The San Francisco call., 1896-02-17
ONE DAY OF HORROR.
Massacre of the Native Christians
Described by an Ameri-
can Missionary.
FOREIGNERS ARE PROTECTED.
Forced to Remain as Idle Spectators of
the Slaughter-The Piunder
Complete.

LONDON, Eng, Feb. 16.-The United
Press correspondent at ConstantinopIe
sends the following information: The fol-
lowing is letter from Miss Corinna Shat
tuck, dated 0urfa, January I:
I'VE had often heard that the Mosems
were dissatisfied with the attempt of Oc-
tober %, which resulted in the destruction
of only forty lives and about f150O00
worth of goods, the pluhder of 600 shops
and 80 houses. After this the Christians
We're all completely disarmed by the Gov
ernment. Some eighty men had been i'm
prisoned, and it was feared that there
would be another scene of terror. 1t came
at last with great suddenness.
''On Saturday. December %, the firing of
q few guns in the Moslem quarter proved
the signal. Immediately an immense null
titude gathered on the hill on the side of
the city. The guards in the streets went
to meet the people, fired few shots over
their heads and then allowed the mass of
wild humanity, thirsty for blood, to pass
into the city and begin their work. The
horrid work continued until dark. Three
soldiers kept the mob back from street
which they wished to guard, constantly
proclaiming: 1T is the house of for
eigner whom it is forbidden to touch
a. saw one man beaten and then shot
down on the roof just opposite to me on
the other side of the street. The Syriaus
and Roman Catholics were also spared.
All other Christians suffered complete loss
OF all home furnishings and some houses
were burned.
1.-The number of killed cannot be less
than $500 and may reach 1000. OF these
it is estimated that 1900 perished in the
great Gregorian church. On Saturday
that portion of the city was hardly touched
and great numbers of Armenians flocked
to the church for safety that night. Sun
day morning it began again at daybreak,
and when the mob reached the church
the soldiers broke open the doors. Then,
entering, they began the butchery, which
became a great holocaust. 1t was partici-
pated in by many classes of Moslems.
For two days the air of the city was
unendurable. Then began the clearing
up. During two days we saw constantly
men Juggling sacks filed with bones and
ashes. The dragging off of 1900 bodies for
burial in trenches was more quickly COM
pleted, some being taken on animals. The
last work of all has been the clearing of
the wells. From one very large we'll
1t is said that sixty bodies were taken.
It is well authenticated that twenty
bodies were taken from another well.
About 300 persons escaped from the
church by way of the roof, which was
reached by narrow staircase on the in.
side.
shortly after noon on Sunday some
fifteen or more of the prominent citizens
and Government officials (not including
the mutessariff or the military com.
mander), preceded by a military band and
mounted guard made grand parade q
the city. They entered the inclosure oi
foreigners, and assured them of perfect
safety and begged them not to be alarmed
as it was nothing that pertained to them
The work did not cease until dark on
Sunday, the Goth. On Monday the Kurds
and Arabs were prevented from entering
the city, the firing beginning about dawn
All day Sunday a strong guard was about
the American premises. A captain Of the
army sat upon his horse for hours at the
northwest corner, just outside of the
church. Repeatedly the foreigners re.
ceived salutations and assurances of per
feet safety from Government officials
during that longest of days. 1t was evi-
dent that the utmost was done to protect
them.
''The work of plunder is complete. Lit
orally, naught remains. Our wounded are
many. l have eighteen under my i'm.
mediate care. There is only one doctor
for the whole city. He has $50 and can
90 fnr lo
vides about 200 loaves of bread daily fol
the poor. But all this kindness will soon
come to an end and utter poverty will be
the lot of most.
THE Protestant pastor, Rev. III. Abou.
hayatian. and several efficient members o1
the church are among the dead. An effort
was made to secure the body of the pastor
for separate funeral, but failed.
''Tbe custom in these affairs, so general
in Turkey, seem 10 be for one party to rush
ahead and kill. This is followed by an
other party, which hurries off the women
and children 10 some mosque, khan OF
some Moslem house temporarily open fol
their reception. Lastly, this operation is
followed by the'stripping of the houses.
Markets are closed and it is very diff.
cult TO get some things much needed. We
have had but forty-fve beds given back to
US OF those plundered, and few pieces OF
copper. AS yet / failed to secure more OF
instructions as to method of procedure for
individuals to secure stolen goods. The
Government has large numbers of beds
and much copper was stored for return to
the owners, but all fear to stir lest the end
has not yet come.
To-day the long expected soldiers have
arrived-S00 or 1000. Our city has been
hitherto guarded by resident soldiers. We
must have your prayers and your pecun-
iary aid. How. are the people to live
through this winter2
RUSSIA OKJECES.