The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-02
GIRLS TAKEN TO THE HAREMs.
The Sultan Had His share OF the Spells
of Armenia.

bIzond, giving the testimony OF an eye
witness, states: ''Bahri Pasha, governor
OF Van, started to come TO Constantinople.
and 1t was learned that he was bringing
with him four OF the fatrest young maid
ems OF Sassoun, whom he had spared in
the massacre, to make an acceptable pres
ent Of them TO his sultan. This aroused
the Armenian people Of Trebizo1d TO
frenzy. and, as II was impossible TO re-
sist, the more daring of the young men
fired upon Bahri Pasha when he was go
ing about the city, wounding him. After
he was cured he carried out his Internal
mission TO Constantincple, and was hon
ored with the highest decoration and ap-
pointed governor Of Adana, in spite OF the
nerveless protest Of the ambassadors.
Afterward the pasha OF Trebizond de-
manded the offenders, but they could not
be found. The pasha had already begun
to communicate with the sultan by tele-
graph. and, calling to the commanders OF
the soldiers, ordered them to be ready at
5 o'clock. When the mails had arrived
and the people went toward the post, both
the soldiers and the mob rushed upon
them. Men and women were murder
ed. and the groans of the dying
could be heard everywhere. It is the most
awful OF all the massacres.
News from Diabekir report unutterable
suffering among those well-to-do a short
time ago. The same information comes
from Guerin. where not an Armenian
house has been left standing, though a
large community was TO be seen only
few weeks ago.
From every part Of Armenia comes the
call to Armenians who are out of the
country, begging that money should be
sent to the survivors of their families
without delay, as they have neither food
nor fuel, and scarcely any clothing. No
men are allowed to travel from city or
x-sT1 E1k, Ir{r
the Armenians is that numbers of young
maidens were taken TO the harems Of the
Kurds and Turks
San Francisco, Dec. 31.-A member OF the
Armenian colony In this city has received
a letter from friend IN Adana, telling of
the latest massacres in the province of
Ciicia. The writer was an eyewitness OF
many of the scenes described. The letter
is dated November "A. THE present con-
dition Of our city, he says, lis one of great
danger. Wholesale massacres of Christians
are expected at any time A company OF
brigsnds. numbering from 1000 TO 1900,
has already plundered and burned all the
Armenian villages between here and Alep-
po distance of 200 miles. No estimate can
be given of the number OF young girls who
were captured in these villages and out
ragged. The local officials, who are sup
posed to protect the people, encourage these
destructive and bloodthirsty marauders.
The other day a number of these marau-
ders made an attack on MISS, nine miles
from Adana. They plundered the village,
tore down the churches, wounded great
number of persons, and mercilessly beat
the defenseless priest who attempted to
rescue his wife from the grasp of these
outrageous villains. The following-named
towns have been turned into great battle
field: Chukmerzimen, Nagarl, Sheik-
mourad, Yarsouyat, Sis, Hadjin, Cars,
Mara Aipfab and ZaitOrln The 1eSfi-
tuition. with it's accompanying miseries.
cannot be described by the pen.
Many of our prominent men are thrown
into dungeons without the pretense Of an
accusation against them. They are left
10 hunger and thirst, and are tortured in
the most indescribable manner. Our vail
(the governor) always iustigates the Mus
sulmans against the Christians. No one
dares venture out on the street after s
o'clock in the evening. Even in the day
time no female Christian dares TO attend
church. school or the hammam. because OF
the bands Of Turks who are about the
streets to capture these Christian women.
1.-THE other day the Turks made an at
tack on the American mission school girls
on their way from church to their school,
house. They beat and wounded the super
intendent's servant because he tried TO
protect the poor, terror-stricken girls. The
danger became so great that the superin-
CHndeDt sought refuge IN MerSlNe. IL
seems there is no protection from any
source whatever, even the English consul
being Indifferent to the atrocities commit
ted.
Business is all stopped, for the Chris
tian business men do not dare to open their
stores for fear Of plumber The farmers
are robbed Of their stock, and their homes
are pillaged and fired. Yuregfl (the main
agricultural region of the country is utter
ly destroyed. The horsemen who are sent
10 protect the oppressed people make COM
mon cause with the oppressors. 1t is the
season TO SOW. but there is no seed. no cat
tie and no oxen to plow, consequently there
Will be little or no crop next year. In adj
dition to all the adversitles described a
great famine is expected"
This news comes close home 10 Ameri-
cans. for near Adana IS located ST. Paurs
mission. under Superintendent Christie and
a corps OF American missionaries. These
Christian workers have had 10 fly 10 Mer-
sine and place themselves under the pro-
lection Of the American naval squadron
represented by the cruiser San Francisco
and the gunboat Marblehead.