Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-02-06
Massacre OF ArInenians at Aintab.

N1dSSdCEC Va kAIIlCuL8uo u hluN0Ds
| Under date OF November 80, 1895, thu
following letter was written to Rev. v. NJ
Hardy by a former teacher OF his, Mr.
now president of the Central Turkey col
lege, located at Aintab, town on the
south slope OF Mount Taurus in Asiatic
Turkey. Mr.. Fuller being an eye witness
OF the events which he describes tells the
story in a graphic manner but not, 1t is
believed, as freely as he might, had he not
known that his epistle must satisfy the
literary taste OF the Turkish officials be-
fore it would be allowed to leave the coun-
try. The letter was received by Mr.. Hardy
four weeks after the massacre occurred
and reads thus:
"Aintab has bad its baptism Of blood and
fire and we sit in grief among ruins. We
had been hoping that the many things
would save our city from the fury OF the
storm that is desolating 80 many places
about us.
Our Christian community is large (about
one fourth Of the whole population) and
the Christians, as class, are exceptions
ally intelligent and influential; the lead
ing Mosems OF the city are intelligent,
able men and have shown themselves to
degree tolerant OF, and even friendly to,
Christians; the governor has seemed dis
posed, beyond most Turkish officials, to
respect the rights OF Christians; there is
number of foreign residents
sure to be witnesses OF any violence done
to Christians; the college and hospital
have for years commanded powerful in
fiuence in the city, the hospital especially
having the goodwill of all classes; the coll
lege, its teachers and students we're no
doubt regarded by many with much sus-
picion on account of the latent antagon-
isms inevitably existing between progress
i've and conservative ideas, but personal
relations were, so far as | know, always
Another thing in our favor has
been the fact that the Christians OF Aim
lab have given very little countenance to
the ultra revolutionists, who have no
doubt provoked trouble in some places.
Relying upon all these things, we had, for
nearly three weeks, been hearing reports
of fighting and a massacre at ZeitOOn, Ma
rash, 0Orfa and other places with COM
little anxiety for ourselves. It
Is true, we were frequently hearing OF
fearful threats and warnings OF what the
Moslems we're preparing to do in Aintab,
but we had become hardened to that sort
II thing and regarded it as largely the in
7ention Of cowardly roughs to terrify
hose whom they did not dare to attack.
uC luobV thiLS VIC oludauiSh
vas that the government was disarming
Christians and at the same time giving |
,ut rifles and ammunition to Moslems;
his, however, was attributed to an exag-
,erated fear OF a Christian rising, OF which |
hey protested to have information.
Meanwhile, Mosems liable to military |
ervice were called out and equipped and |
hurried of to Zeitoon, where 1t was re-
ported that the Christians were in rebel
ion. This was no doubt the occasion of
intense irritation, and both the soldiers I
nd their friends were saying 'sIf we must
ight Christians we will begin with those
lose at hand" Under these circum-
tances the native Christians became very
nxious and made such preparations for
efense as the circumstances permitted, at
he same time keeping as quiet as posi-
lie and avoiding all controversy and alter
alton with Moslems. The government
increased the police force in the city and
eld considerable force of troops at the
arracks near the town, and the governor
nd principal men seemed to be making
luch effort to quiet the people.
Several considerable tumults had oc-
urred and been promptly suppressed
'ithout bioodshed-so day after day had
ragged on, each hour increasing the hope
nat we should tide over the crisis.
Saturday morning, November 18th, more
1an three weeks after the first riot at Ma
ash, at about half past seven O'Clock, as
% were just rising from breakfast, our