Birmingham age-herald., 1895-06-19

the simple peasant folk. and they sue ceeded They sent men up on the noun tain, promising imperial protection, and saying that henceforth it was the sul- tans will that Kurds and Armenians should bury all differences and live in harmony. These messengers further more declared that if the villagers would come down from Mount Andok and lay aside their arms the troops would guar antee their lives and property against the hostile tribes.
 There was but little time to choose. The road to Diarbekir. eoign of safety, was closed, and if the fugitiyes contin- ued on the mountain they would per ish from starvation and exposure. Der Ohannes, the parish priest of Semal, weighed the question carefully and finally decided, for his own part, to lead the villagers back down into their lands. Many of the fugitives refused to go. They distrusted the Turks, for treachery often turks behind open friendship in the dominions of the Byzantine.
 But very many-the majority of those upon the mountain in fact--some hun dreds, followed Der Ohannes down to- the village of Ghellyegoozan. There the bulk of the troops that had invaded the district was stationed, and as the fugi- lives came into the camp ominous signs were apparent. The bugles sounded and the grim mnions of the sultan glared and looked menacing. It seemed that only the word of command was needed to make the start again.
 The Priests Eyes Gouged.
 The road back Was closed. There was no escape. Soldiers surrounded the vil- lage and camp on every side and shud- der of terror and despair struck deep into the hearts of the Armenians who had trusted when they saw the detach- ments of the troops were being told oit to dig pits. or, rather eollosal graves.
 Slowly the sun set, and hour after hour the thought grew that something omi- nous was about to happen. Once again the buSle sounded, and companies or marching men formed. The Armenians had been asked to point out the most in- fluential men among them, and they nat urally named Der Ohannes, the priest The sun was just setting when Des Ohannes was seized by two soldiers and marched out before the troops. His arms were held out in the form of a cross, and the officer in charge com menced the torture by catechising him with brutal wit.
 A signal was given The priests eyes were gouged out, and while writhing in agony he implored for death, a copy of the Psalms was held to his blood stained face and he was. with mock re spectfullness, requested to read few se- lections. Then the imperial commander ordered the soldiers to make a couple of holes in his throat and the order was executed with many gibes Water was fetched and poured into Der Ohannes mouth. It flowed out of the holes, the soldiers while plucking out his beard by the roots.
 Such other torures as he was subject Such other tortures as he was subject was only the commencement of the mas sacre. Before the priests spirit had gone above, the fugitiyes gathered with in this human corral of heathenish mill tary were slaughtered with a passion that seems incredible. As mice are played with by cats, so were the wretch ed Armenians played with by the dogs of war. Wild fanaticism reigned. No pandemonium was ever worse.
 Bloody and headlesS bodies, mangled women stretched upon the ground cnil- dren with their skulls crushed to pulp and even without heads. men and boys with their stomachs and chests blown away by gunpowder-these were fre- quent incidents of the massacre of that night. Another priest. Der Arakel, had his eyes gouged out and was made to dance at the point of the bayonet, reel ing and bowling in pain. Men were held by soldiers and hacked into pieces bit by bit, children were lifted by their hair and their throats leisurely cut the head tossed one way, the trunk another. Scores upon scores of men and women, not killed, and who might possibly have recovered were flung into the pit along with those that were dead.