armenians in the mountains near the
city.
The military commander at Baiburt has
telegraphed an account of the trouble at
that place. According to the commander
ten shots were fred from the Armenian
quarter of the town upon number of
Mussulmans, several of whom fell mortally
wounded. The Mussulmans then closed
the shops and took arms wherewith to de-
fend themselves. A conflict ensued in
which a number on both sides were killed
or wounded. The officials Immediately
sent police, gendarmes and troops, who
calmed the disturbance.
LONDON, Enc, Oct. 2s.- The Daily
News will tomorrow publish letters from
Trebizond, Turkish Armenia, stating that
the number of victims in the recent riot
ing is estimated at 700 in the town and 200
in the surrounding villages. Many Ar
menian women have vanished and there
is scarcely q doubt that they have been
either murdered or kidnapped. Most of the
houses occupied by Armenians were
burned. There is great distress among the
survivors, who in large numbers are living
in sheds or in the woods.
kilograms from Marash report that the
situation there is serious, and that the
English and American missionaries are in
peril. The situation around Isoid contin-
ues gravely alarming.
Frederick Rasch, member of Parlia-
ment, has just returned from CONSTANT
nople. He represents the situation as
extremely grave. The Sultan sees no.
body, being completely unnamed from
fears of assassination. Rasch believes
that the Sultan will be assassinated by
army officers, who are filed with discon-
tent, and are asking questions which the
Sultan cannot answer. They want to
know, among other things, why Mussul.
mans are heavily taxed, while concessions
are granted to Armenians. Rasch says
that the reports of atrocities from Arme-
nian sources are greatly exaggerated