The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-04
An Extraordinary Exhibition of Gem
by the Prosecuted People.
BRITISH AGENTS REBUFFED
UNABLE TO DISTRIBUTE RELIEF
FUNDS EXCEPT THROUGH TURKS.
Women Outraged by Moslem Ficnds
and Nothing Done by the Author
ities-Turkey still Defiant.

NEW YORK, Sept. 3.-The following
statement has just been received by
gentleman in this city from responsible
persons in Turkey, fully cognizant of the
facts:
"Some eight months ago movement was
made on the part of the Turks TO send aid
to the victims OF their barbarity at'Sas-
soun. A gift of f2,0OO sterling was reported
and committee was organized to see to
it's delivery. Small sums were offered to
the people on condition that they would
sign receipts in the nature Of thanks for
the generosity thus manifested at the
same time certifying that it was not the
soldiers of the Sultan who injured them,
but only little row that occurred between
them and the Kurds. Naturally they de-
clined the proffered aid on such condi
tions. Here was the government that, with
fire and sword, and with almost unprece-
dented and fendish atrocty. had utterly
wasted their homes, coming and offering
a paltry dollar head to the survivors who
are on the ground, as proof of their gra-
cious sovereigns charitable regard for
them, while they could go among, their
Moslem neighbors and identify property
worth many times this sum that which
had been wrested from them. while it would
lect and return from among the dis
tant Kurdish nomads nearly the whole
amount they had lost. In the meantime,
Englishmen and women had collected for
their fellow-C Christians some efficient aid.
When the government learned of this, and
that agents were coming to distribute this
money, officials began to say, IL these peo-
pie will not accept our aid, why should we
allow others to come in and help them?
Influential friends of the sufferers finally
persuaded the government to modify its
demands to the extent of accepting SIM
pie receipt of funds received, and then the
people were with difficulty persuaded to re-
ceive the proffered aid. However, the
amount that they have been called on TO
receipt for up to the present time has not
been sufficient to prove burdensome. OF the
f2,o00 sterling. only f400 has yet materialized,
and nine mejils (nearly f2 sterling) per day
goes for salaries of the commission
when agents were appointed by the
British ambassador to distribute the funds
from abroad, it was with some difficulty
that permission was secured for them to
enter the devastated region, where some
5000 survivors had already gone to SOW
their fields with sort of millet that ma
lures in a few weeks from the time it is
them by the poor villagers Of the Moorish
plain. The services of the existing Turkish
committee were offered to distribute these
contributions. but finally this point was ap-
parently waived, and they were allowed to
locate themselves in the village of SemaI
The sight Of the crumbling walls of its
once comfortable dwellings. scattered over
the hillsides with not even charred chip
20 show that they ever had a roof. save
that a. few small buildings were hastily
covered cove last fan, in which families man
aseu 10 spend the winter, convinced them
that the 1rst thing to be done was to pre-
pare these walls, at least few OF them
Ior lsa the ne ttmbers hn;b the government had prom
mountains. So they moved to procure
workmen from Moosh, but when they were
ready to start the government Informed
them that they must not stir stem in
that direction. The members OF he Turk
isa committee reported to the British
agents that they were instructed not to
allow them to meddle with the buildings.
and that all relief given must be given
through their hands. At the same time
the men sent ostensbly as their guard con-
stantly exercised the most annoying es-
pionage, listening to every word they said
and reporting to the government an exag-
gerated statement. OF all that was DONE
Under these circumstances the British
representatives made vigorous protests To
the government and the questions at issue
were referred to the central authorities
AS temporary measure, so that the poor
people might not remain entirely hungry
it was arranged that the agents might, for
be in the presence and under the inspec-
ton OF representative OF the government.
Considerable money had also been con-
tributed by the Armenians from various
cities with the expectation that the local
|. Armenian authorities. in concert with the
British agents would to its diStrfbu-
tion. The government. however, has sent
them strict orders that If they choose to
hand over their funds to the Turkish COM
mi f0y al n bnu aon a
from distribution. OF course they will not
hand over their funds and so the money
must wait for the present. until a better
WORD comes that the new British con-
sui, Mr.. Hampson. has gone UP to Sassoun.
and later the dismissal Of Bahri, Pasha' Of
Van, have had good effect. But the
general condition Of the country is get
hard time in harvest. They are In danger
of their lives. 1t is usual for them to re-
main in the fields during harvest. Now
food to the fields for the workers. Now
they are afraid to do so. The other day,
about two hours from here. a girl carrying
food to the fields for the workmen was
set upon by three young Turks and foully
and brutally treated. A row followed and
two or three Christians were wounded.
At another village, nine hours from here
a band of thirty horsemen entered the
village Of Kupri keuy and first went
through she village ge IN rotoTs and
girls. and brides. Later they took their
rifles ard went firing through the streets
Of the village h The s1n 9as OF ~ the priest opened
to leave by giving money. He was shot
down like a dog. They kept up this for
about a three 1uhs into they the houses osn
eminent is yet TO take any steps i'm the
matter. though this company OF Lazes is
well known. So it goes. a veritabe reign
20 xarrors