The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-19
TALES OF REFUGEES
CONFIRMATION OF ATROCITIES CON.
MITTED By TURKS IN ARMENIA.
Eyewitnesses Describe Scenes ut sns.
SCUM So Shocking and Revolving as
to Be Almost Incredible.

bOSION, June ia rehearsal of the
Sassoun massacre has been made by refu-
gees. The story has been taken in detail
and forwarded for publication in the
United States. 1t comes from Bitls, in the
mountain region of eastern Turkey. and
may be relied upon:
Parih, of Dalvorig region, Hetink village
OF some thfrty-five houses, says: I'VE were
eleven souls in our house, but three were
killed by soldiers. My husband, Boghas,
was shot through the head. His brother
Harten. they killed with two bayonet
wounds on the head and ten on the body
After thus Managing his body they hung
1t from tree. exposed to the sun and to
be food for rapacious birds. Khandali
kurdagha plead with the soldiers, falling
at their feet, and so We women and the
children, for the most part, were allowed
to escape. though. other nomadic Kourds
from the South plundered the village, strip
ping us OF our clothing. burning the houses,
etc. AT Aghpig, near the village. Nero
was burned in his house. TurrO's small
children were hacked to pieces by the
soldiers and a woman's head found and
recognized"
Shammeh, a woman of the above VIII
IaSe says: There were twenty-four i'm
the house and two killed. My son, Apkar,
some seventeen years old. and a little
daughter were killed. My father is Chalo,
OF Geliguzan, and from that house were
killed Sahag, Mardo, Mngro, Sarkis, Doneh
and Ghazar." Her testimony also confirms
what is given elsewhere by others as to
how GeliguZan women, Hapseh by name,
her own aunt led on her four sons in
the defense. calling out ''Come on, my
sons, l am ready TO sacrifice you to the
race" In the end she was killed. when
they were discouraged and fed II also
saw another" she said, "Hapseh by name,
native of Dalvorig, ripped up by the SOL
diers and the child put on her breast and
the two bayoneted after that" Der (priesD
Johannes, of Seminal, and Der Bedrase.
of Gelguzan. were her uncles and she,
like others. says: 1.-THE eyes Of Der Bed
ros were dug out and forty bayonet wounds
inflicted. Der Johannes, of the forty bay
oneted in the ditch by the soldiers, asked
for few minutes to pray, and was told
that if he would not change faith he would
be killed. Il can't he said, but my people
many drawn UP before him) ARE free to
do as they like AS they, too refused to
change their faith. they were bayoneted
into the long ditch grave they had been
forced to dig. The soldiers took out Der
PEELED him to dance. Not only was he
deprived of his beard-the insignia of his
priestly ofIice-but the cruel creatures took
along with the razor some of the skin and
flesh as we'll. Having pierced his throat
they forced him TO drink water when
1t flowed from the CHASTITY cut down on
either side. His head was kicked this way
and that, as If a football. Human flesh
taken from some of the mangled people
was put into his mouth. He, too, was
pitched into the ditch with more than two
score OF men that had the promise of safe
ty If they would cease resistance and sur
render"
CONFIRMATORY TESTIMONY.
Independent testimony respecting the ter
rible torture inflicted on this priest by
others and among them that of his own
family, an own sister-fn-law Khuzzam, OF
thirty years, and a bride of twenty years.
by name of Xhuzzo, is said to confirm
the above account. This Khuzzam also tells
how her husband, Boghos, and his brother
Urke were bayoneted into that ditch grave
and the latter's wife ripped up, child put
on her breast and the two bayoneted to-
gether.
Emmo Geliguzan, of fifty years, gives in
dependent testimony connrming what was
SAID above by Shammeh as TO the killing
from their family Sahag, Mardo, Magro,
Sarkis, Doneh and Ghazar, and adds how
Mugro pleaded with the soldiers 10 take
so he might not see them kill his father.
She also confirms the torture and death
OF Arakei Nartabed prelate, higher than
priest, who was her nephew. She, as also
Maram, of thirty years, testify as to how
a Hovseh, of ShlniK. was nearly beheaded,
face mangled, while his arms and legs
were mostly unjointed; he was her rela-
tive Awak, Steffo's son, was killed and
was relative; Her companion, Marian.
tells how her husband, Ghazar. was also
pitched into that ditch and two-year-old
little boy burned in the house. They both
tell how, in Genguzan, a four-year-old boy,
son OF Hello, was sacrificed on fire made
saw from her hiding place the soldiers
hang from tree and fay alive one Har-
hanging, his groans being heard for days a
prey To- rapacious birds and the scorching
sun. Both or them tell how brave Var
tam is killed, being pursued by nine SOL
diers who mangle him, scraping skin and
flesh from his face. thrusting flesh from
his own person into his mouth.
Manong, OF Seminal, says Tabo didn't be-
tray Tamatian, as has been reported, but
that kourds, under the lead of their der
present and chief of the village, some
charged it on him. Tabo had two brothers,
khacho and Boghos, pitched into the ditch
Manongs companion. Steppo, of seventeen
years. tells how his father, Sherro. and his
uncle Giragos and ten-year-old sister. Shau-
han. were killed. These both relate how
aNaAo . wiz, 10Th Was Iipeu UP ana child
nung INTO the air on a bayonet.
khazo, of SHRINK, twenty years of age,
who has a babe in arms of four months,
tells how her husband, Boghos, and his
brother Ghazar were killed: also three 9TH
ers OF the family, Tattar Khacho and
Misag; her mother Memmo, hacked and
bayoneted all out of shape and left I'M
buried by tone. She was of Geliguzan
and the Kourds did this in anger because
Her son, Giragos, was killed, but Stepan
escaped and is now in Russia
RIPPED WITH a BAYONET
"Mousi Krikore house." Bedros, twenty
years. saw Father Hebbo and his brothers
Boghos, Harten, Surko and Misag, with
little sister Yeovan, killed. His aunt, Geor-
reh. while serving transport, carrying
ammunition on her back, was run through
with bayonet from the rear. Khazo saw
the soldiers rip UP Elhar of Seminal, take
bayonet them together.
Urko (ArakeD, of Geliguzan, had fifteen
souls in his house and ten more were killed,
his father, mother, two cousins, etc.
their house; nine were killed. two men and
the others children. He was left for dead
from twelve bayonet wounds
Asdour, also of this village, has eight
CHASTITY scars from the same cruel weap-
ons and was left for dead. but made his
escape from the heap or dead bodies as
did the above Hogop, with twelve scars.
Azo, of Bitlis, his nephew Murad, with
the latter's sister. report how a four-year-
l10-