Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-02-24
From a Correspondent of the Associat-
ed Press.

ed Press.
Constantinople, February ct will
be remembered that the Sublime Porte,
soon after the massacre in this coun-
try, sent out commissioners TO investi-
gate into the recent disturbances and
take measures for quieting the coun-
try. One group of commissioners went
to Erzeroum and the other entered the
country at Sassoun and came to Sivas.
This commission from the interior did
its work very rapidly, spending only a
few days in each of the principal cities
on their route.
The day after their arrival they
summoned before them number of
leading men, Moslems and Christians.
These were admitted to the presence
of the commissioners separately-frst
the Moslems, afterwards the Christians.
Report says that the commissioners
said to the Moslems: ''We did not eX-
pect so much of you, but now you have
done it, never mind. Henceforth you
must keep the peace"
When the Christians were admitted
the commissioners received them stand
ing and at once began to read an ad-
dress
RECITING THE BENEFITS
the Christians had received during the
reign of the beneficent Sultan, Abdul
Hamid Khan, and the perfdious con-
duct of the Armenians who had started
newspapers and sent men to Washing
ton and Chicago to agitate and stir up
the nations against their government.
In conclusion, the address said:
Hereafter if either Turks or Armen-
ians stir up trouble there will be no
more imprisonments. but the death
penalty will be visited upon such Of
lenders"
After the reading of the address, Abb
dullah Pasha began to address the
Christians in a much more violent
strain. He said if the Armenians
should again begin to agitate, not even
the name of Armenia would be allowed
to remain: they would all be blotted
out. Drawing himself up to his full
height and stretching out his arm like
a sword, he said:
What we have gained we gained
with blood, and when we give up this
morsel we will give it up with blood!
BLOOD BLOODw
So far as | can learn, in the Harpoot
vilayet, the commissioners spent all
their time in Mezreh and did not even
visit the city of Harpoot, which was
PLJNDERED AND BURNED,
it is only two miles from
Mezreh. No questions were asked OF
the Christians summoned before them.
When the commissioners had finished
their speeches they dismissed them.
Another fact of interest is the send
ing out of officials to record in govern
ment lists the names of the Christians
who have become MOslems. Multi
tudss have been forcibly converted to
Islam. do not mean simply that they
have been obliged to choose between
becoming MOslems and perishlng by
the sword. but that they have e III
bound or held while the right Of cir
was performed without their
consent. | know of one case in which
an aged priest was tied to his own door
and circumcised. while in another vii
lage Christians begged to be killed and
their Turkish neighbOrs said to them
"No. we want you TO till the fields. We
will make you Moslems,' and they cir
the Christians Of the place by
force.
The government has said that these
were worth nothing, and
that no one would be forced to change
his religion, but now government Of
fcials write these new converts, while
the Turks drive them to say they are
Moslems. In the village of Sheikha1
the official said to the Christians: Il
write your names on a separate list to
satisfy the Turks; there Is no force
about it," But one acquainted with
ways may expect to find these
Christians soon enrolled as Moslem cit
liens.
THE CARRYING OFF
of Christian girls and women still con-
tinues. In the city of Palu Turks carry
off girls. keep thm for few days and
return them dishonored. The same is
done in many other places. In one of
the Arabkir villages. eight girls of the
place are imprisoned in Turkish har-
ems. Their friends hear their cries but
can do nothing to help them. The des-
titution of the Armenians beggars de-
scription. Men who we're wealthy in
October were beggars for bread in No
vember. Villages were pillaged O.,
every scrap of food and clothing. When
the plunderers could find nothing more
to carry off, the VILLAGERS returned and
sifted the dust to gather a few kernels
of wheat or barley Doors and win
dows were carried off. In many cases
the timbers of the houses were pulled
out and carried OFF. Jars were broken.
Everything Of value which could not
be carried off was broken. Windows,
cupboards and boxes were smashed.
The utmost pains were TAX n TO leave
behind nothing of value TO the owners.
And all this was done at a time when
winter was close at hand so as TO make
il reasonably sure that cold and hum
ger would destroy those whom the
sword had spared. Wherever YOU 20
YOU meet wan, pinched faces and people
clad in scanty garments. And You
know that multitudes spend the long,
cold nights huddled together with moth
ing to lie down upon and nothing to
cover them. Of course disease sets in
and carries them off.
It is estimated that there are be-
tween 10000 and 100000 people
IN EXTREME DESTITUTION.
Europe and America are touched with
compassion and funds are being gath
cred for the relief OF the sufferers in
every town and city. 1t is far other
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