The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-27
THE armenian MASSACRES
Story Of the Butcheries Given by an
Eyewitness.
A FLIMSY EXCUSE FOR MURDER
Turkish Policemen Begin the Fight
Which Ends in tho Slaughter Of
14O Armcnians The Old Story
of Turkish Oppression.

Concord. N. H.. Nov 26.-Harop c..
Maggarian, young Armenian who
just arrived in this city. tells a graphic
story of the recent massacre in Con-
stantinople, which resulted in the kill
ing and manning OF some 140 of his
countrymen by the Turkish policemen
and soldiery. He says:
My home Is in Harpoot and l was In
Constantinople as the guest of an Armeni-
an from Palu. city on the Euphrates
trading. We were stopping In a massive
stone building, the headquarters of all
Armenans when in the city. This Is To-
massacre was crowded with my country
men. There had been no trouble with the
authorities, and We had not the least
warning of approaching events. On the
friend and myself, with several other Ar
menians. We're standing In front of the
inn conversing. when policeman came
along fully armed. OF course. We natur-
anger him, and calling one OF the party
aside he asked If anything was wanted
of him. The man replied that nothing
was wanted; that he was merely looking; I;
with kicks and blows. The Armenian ma
turally objected, but the only resistance
offered on his part was to seize the Of
ficer's arms. While endeavoring thus to
pearance and shot the Armenian dead.
signal for slaughter.
This was signal, for scarcely had the
echoes of the shot died away when an
ambulance dashed up for the body and the
entire square was filled with soldiers, who
immediately opened fire on every Ar Ar
ing Of the first shot my companion and
myself ran inside the building and barred
the massive iron doors We We're safe.
but through the windows Of the building
we were eye witnesses of the horrible
butchery of our countrymen, who We're
totally unprepared to make the least re-
sistance. and We're shot down like dogs.
and then 1t stopped only, because the, work
of killing the helpless Christians had been
well and thoroughly done. Throughout
we were In constant fear OF our lives
building, but it proved too strong. and
the attempts were at length abandoned
In that attack 40 Armenians were killed
and injured. As they fell, they We're inn
mediatey carried away In the ambulance
and when all was over the Turkish fire
men were called out. and with their hose
washed away every vestige of blood from
the pavements and destroyed all traces Of
the monstrOus crime.
The escape of myself and companions
was miraculous. and was owing to the
fact that we were dressed in costumes
similar to the Turks. and they did not
discover tnat we were not Ol tHdt Ud-
tionality until we had reached the door
way of the building.
Prisoners for Days.
In the building we were confined for ten
days, never daring to show our heads.
Finally, through the intercession OF the
foreign consuls, we were granted limit
ed amount of protection and freedom
Waiting until the excitement had died
out, myself and six others bribed Turk
ish policeman by the payment Of seven
Turkish pounds to escort us to a steamer
on which we made our escape to this cCun-
try.
it was the old story of oppression of the
Armenans by the Turks, which has con-
tinued for the past 400 years. Angered by
outside interference and the assembling
of a foreign fleet within striking distance
of Constantinople. they are wreaking
their vengeance on us. They publish to
the world that we are the aggressors In
all cases, and 1t Is time the world under~
stood the nature Of that claim. They
drive us to the last extremity, and when
we turn to protest, we are shot down and
the statement goes out from the Turkish
officials that the Armenian struck the first
blow. as 1t did in justification of the Con-
stantinople massacre. We are Christians
We refuse to accept MohammedaniTm
We demand the right to worship God as
our consciences dictate. For that Ar
menians are shot down. our crops de-
stroyed, our homes ruined.