The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-10-03
.RI0TING IN ARMENIA
THE SMOULDERING FLAMES OF
DISCON TENT AT LAST
BREAK OUT.
NEARLY 200 PERSONS ARE KILLED

anu ImpflsOned-The Trouble Caused
by an Attempt of the Armenians to
Present Petition TO the Sultan Ask
ing "a Redress of Grievances-GOv-
eminent Troops Ordered Under Arms
10 Suppress the Riot.
CONsTANTINOPLE, Oct. 2.-Fige hun
dred arrests have been made in connec-
ton with the recent rioting of Armen
ians here. The government Is greatly
alarmed and the garrison is kept under
arms.
Trouble among the ATmenians of this
city has been brewing for long time
past, the bitter feel ng against the au
thorIties growing r0nger as week after
week passes without the adoption by the
Turkish government of the s. heme for
reform in Armenia proposed by the rep
resentatives of the powers. The long
smouldering flames of discomfort, care
fully famed by the Armenian agitators,
have at last broken out. Finally the
Armenians determined, at all hazards, to
make an attempt to present petition to
the Sultan, through the Grand Vizier,
and large body OF Armenians, on Mon
day, marched, with this intention, to-
wards the palace of the Porte
The authorities in anticipation of
trouble, had stationed strong force Of
police about the palace and the other
public buildings were also guarded. The
arrival of the Armenians at the palace
was the signal for several desperate en-
counters between them and aud the po-
lice, during which the Turks AID mum
Der of Armenians were killed or wound
cd. A conservative estimate of the af
fair places the killed at ten, with forty
persons severely wounded, In addition,
as already stated about $40 arrests We're
made Many Armenians were severely
beaten by the Turkish policeman after
which they were securely bound and
earted away to prison. One Armenian
after having been terribly beaten with
bludgeon, was shot and killed by a po-
liceman.
Theriot was continued almost through
out the remainder of the day and so
alarmed the government that the garri-
son was hastily ordered under arms and
has been so ever since, night and day,
the troops being vigorously confined to
barracks.
The students took an active part in the
rioting. A crowd of these young men,
dung fight with squad of police,
killed two Of the Turkish officers and
wounded number of others
The arresting of the Armenians went
on all day, Monday and yesterday, and
was accompanied by more bl0odshed,
several Armenians, who resisted attempts
made to take them into custody, being
killed while fighting the police.
in addition, eight Armenians were
killed within the precincts of the minis
try of the police, where, besides, many
persons were wounded.
The Turks were greatly enraged at the
outbreak and threatened vengeance upon
the Armenians. AS a result, during the
evening of Monday body of Softas
(Mohammedan students of theology),
armed with ugly looking sticks, assem-
bIed in a public square, threatening to
start out and massacre the Armenians;
but the authorities hurried several de
tachments of police to the spot and the
Mohammedan students were eventually
dispersed.
The authorities are doing everything
possible to belictle the affair but there
is no denying that it was a most serious
disturbance, and that more trouble is
anticipated.
The Turkish government in its efforts
to calm the apprehension experienced on
all sides, has sent quieting circular to
the ENJOYS of the different foreign coun
tries here.
At the palace the utmost cOnsterna-
tion is said to prevail and every pre-
caution has been taken to suppress
further outbreaks upon the part of the
dissatisfied Armenians.
Owing to the serious condition Of
affairs, a dinner which was to have been
given to night at the palace, in honor of
Prince Albert of Schl swig Holstein has
been countermanded and the French
warship Petrol has postponed her depart
ure.
The serious apprehension felt by the
Turkish authorities and the precaution
taken by them to keep the military force
in the garrison constantly under arms on
account of the fear aroused by the
riot precipitated on Monday by
the Armenians of the city are shown
to be amply justified by the furth-
er outbreaks which occurred yesterday.
Two Armenian porters were among
those subjected to the wholesale
arrest of Armenian subjects of the Sui
tan by Turkish authorities, and they
showed resistance to the police, and
We're accordingly killed. 1t is only by
personal investigation that those seek
ing news of the disturbance can secure
any details, as the lips of all police and
government official are closed, and no
reliable information from official sources
regarding the riot can be had.
The Armenian quarter Of the city is
today deserted and quiet as the grave
This is the quarter which usually pre-
sents the scene of greatest animation