The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-11-20
MINISTER TERRELL AT WORK.
Acquiring Definite Information as
to Armenian OutraSes.

to Armenian 0utra Ees.
CONSTANTINOPLE. Nov. Is. via.
Sofia. Bulgaria. Nov. 19-(Copyrighted
1885 by The Associated Press.)-In re-
Spouse to kilograms sent to Kharput
by the United States minister, Terrell,
inquirfng into the burning and pillag-
ing OF the American missions there. the
porte has furnished some information
TO Terrell and additional facts have
been obtained from other sources. As
Terrell Will communicate direct with
the state department at WASHINGTON
on the subject, the facts in his possess
sion cannot be given out here. But
enough is known of the disturbances to
enable the Associated Press to give the
following general outline:
The trouble between Kurds and Mus
sulmans at kharput had been brewing
for some time. On one hand it is
claimed that Armenians melted by the
agents of their Revolutionary commit
tee had been arming themselves, hold
ing secret meetings and preparing for
revolt against the Turkish authorities.
Inc crisis was to be precipitated by an
attack upon the Mussulman Quarters
a second version is that the Turks.
acting under instructions from Yildis
KIOSK officials, if not from the sultan
hlmseH, deliberately planned to massa-
ere the ArmenlanS OF knarput Kurds
were provided with weapons similar TO
those used h" the Turkish soldiery, and
ammunition plentifully distributed AT
signal agreed upon a quarrel was
picked with the Armenians, and an at
tack upon their quarter commenced.
The ArmenianS, anticipating the out
break had hay1
as possible, barricaded their dwellings
and made so determined a resistance
that the first attack of the Kurds was
repulsed.
The American missionaries had ap-
piled for protection to Terrell He
called personally on the porte. sent
several notes to the minister of foreign
affairs. insisted that the Turkish Off
Gals should protect the American mis-
Sionaries, and notified the sultan and his
ministers that they would be held re-
sponslble for the safety of the mission
aries. The Turkish officials promised
TO protect the lives of the missionaries
and detailed gendarmes to guard their
property. When the ArmenianS re-
pulsed the first attack the Kurds were
Infatuated and they proceeded to the
quarter Of kharput, where the Ameri-
can mission is located and quickly
overcoming the opposition of the gend-
Il-
sacked the houses, including the eight
American mission buildings and ex-
ploded a shell in the house of one of
the missionaries. The American mis-
Sionaries placed themselves under the
immediate protection of the Turkish
governor, who still has them under his
care. During the pillaging, it has been
ascertained beyond a doubt, that the
Kurds were supported by the Turkish
troops in a number of instances
Later, second and more successful
attack was made by the Kurds upon
the Armenian quarters and a terrible
massacre followed. Conservative esti-
mates say that from 800 to 1000 per-
sons were killed. The American mis-
sionaries formally protested against
the destruction Of property to the Tur-
kish authorities and to Mr.. Terrell,
who, when all the facts are thoroughly
established, will most likely demand
that the Americans be compensated.
In fact it is understood that Terrell has
already been assured that the Turkish
government is prepared to do what is
right when the blame is placed where
it belongs
A fresh fanatical outbreak occurred
at Moosh but was suppressed by the
Turkish authorities after forty Arme-
mans We're killed. There is evidence
that the porte has been frightened by
the gathering of foreign fleets in Salon.
lea bay. and by advice, accompanied
by clear statement of the real situa-
ton. received from Germany and Aus
tria. who seem to be acting in accord,
into adopting really energetic regres-
sive measures. This state of affairs is
commended on all sides. A British
Narship has been ordered to Alexan-
dretta, northern Syria, and the United
States cruiser San Francisco the flag
ship of the European squadron, is ex-
pected there daily. In addition
French warship has been dispatched to
Beyrout, Syria.
The sultan is in a state of greatest
alarm, which is telling terribly upon
his already much weakened nerves.
Rumors of the discovery of plots
against Abdul Hands life are so fire.
quent that they no longer attract any
attention. Some of his ministers have
to be kept constantly guarded by SOL
diers to give them courage enough to
transact business in their respective
Offices Throughout the night on Sat
urday, Nov. 16. the most critical day
Of the Turkish empire, the sultan was
engaged sitting close to a telegraph
instrument in the Yildis Kiosk, person
ally debating instructions to the pro-