The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-03
AT HARPooT.
The Situation There just Before the
Massacre.

| A'OotObB DOo ll6 IOllOWIUR l6Ub6E
descriptive of the situation in Harpoot,
Eastern Turkey, immediately before the
recent massacre there, and the burning
of missionary buildings of the American
board, has been received in Boston from
q reliable correspondent:
"We have been going through times of
great anxiety" says the writer, "and we
cannot tell whether we have reached the
| end yet or not. Some ten days ago there
was much unrest in the city because OF
apprehension that the Turks were about
to attack the Christians The authorities
showed much earnestness and ability ID
coping with that trouble, and tranquility
was restored. But about week ago the
kurds began to plumber the Christian
| villages on the other side of the
Euphrates river, to tie north and east OF
us, and few days since they crossed the
| river and plundered the villages on this
side, coming nearer and nearer to the
city. Every day refugees kept coming in
bringing each his tale of woe. The whole
CITY became alarmed. At last the mill
tary pasta sent word to the people living
in gardens to move into the city. Day
before yesterday the shops in the city
were closed and a state of terror prevail
ed. Tho people were in hourly expecta-
tion of attack.
going on for days the government had as
yet made no effort to stop the Kurds
Turks joined in the work of plumber. 1t
was known that the acting governor
general had telegraphed to Constantine
pie, and that no word had come in reply.
The people said This is all the
work of the government Add to this
fact that the Kurds have every where pro-
claimed that they have orders from the
government to kill and plumber all the
Christians, and notwithstanding convic-
ton comes over US that the government
has connived OF it, if it has not directly
encouraged the wholesale destruction Of.
the Christians throughout the land.
"1t will take weeks to gather all the
facts but the work of destruction has
been going on in all quarters. The
Turks in Diarbekir marched from the
mosque down into the market place,
singing and proclaiming that they had
frman to kill the Christians. They set
fire to the market and the churches and
began their deadly work. The light of
the burning city could be seen from
Argana, twelve hours away. Argana
was in danger, the lower town had been
attacked and Christians killed there
Malatia, Egln. Arabkir, Palu and many
other places are in danger, and villages
have boon sacked in all quarters in the
D!arbekir region, and they have taken
tAAc. i1ero UHey pluuuof. gull OlflSGlduS
nave been killed in this region, how many
we cannot yet know. Finally the govern
ment took the initiative against the
kurds. A telegram had come from Con-
stantInple 1nstructing them to preserve
order with the forces at their command.
The soldiers attacked the Kurds and the
next day drove them back across the riv.
er When the soldiers began to fire upon
the kurds the latter called out to Them
why do you fire upon us. you summoned
u.s. Only determined front was requir-
ed upon the part OF the government and
in short time order was restored. There
is an ugly element here i'll the city but
the influential Turks seem to be holding
it in check, and unless something unfore-
seen occurs the worst is over here
Now a problem begins to loom up
The Christians have been stripped of all
they possessed over a wide stretch of
country. I think I may say from Sivas
to Mardin, and still farther. Winter is
upon them there. How are they to live?
The situation appeals. Before we can
get word to you the distress will be acute
likely to die of hunger unless help reach
es them. Here relief committees have
been appointed and money is being col
lected to help the refugees, but this help
will not be enough You need not be ap-
prehensive for our personal safety al
GnOugn bne SITUATION Is one OF danger,
but whatever happens, for the love of
Christ, ask the Christians of America to
care for this poor people AS the acute
danger passess way, great weight of
sorrow and pain settles down on our
hearts for this people given over into the
hands of blood-thirsty and cruel men.
GA letter h as just come from Protes-
tant in Erzingans Writing eleven days
after the massacre he reports 800 killed
in the city, including the principal men
among the Christians, while in the vii
lagos large number have been killed.
America must send money for the surviv-
vOrS.