Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-13
PANIC IN STAMB0UL
1t Was Caused by Fight Between
Two Armenians.
THE SIGNAL FOR 4 GREAT STAMPEDE
Shops Were Closed and People
Fled Through the Streets.
QUIETING THE UPROAR

Copyrighted, 1885, by the Asso lated Press)
CONSTANTINOPLE. December H. via
Sofia, December 13.-There was a disturb
ance in Stamboul today, and it caused the
spread of rumors alarming that Galata
and Pera were soon in a state of panic, and
serious outbreaks were threatened. This,
IN view of the passage through the Dar-
danelles of the British gunboat Dryad and
the Italian gunboat Archimede the extra
guardshfps for the British and Italian en-
tassies. formed the basis for the report
that the rioting predicted by the Yildiz
Kiosk courtiers had actually commenced:
put, happily, the trouble was not of a
Serious nature although the Armenians as
usual, are accused of having attempted to
hflng about an uprising of the populace.
Ihe panic this morning, however, was a
most extraordinary occurrence, and is
striking evidence of the nervousness and
apprehension which prevail here as one of
the results of the long drawn-out negotia-
Dcns between the powers and the sultan
regarding the suppression of the outbreaks
IN Asia;ic Turkey and the admittance Of
the extra guardShips into the Bosphorus
The least note of alarm now sutfices to
produce widespread terror, and il proof
was needed that the powers We're right in
their insistance upon having additional pro-
lection for the foreign population of Con-
stantinople and its vicinity it was furnish
cd by the occurrences of today.
Cause of the Panic.
Sinmered down to bare facts. the cause
OF the panic was fierce quarrel between
two Armenians in the STEAMBOAT quarter,
during which they came to blows. Finally,
one of the Armenians drew a revolver and
fired at his opponent. The shot was the
signal for an uproar, stampede of the Spec
tators and eventually panic which spread
mo and of hn .if
the other from one quarter to another un-
Ill matters began to look very serious in
deed.
The Armenians and the other Christians
terrified by the shouting and Yelling the
rushing here and there of excited crowds
naturally imagined that a fresh massacre
had commenced. They hurriedly closed their
shops and houses, barricaded the doors and
windows, concealed their most valuable be-
iongings in various ways and made all the
preparations possible for defense. The wo-
men as We'll as the men armed themselves
as best they could after the recent doniicil-
larry visit of the police.
The example of the Armenians of Stam-
boul In hurriedly closing their shops. etc..
was Followed in street after street until in
the briefest period of time ina ginable every
shop was shut and nearly all the houses
were oarricaded- Crowds Of people, male
and female, old and young were seized with
terror, which grew in strength as time wore
en- and the confusion increased.
1t Is difficult to describe to those unac-
QusiHteu Win the VagarieS OF the pODula-
ton of this city, and who are not familiar
with the state of nervous tension which has
existed here for months past, the scene of
disorder which prevailed at the height of
the excitement
Wave OF Terror Sweeps On.
From Stamboul the wave of terror swept
to Galata and to Pera, carried onward by
the panic-stricken fugitives from the first
named quarter, who We're evidently under
the impression that they were fleeing for
their lives. The inhabitants of Galata
quickly caught the fever of ALARM and in
turn shut their stores and houses. and
Joined iE the scene of confusion, an example
which was promptly followed by the people
OF the Pera quarter
Seeing people fleeing through the streets
in terror caused others to do the same until
the air was filed with excited cries and the
noise of rushing multitude
Some English ladies ran, crying for pro-
lection, into the British embassy while
about fifty Armenians, chattering with fear,
fed to the residence of the first secretary OF
the British embassy, the Hon. Michael Her.
bert, AMI begged for shelter until all danger
was passed.
Eventually the police regained their pres
ence of mind and circulated the report that
the stampede was oceasioned by the escape
of a lion from a menagerie, and that the
animal, having been killed, there was no
occasion for any further alarm. This re-
port spread quickly, and the disturbance be-
gan to subside.
What Turkish officials Say.
The Turkish officials, however, rightly or
wrongly, claimed that the quarrel between
the two Armenians of the Stamboul quarter
was a prearranged affair, and that the fir
ing of the revolver was intended as a signal
to cause an outbreak, which, it is added,
averted by the prompt and efficient
measures taken by the police. Be that as 1t
may. the affair clearly demonstrates how
small a spark is required to start a con-
hagration here. The panic lasted exactly
two hours.
1t should be added that since yesterday a
rumor was current that outbreak might
be expected, and the arrival of the guard
ships doubtless aided In increasing the
panic
The Turkish government, when Informed
of the alarming report in circulation, sent
to the different embassies, saying that the
report was groundless, and that there was
no cause for alarm
The troops, however. have been ordered
to patrol the streets in order to assist the
police in maintaining order
Need for Money.
The porte has rejected the proposal for
an extension of the tobacco regie conces-