The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-05

the accused had been seen in the act. The
first incident had occurred in daylight and
had been Witnessed by number of per-
sons and that as for Hatchiks. ne had not
city itself. II was was therefore her most improper
that they should simulata ignorance and
take the part OF criminals, and Father
Mesrob and the merchant Mahouhian were
therefore again exhortec TO heed the
councils Of the authorities and TO summon
the more prominent citizens 70 meet at
also TO reveal the hiding place OF the fugi-
siyes and thereby aid the authorities in
calming the existing excitement.
These two Incidents having been followed
by the news OF the riots in Constantinople,
brought about by some Armenian vaga-
bonds. the public excitement became greater
than ever. every one became alarmed and
the Armenians began 10 walk around armed
10 the teeth and not TO open their stores.
As since the day which the first in
cident occurred, the Armenians Of neighbor-
Ing villages had commenced TO swarm in the
city, the Governor-general. wishing 70 pre-
vent If possible bloody riots. proceeded on
the morning OF Tuesday, the Sth Of October,
accompanied BY the president of the muni-
cIpalitys TO the market square, and there. in
one or the principal stores, assembled
large number Of prominent citizens. both
Mussulmans and Christians, selected from
among the members of the trades union.
ana publicly exhorted them not to cause
trouble trouble and 70 cease the tumultuous ex-
THE RIOTING BEGINS.
ever. that shots were heard in the direction
of the Charki square. 1t was then about
half past 10 o'clock Owing to the existing
confusion, 1t was impossible 10 determine
on which side the brawl began In truth,
II seemed as though the more the imperial
troops, the agents of the police and the
Zapties. endeavored to suppress the riot
the greater became the audacity of the
Armenians. 1t was from their shops and
bazaars, from the windows OF the upper
stories. and indeed from anywhere and
everywhere that they were that they fired
at random on soldiers. police and citizens
alike. The vail, learning of the troubles,
proceeded at once to the scene. Notwith-
standing his presence, the shooting con-
tinued, directed against the officers of the
regular army and Of the zapties. who. sta
toned before the shops. exhorted the
rioters to drop their arms and place them
selves under the protection of the authori-
ties, who would know how TO defend them.
Indeed they did not even respect the per-
son OF the Governor, at whom they fired
several shots. At the sight of one soldier
and two or three Mussulmans wounded,
and two others who were already dead,
the agitation OF the Mussulmans and of the
Greeks, who had joined the brawl. reached
its climax. 1t was O'Clock before, with
great trouble, they could re-estabish order.
The corpses lying in the street and in the
shops were taken that same night to the
unteranted stores and the wounded were
conveyed 10 their respective homes or to
the hospitals
"Aftcr the riot was put down the Ar
menianS who had remained shut up in the
houses and stores were deprived of their
restored they were lodged in the edifices
of the civil and military authorities. These
of means OF support were cared for in some
Mussulmans' houses and at the Catholic
school and received bread and whatever
finally restored the old offenders and the
others regained their avn firearms. The
Ottoman subjects and the strangers who
residences
the foreign consuls at the moment of the
riot were conveyed under escort to their
from ali ant attacks the foreign consuates and
the school and other religious establish
ments, well as the residences of for
eigners while the trouble lasted these were
guarded by the regular troops and the
zapties- Certain particular families were
lodged for protection i'm the houses of
prominent Mussulman citizens and where
the Mussulman and Christian leading men
WHO took their place.
A PEACE COMMISSION.
''In order to aid the authorities in their
work of restoring order. committee was
formed under the presidency of the
ceiver-general OF the vilayet, composed Of
prominent citizens. both MussuIman, oriho-
dox and Catholic. Its mission was to re-
assure the timid. provide for the wants OF
those in distress. care for the wounded,
cause goods to be returned which had been
stolen during the riots. either on the mar
ket square or in the houses, prevent all at
tacks on the Armenian villages in the
neighborhood OF the town, find the objects
which might have been lost. and. should II
learn OF any proposed attack of Mussul-
man Christian villages by the popua-
ton of neighboring Armenian villages. to
inform the authorities thereof, and in con-
cert with the troops and the corps of zap
ties TO take the necessary precautions. The
f1cient, two hundred more ZdptieS were en-
rolled Professionally In a word. all that
forethought dictated was done, with view
of meeting every possible emergency.
After the complete suppression of the
troubles elaborate inquest held to
discover the authors OF the first shots. II
was discovered that on the morning of
Tuesday. Oct s. the day of the riot. sew
eral conspirators were expected from Con-
stantinOpe by the Austrian steamer An
unusual assembling of Armenians having
taken place near the wharf. popular curt
osity was excited Among the letters dis
chavsrch. OF Erzindjsn. who lived at the
Khan, Immediately opposite the town hall.
which Is situated on Charki square. This
letter contained details OF the troubles at
Constantinople, and announced the death OF
the brother Of the person IL was addressed
TO. This person, the moment he had read
the contents of the letter. placed himself
at the window of his room and commenced
TO Are wildly on all the passers-by. con-
tending that IL was thus that one should
act under such circumstances. Immedi-
ately afterward four or five shots were fired
from the stores of DiradourIan. opposite
the Khan. and under the town hall These
shots were followed by others fired by the
Armenians. assembled at the landing, II
was thus that the crowd which found itself
in the square and the adjoining streets was
Obliged 10 respond.
1.-The fact that some of those who fired
during the riots from the windows OF Ar
menian houses were Inhabitants OF neigh
boring villages. who had only come to the
We're. indeed. f fi by them that siInul-