The Indianapolis journal., 1895-10-03
Bloody Outcome of Attempt by
Armenians to Present n Petition
to the Ruler of the Turks.
MANY KILLED AND WOUNDED
sULTAN'S PALACE AND OTHEH
PLACES GUARDED BY SOLDIERS.
The Trouble Started by the Grand
yixfer Calling the Armenian Petf-
ton Bearer an 'InfideI Dog.-


dred arrests have been made in connection
with the recent rloting of Armenians here.
The government is greatly alarmed, and
the garrison is kept under arms.
Trouble among the Armenians of this
city has been brewing for a long time
past. the bitter feeling against the author
tiles growing stronger as week after week
passes without the adoption by the Turkish
government of the scheme for reform in
Armenia proposed by the representatives of
the powers. The long smoldering flames
Of discomfort, famed by the Armenian ag-
itators, have at last broken out. Finally
the Armenians determined at all hazards
to make an attempt to present a petition
to the Sultan, through the Grand vizier,
and a large body of Armenians on Monday
marched with this intention towards the
palace of the Porte. The authorities in an
ticipation of trouble, had stationed a strong
force of police about the palace and the
other buildings were also guarded. The ar
rival OF the Armenians at the palace was
the signal for several desperate encounters
between them and the police. during which
several Turks and number of Armenians
were killed or wounded. A conservative es-
innate Of the affair places the killed at
ten, with forty persons severely wounded.
In addition, already cabled. about 500
arrests were made. Many Armenians dur
ing the affray were thrown to the ground
and severely beaten by the Turkish police
men, after which they were securely bound
and carted away to prison. One Armenian,
after having been beaten with a bludgeon,
was shot and killed by a policeman. The
hiring was continued almost throughout the
remainder of the day and so alarmed the
government that the garrison was hastily
ordered under arms and has been so ever
since, night and day. the troops being rig
orously confined TO barracks.
The students took an active part in the
rioting. A crowd OF these young men, dur
a fight with a squad of police. killed two
or the Turkish officers and wounded
number of others
LASTED TWO DAYS.
The arrestng of Armenians went on all
day Monday and yesterday and was accom-
panied by more bloodshed, several Armen-
ians who resisted attempts made to take
them into custody being killed while fight
ing the police. In addition eight Armen-
ians were killed within the precincts of the
ministry of police. where besldesa..--ny per-
sons were wounded. The Turks were
greatly enraged at the outbreak and threat
ened vengeance upon the Armenians AS
a result, during the evening of Monday. a
body of Softas (Mohammedan students of
theology, armed with ugly looking sticks,
assembled in a public square, threatening
TO start out and massacre the Armenians.
but the authorities hurried several detach-
ments of police to the spot and the Mo-
hammedan students were eventually dis
persed.
The authorities are doing everything pos
sible to belittle the affair." but there is no
denying that 1T was most serious disturb
ance and that more trouble is anticipated.
The Turkish government, in it's efforts to
calm the apprehension experienced on all
sides, has sent guieting circular to the
here. At the palace the utmost consterna-
tion is said to prevail, and every precau-
tion has s, been taken to suppress further
Arrnenians. Owing to the serious condition
of affairs. dinner, which was to have
of Prince Albert of Schlesswig- Holsten,
has been countermanded and the French
war ship Petrol has postponed her depart
ure.
The serious apprehension felt by the
Turkish authorities and the precautions
taken by them to keep the military force
account OF the fear aroused by the riot
precipitated On Monday are shown to be
amply justified by the further outbreaks
pcrters were among those subjected to
the wholesale arrest of Armenian sub
jects of the Sultan by Turkish officials
and they showed resistance TO the police
and were accordingly killed. 1t is only by
personal investigation that those seeking
details, as the lips of the police and gov
ernment officials are closed and no re-
liable information from official sources re-
garding the riot can be had.
The Armenian quarter of the city is to-
day deserted and quiet as the grave. This
is the quarter which usually presents the
scene of greatest animation and life. the
shops and great bazaars attracting throngs
of chattering traders. The authorities have
closed the shops and peremptorily forbade
the gathering OF groups in the streets OF
the quarter and to insure the observance
of this order the streets are constantly
patrolled by military.
SULTAN'S PALACE GUARDED.
The guards who are stationed at the
Babi Humayan. the high door of Sublime
Porte of the seraglio. or Sultan's palace,
were also strongly reinforced yesterday in
apprehension of attempted attack upon
the person of the sovereign Yesterday the
carriages which were conveying the minis
ters OF Interior. Foreign Affairs and of
the Police to the Council which was con-
vened to consider measures for suppress
ing the disturbance. were pierced with bull
lets as they passed through the streets.
fired by insurgent citizens. The public, off,
Gals in the carriages escaped injury. Many
pasSers-by in the streets were not SO for
ber killed and wounded place il at eighty.
The great Church of the Patriarchate, sit
the scene of the first outbreak. ON Mon
day. is now surrounded by troops.
With regard to the death of Serivet Bey.
one of the officers who was killed I'm Mon
days riot at the Patriarchate, the follow
ing details are learned Ii is alleged that
he called the Armenian bearer Of the petit
fion, which ii was sought to present to the
Grand Vizer. "Giaour.' This is equiva-
lent to saving "Infidel dog" and is a term
of opprorbium used by the Turks toward
those who do not follow the prophet
Mahomet. The Armenian retorted to this
and the quarrel increased in heat until the
shooting began.
The customs office in this city has been
closed during the riots. II is reported that
a number of Armenians broke into the
law courts of the city during the disorder
and killed two judges. The murderers were
recognized and arrested. An Armenian
cashier employed in the department of GUS
toms of this city has been assassinatei
and this crime. Ii is believed. was actuated
by motives of political revenge
ANOTHER STORY OF THE RIOTS.
Here is the latest account of the out
break: On Monday there was an assem-
blage of three thousand Armenians at the
Korumkapou Cathedral. which had gathered
TO attend the religious fete of the cross AT
the conclusion of the religious service,
which conducted by the patriarch
himself twenty Armenian ladies from the
cities of Van. Bitlis and Erzroum. in Ar
menia, presented to the patriarch petition.
which recounfed the cirriue anees of 10