The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-27
copyrishs.a rs,s by a. A.s,c.a.ea Pres.


serious nature Is brewing here has so
offen been sent Qua that any fresh an
nouncement 10 that effect Is looked upon
as having little or no foundation In spite
OF this. IL - but right 70 state once more
thAt everything points 10 further serious
trouhse preparing throughout the Turkish
empire. The ball was SET rolling Wednes-
day last when the sultan signed two trades
ievying poll tax OF 5 piasters a head on
all Aussulmans. and increasing the taxes
on sheep. public works and education
from TO III per cent. all taxes raised TO
be devoted 20 military purposes This
caused the representatives Of the powers
to send q collective note TO the porte.
couched ia the strongest language, calling
attention TO the danger the arming Of
Aussulmans was certain 10 create and
pointing out generally the critical situa-
ton OF the Affairs of the Turkish empire
Large purchases Of arms have already
been made. and the danger Is increasing
hourly.
The porte sent a reply TO the collective
note OF the ambassadors. As usual. il
stated that the money TO be derived from
the additional taxes was only intended TO
compiete the arming OF the Mustaphas or
iancstrum, the third and las; class OF
Turkish reserves, and 10 strengthen the
armament OF the other land forces.
The action OF the Turkish government
indicates that the empire Is facing a sit
uation which may necessitate the calling
forth of all the military forces at Its dis
position. II also indicates that the siiua-
tion is the gravest since the Russo-Turk-
ish war OF course there Is always in
view the probability at least that the sui
tan by these movements Is simply seek
Ing TO distract the attention OF his Subjects
from the abject state OF affairs brought
about by his maladministration. and that
seeing that the powers are really in earn
est. and that the understanding between
Russia, France and Great Britain means
decisive action. he Is by the armaments
practically threatening the wholesale mas
sacre Of Christians. and announcing that
Turkey Will resist to the utmost any at
tack from the outside.
Happily there Is q feature Of the crisis
which has some influence upon Abdul
Hamud. This Is the financial situation.
II Is about as bad as 1t possibly could be.
All negotiations upon the part of the
Turkish government for a temporary loan
have failed. and the condition of the treas
ury Is one OF utter helpiessness. On top
OF this the price or bread has risen 40 per
cent. and bids fair 10 rise still higher, as
the price Of wheat goes up. This is ag-
grayatins the distress and the consequent
discomfort.
The police continue making arrests. II
Is understood that many more bombs have
been found
In Armenia the greatest apprehension
exists. Rumors of recent massacre at
Egin are just reaching here in spite of the
efforts made by the porte TO suppress any,
thing but Official news. The Armenian re-
ports say that s,ooe Armensans were killed
at that place. So far as known. no Turks
were killed. but that nearly Leo houses
were burned. leaving only I5a houses
standing for the Christian population.
Women and children were huddled to-
gether in the schooihousc and some of the
remaining buildings. bereaved. destitute
and hungry 10 such an extent that the
governor general teiegraphed tina; they
were In need OF food. The official account
OF the affair Is that the Armenians re-
mained in the church on Sunday and Mon
day so long as TO excite suspicion. and that
government representatives sent officials
20 investigate. These officials are said to
have found that the Armenlans gathered
in the church had placed rope around
the neck or the representative OF the Ar
menian patriarch aud were dragging him
about the church end shouting: '.why did
you not allow Us to make Il disturbance
before~'
The Turkish officials claim that the shot
fired on Tuesday. September ie. which pre-
ssb Manvog. prominent Armenian. and
that the Armenians issued from their
church armed with $50 rifles. and with
bombs bearing the name OF their deposed
patriarch. fxmiriian, and marched TO the
upper part OF tho town. where they rie,
the soldiers who were returning from driv-
ing of the Kurds and that the Armenians
fired upon The soldiers and killed several
OF them. This. the Turks say. led to re-
prisals.
Whichever version OF the massacre at
ESin Is true. there Is no doubt that the
effect Of the slaughter. plundering and
burning is very serious. It is claimed in
certain quarters that when the heavy
SHOWS are on the ground and the escape
OF the unfortunate Armsnians IS almost
impossible. when the telegraph wires are
down and the roads impossible. the Turk
will resume his bu;chering with tho
knowledge that the news will not reach
Europe and America until the massaeres
are practically things OF the past. 10 be
denied and eventually conaonea by lapse
OF time
THE reports from Egiu also say that
number Of Christians have hesn mur-
serpsl In adjacent villages since the mas
s,,r. IN the city The events OF the past
vear have weakened the authority Of the
turkish government over It's Aohamuae-
dan subjects Very little confidence can
he s.;nceS in the soldiers ard gen6srmes,
as the latter have received no ray for
months. and see no immediate prospect OF
getting any.
While Mgr BaT,heiomews. the ratTi-
a~caata. was entering carriage az Con-
sssnttncps. today. four men attempted 20
asxassinAte him. bat were prevented by
the rresate'x escort. Ore cs ths would be
asxaxssns - said 20 be an Armenian. and
the attack IS explained hy the fact that
Mxr Rar:helognevs is unpopular with the
Arsnenaans. owing to his sGeze-ytence 10
Tie palsce authorities Agr. Bartheio-
,-,~vvs was formerly archbishop OF RrausA.
ard was chosen Armenian patriarch
soeara teaers Matthew lxrniyltAn when
the latter resigned early IN August
last Rs~sheiorzews WAS a candidate for
,hN rAtrsarehate In tse elsetion 81 1854
fsx,, only obtained = fsw votes. On account
cf his Mohannesian syupsthieS- and
wnen Re Was made leca.s ,ersns be was
again given an audience hy the saitaa
ard made ST address CT tbs rscss servils
description. which aroused the sndiEuA-
ttor &c tire Arraensans ant provoked the
contempt % tsae Turks themselves.
Paris Jks &-A dispatch 80 thn Fig
arc frsrn Conssans.ropae says an trade
VIII soon Re published. eecreessg sweep
ting reforms. Including direetleaS thar yhe
.,ortfoslos cf minister of foreign affair.
minister es finance. minister OF agrsce1-
t1rss and minister OK puAlfc works shall
he hels. ky CHRISTIANS. three Turks ard
ore Ess4~osesns that Christian governors