The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-02
THE TRED|Z0ND 0UTRAGES
Extracts From Private Letters
of a Witness
AN ARMENIAN AGGRESSION
Unsuspecting People Shot Down on
the Street
IN ARMENIAN AGGRESSION
1urdcr Is Followed by Pillage Of Armenian
Houses and Shops-Np Effort
at Control
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
NEW YORK, Nov. 1.-The following
statement is taken from private letters
received by gentleman in this city in
regard to the recent disturbances in
Trebizond, Turkey:
1.-THE excitement in Trebizond BEGAN
about October ID, when an attempt was
made on the life of the ex-vali of Van.
He vas shot and wounded by an Ar
menian revolutionist. who has not yet
been captured, Lut he is supposed by
the government to be concealed some.
where in the city. The excitement Of
the Turks was greatly increased on hear
ing of matters in Constaatinople. They
seemed to infer that all the Armenians
were banded together aud in armed rebel
lion against the government. The Turks
themselves reIIc3ented that they we're
afraid of an attack from the Armenians,
and even in some cases took measures to
put their families in places of safety.
Friday, Ocober 4th, there was an 81
tonsive movement Of armed men on the
streets. About II o'clock they seemed to
disperse and nothing especially worthy
of mention occurred. On Saturday, Oc-
tcDer 5th the excitement in the town
was very great. The consuls had con-
sultation and going in body to the vail,
earnestly pressed him to arrest those WHO
were exciting the people TO acts of out
rage. The vail declined to do 80 but
promised in his own way to do the right
thing.
'Unil Monday. October 9TH, matters
seemei to be quieting down, when an
incident stirred up the excitement anew.
On the previous Friday night the son of
a leading Turk of the town was wounded
on the street. some say by one OF his
own companions, others that he was shot
by an Armenian whom he was trying to
arrest. On Monday he died, and the
funeral revived the excitement in an in
tensified form and loud and many were
the threats of massacre that night and
hundreds of the Armenians rushed to
places of safety. The next morning, Oc-
tober Sth, all dispersed in the hope that
the danger was pissed. Men went to their
shops and were encouraged to open them,
as they had not done for two or three
previous days.
Suddenly, like clap OF thunder in
clear sky, the trouble began. Unsuspact
ing people walking along the streets were
shot down. Men standing or sitting
quietly at their shop doc were instantly
dropped with bullet through their
heads or hearts. Their aim was deadly,
and | have heard of no wounded men.
Some were gashed with swords until life
was extinct. Tney passed through the
quarters where only old men, women and
children remained. killing the men ana
large boys, generally permitting the We
men and younger children to live.
For five hours this horrible work Of
n II rlop bnfrbnrv tho n
OF mnsketry sometimes like a volley from
atoon of soldiers, but more single
sh OTIS from near and distant spots. The
cracking IN OF do RS and the thud. thud
of sword blows sounded IN our ears.
Then the sound of mussetry died away
and the work OF louting began. Every
shop of an Armenian in the market was
Quilted and the victors in this cogarily
and brutal way glutted themselves with
the sp0ils.
"Tne intention was evidently tuimpos-
er;sh and as nearly as possible to blot out
the Armenians of this town. So far as
appearances went, the police and soldiers
distinctly aided in this savage work.
They W re min sled with the armed men,
ana so far as we could SIC made not the
least effort to check them. Apparently
they took care to see that the right ones.
that is the Armenans, were killed; also
that an offer surrender might be made
to all that were found unarmed. 70 any
who we're found with arms no quar,er
was given, but large number were shot
down without any proffer of this kind.
This talk of surrender woulu seem to be
on the supposition that all were IN an at
titude of resistance.
"While l write the town is in great
stir because news has come that the vii
lage Armenians, thoroughly armed, are
on their way 10 attack the town. The
real fact, however, seems 10 be that the
MASSAGE is extending to the village. but
the constant effort is to show that this
affair is only the queling of an insurrec
tion like Sassorn. Not one OF the perpe-
traitors OF these outrages has been arrested
or d sarmed, but all nave moved about
with the utmost freedom to accom- plish
their nefarious purposes.
son the other hand, many OF the Ar
menians are in prison. While / write the
walls of the newly bpreaved fall on my
ears. Some in suspense wait to know
the fate OF their missing ones: Others re
joice at greeting them again. Throngs
fill the schools under foreign protection
and he consulates. There is no telling
how many have persisted. -Four hundred
is moderate estimate probably that fig
ure would rise much higher