New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-19

A PRICE PIT ON HIS HEAD BY THE TURKISH
oovERNMENT-BALKED BY THE KURDs-
INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS OF
THE COUNTRY.
William Willard Howard, who has been con-
nected with the Armenian relief work but VINO
was unsuccessful In his attempt to enter AT
me MA returned yesterday on board the White
Star steamship Teutonic Mr. Howard left ABOUT
five months ago for Armenia. as an envoy OF
THE Christian Herald" In connection with the
relief work. and had many narrow escapes and
thrilling experiences with the bloodthirsty
Kurds He had previously made similar trip
for the purpose Of investigating the Sassoun out
rage and the situation generally, and was the
only one Of fifteen newspaper correspondents
who succeeded in reaching the scene. lie re-
turned last September fully determined to at
tempt the raising Of fund for the relief OF the
starving. destitute and maltreated Armenians
He called upon Charles ID. Kellogg. secretary
Of the Charity Organization Society. and upon
his advice went to DR.. Louis Klopsch. OF the
Christian Herald" The fund was begun, and Mr.
Howard consented to return to Armenia to adj
minister It, He sailed on the Cunarder Campana
on September 2S.
PERSIA ANCIENT AS EVER.
Upon his arrival last night Mr.. Howard went
at to the Aston House, and there told his
experience to the newspaper men. Mr. Howard
said tina: he went by way o. London. Paris,
BE rim Warsaw, Odessa. Batoum and Tifiis AT
the latter place he fitted out for the cold
weather with bourkas. bashl<s. and other ma
garments suitable to the climate. He then
went on to Akstofa and by post carriage to
Djulfa. where he crossed the Arris River into the
territory OF the Shah Of Persia Persia. said
Mr. Howard Is still much like 1t was In the
laws Of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the roads
are still only trails At Tabriz he bought three
horses and engaged two servants, dragoman
and horse master.
His idea was to enter Turkey from the east.
instead Of the west. From Tabriz he went to
Salinas. near the Persian and Turkish border.
where he spent several days trying to get
guard. This about November. and stories
Of massacres Of women by the Turkish Kurds
or the 5ultan's irregular cavalry were common.
Finding that 1t was impossible to get guard.
Mr. Howard determined to attempt to enter
Armenia at all hazards. and he started.
At the first village. in the mountainous and
dangerous country. which was called Nazarabed.
he encountered the entire lot Of villagers headed
by two sons Of famous bandit called All!
Khan The men were well armed and their
Howard carried Lee rifle and handy
vover The villagers swarmed around the three
Lonely horsernen and through the dragoman they
advised him to go another trail. The dragoman
could hear the rascals already discussing the
division Of the horses and baggage Of the little
party.
HE WON on BLUFF"
Mr. Howard said they simply bristled with
and bo hoo fool
he put a good face the affair. and finally, by
a game Of bluff and by casually mentioning
that the Saad and other great Persians were his
friends he managed 10 get safely away. after
enjoying their questionable hospitality for the
night He then retra ed his steps and went by
another route u Khoy. and then TO Koutov.
The country was extremely iougn and was
thickly spotted with mounds Of the dead. it
being the custom in that country for every
passorby to throw a stone upon each grave that
he passes
Before arriving a. Koutov he passed numerous
bands Of robbers driving cattle. sheep and horses
but was no, molested. his party had been
swelled 10 five by the addition Of two guards.
At Koutov Mr. Howard offered $500 for a guard
OF thirty TO escort him II Van. but. after the
Governor had sent )ut scouts 70 examine the
route he declared that Il was impossible. as the
trail was lined with bands OF kurds on me OUT
look for Howard.
Mr. Howard said that between November !
and December H. $50 villages In the Province of
Van had been wholly destroyed by the Turkish
soldiers ard he had proof In his possession that
II was done by order OF Sultan Abdul Hamd lie
rode 100 miles TO n telegraph station u communi-
cate the facts - THE London Times" and Chris
tan Herald" and then returned While on the
way 10 Uruma. which is also on the border. ne
was pmbushed but after a brisk exchange or
shots In which he could not soc his aSsiilants. he
escaped Arrived at the latter place he offered
almost any money for guards. Bur neither the
Shekh Sahdik II Kurdstan nor lamar Khan. who
lives under Mount Ararat would heed his BIDS,
for they declared the road swarmed with kurds
and 'oiher children Of the devil" Other appeals
10 the Shah Teheran and others In authority. en-
countered similar replies. The Turk.sh Govern
ment had offered handsome reward for How
orl's head and there were many anxious 10 earn
IT, He had practically made arrangements with
Turkish official when he was recalled by The
Christian Herald.
SNOW AS A PEACEMAkER
Mr. Howard SAID that operations against the
Armenians had ceased temporarily on account
Of the depth OF the snow. but as soon as the
grass showed again they would be renewed
He thought that about $4,000 had been slain
and fully 400 900 were now destitute. The fund
now amounts to $4,000. Az an illustration OF
the state OF affairs In Armenia. Mr.. Howard re-
lated the following Incident: HISTORIAN ref
ugee came down from Caviar. Kurdistan. TO the
village where he stopping. and said that
the Sultan had sent word TO the Kaimakim OF
Caviar To order the massacre OF the HISTORIANS
who are Christians like the Armenians The
chief Kurds met and declared that this would
NOT do as the HISTORIANS were their slaves. their
cattle and their beasts OF burden. Instead. they
sent "A paper to the Sultan swearing that the
HISTORIANS would be found when wanted This
was confirmed later by q Kurdish chief. who was
a Turkish official and Of those who drew
10 the paper. Mr. Howard said the massacres
were not brought about by anything the Ar
menians had done. but simply a crusade
against the Christians by the 'black-hearted
Sultan
lie said there are 100000 Armenans in Tur-
kew. and the fund already raised Is being dis
tributed by the missionaries at seventeen points