The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-12-16

pie Were Killed in the Massacres
at Kaisarea-FuPy of the Kurds
Victims. But Vented Itself Upon
the Bodies, the Corpses Being
Mutilated in Frightful Manner.
LONDON, Dec. 15.-The representa-
tive in Constantinople of the United
Press, telegraphing under yesterday S
date, says that advices from the in
terror showed that forced conversions
from Christianity to Mohammedanism
are occurring everywhere. Women
and children whose husbands and
fathers have been killed, and whose
homes have been destroyed, rather
cepted Islamism, whereupon they were
housed and fed by the Turks.
The sincerity of these conversions
may be judged from what has occurred
in Kaisarea In this place many
women whose protectors had fallen in
the massacres were offered their choice
between embracing the tenets of the
Koran or being either hacked to pieces,
or meeting the worse fate of being kid
raped. Ostensibly the women ac-
cepted Islamism, and thus rendered
their lives, and perhaps their honor. Sc
cure.
1t is now known that perhaps 1000
persons were killed in the massacres
in L aSc ha fftIx of
was not satisfied with the death of its
victims, but vented itself upon the
bodies. The mutilation of. the corpses
was frightfuI, and in many cases was
OF nature that cannot be described.
In Harpoot sixty Christians fed to a
church, in the vain hope that its walls
would furnish them q shelter against
those who were crying for the blood of
Armenians. They were permitted for
q time to believe themselves secure, but
suddenly the church was surrounded
by a great number of Kurds. The
doors were then blown in, and the
Christians thought that they would be
nlassacred within the sacred structure.
They were not. Their captors took
them one at time outside the church,
and thera needless of the pitiable
cries for mercy from the women and
children, killed them, either by shoot
ing or stabbing them.
The first victim was the Protestant
pastor of the church, who, as he was
dragged out, bade the others, if they
had to die, to die as Christians He
met his death like a martyr. Some of
the refugees, in agony of terror o1ered
to abjure their faith and accept Islam
ism, thinking thus to save their lives.
The offers availed them nothing, Tor
their Unsuitable enemies, after accept
ing them, dragged the converts out ana
killed them one by one.
The Armenian church has been
turned into a mosque, and the protest.
ant Church into a stable
In Kaisarea the soldiers joined in the
looting that accompanied the massa-
cres.
Van and Trebizond are rapidly filing
with refugees from the pillaged villa
ges adjacent to those cities. Hundreds
of women. almost completely exhausted
from fear and lack of food, have
reached Van and Trebizond. Their
condition is most deplorable. They
have been robbed of about everything
they possessed. Large numbers OF them
were barefooted, and the only covering
they had for their bodies were their
chenises. which furnished no protec-
ton against the Indictment weather.
There is no doubt that many of those
who escaped death at the hands OF the
Kurds will die from the effects OF the
many others viii fail victims OF starVa-
ton. The promptest aid that can reach
the sufferers from foreign countries VIII
not avail to prevent an enormous death
list from these causes, but unless ala is
promptly furnished from some quarter,
the deaths from famine viii reach an
appalling number.
LONDON. Dec 15.-The Daily News
will tomorrow publish a dispatch from
Constantinople confirming the state
raent of the representative OF the
United Press in that city regarding the
number of Christians killed in the mas
sacre at Kaisarea. The massacre oc-
CURED on November so. The gendarmes
1oined the marauders in outraging
women and girls. There is no doubt
that the pillaging was done under di-
rect orders from the Government. All
the details of the massacre, giving the
names of victims, etc, are in the hands
Of the representatives of the Powers,
who find that it is useless to remon-
strate with the Porte. The Sultan is of
the opinion that the European concert
is a mere feint.
The dispatch adds that the tragedy at
Zeitoun is rapidly approaching its final
stage. The statement that the Armeni-
ans in Zeitoun attacked the Moslems
and burned their villages is an abso-
lutte lie invented by the Arab Izzet TO
aienate European sympathy. The lie
means that the doom of the Armenians
IN Zeitoun is sealed. The Sultan will or
der them to be eXternlinated without
delay.
The Softas intended 10 make dem
enstration against the palace on
Thursday last, but the police, who had
been informed of the proposed action OF
the theological students, prevented II
by arresting many of the intending
participants.
The dispatch adds that 1t is reported
that there has been further massacre
at Kaisarea, but no confirmation OF the
report can be had and no details are
given.
The Standard has a dispatch from
Constantinople which declares that the
continuance Of the massacres proves
that the Sultan, while promising the
Powers to effect reforms, is acting with
his pen hand for the determination OF
the Armenians People cannot under
stand how the united Powers hesitate
to end this state of things, which Is
due to the perversity and wickedness
of a small clique, when instant inter-
vention would be welcomed by the
whole Turkish nation.
IRISH-AMERICAN ARMY.
The Clan-NG-GaeI Said TO be Back oi
the New Movement.