The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-24
Review OF the Awful Work of Dew.
astation and Death.
SUFFERINGS OF CHRISTIANS
In Armenia Almost beyond Bellef-How
They were Forced TO Adopt the nollsm
Faith Tho Horrible Treatment to
Which Women were Subjected by the
Sultan's ortlsrs-work ofReiief Handle
capped-ThouIands Upon Thousands In
Starving Condition.
From a Correspondent of the Asso-
ciated Press,

be remembered that the sublime porte,
soon after the massacres In this coun-
try, sent out commissioners to investi-
gate into the recent disturbances and
take measures for quIetIng the country.
One group OF commissioners went to
Erzcroum and the other entered the
country at Sassoun and came TO sivas.
This commission from the interior did
its work very rapidly. spending only Q
few days in each OF the principal cities
on their route.
The day after their arrival they sum-
moned before them a number OF leading
men, Moslems and Christians. These
were admitted to the presence of the
commissioners separately. first the Mos
lens, afterwards the Christians. Report
says that the commissioners said 10 the
Moslems: I'VE did not expect 80 much
OF you, but now you have done II, 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 recitinH the benefits the Chris
tians had received during the reign OF
the bcneficent sultan Abdul Hamld
Khan. and the perfidlous conduct OF the
ArmenIans, who had started newspa-
pers and sent men to Washington and
Chicago to agitate and stir up the ma
tions against their government. In con-
clusIou the address said: Hereafter II
either Turks or Armenians stir up
trouble there will be no more imprison-
ments, but the death penalty will be
visited upon such Offenders"
Hood, Blood, Blood.
After the reading OF the address. Abb
dullah Pasha began to address the
Christians in n much more violent
strain. He said II the Armenians should
again begin to agitate not even thename
OF Armenia would be allowed to re-
main; they would nll be blotted out,
Drawing himself up to his full height,
and stretching out his arm like sword.
he said: What we have gained we
gained with blood, and when we give up
this morsei we will give it up with
blood, blood. blood"
So far as can learn, In the Harpoot
viInyet, the commissioners spent all
their time in Mezreh and did not even
visit the city OF Harpoot, which was
plundered and burned, although II is
only two miles from Mezreh. No Ques-
tiods were asked OF the Christians sum-
moned before them. When the COM
mlssloners 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 Moelems. Multitudes
have been forcibly converted to Islam.
! do not mean simply that they have
been Obliged to choose between becom-
ing Moslems and perishing by the
sword, but they have been bound or
held while the right OF circumcision was
performed without their consent. !
know of one case in which an aged
priest was tied 10 his own door and
circumsIZed, while In another village
Christians begged to be killed and their
Turkish ne!ghbors said to them: mo.
we want you to till the fields. We Will
mike you Moslems." and then circum-
sized the Christians OF the place by
force.
Forced Conversions.
The government has said that these
conversions were worth nothing and
that no one would be forced to change
his religion, but now government on
Gals write these new converts. while
the Turks drive them to say thy arc
Moslems. In the village OF sheikhaj,
the official said to che Christians: "I
write your names on a separate list
10 satisfy the Turks, there Is no force
about It." But one acquainted with
Turkish ways may expect to ftnd these
Christians soon enrolled as Moslem clt-
liens
The carrying on of Christian girls
and women stsll continues. In the city
Of Pau Turks carry off girls, keep
them for few days and return them
dIslronored. The sumo Is done in many
other places. In one OF the Arabkir
villages eight girls OF the place ore
Imprisoned IN Turkish hdrens. Their
friends hear their cries but they can do
nothing to help them. The destRution
OF the ArmeninnS beggars description.
Men who were wealthy In October were
begging for breud in November. VIII
lagos were plliaEcd of, every scrap OF
food and clothlaE, When Clle pluaderers
could find nothing more TO carry of,
the villagers returned and slVted the
dust to gather q few kernels OF wheat
or barley. Doors and Windows were
carried on. In many cases the tlmbers
OF the houses were pulled oWt and car
rled of. Jars were broken, Every
thing OF value which could not be car
riCd away was broken. Windows. cup
bolrds. boxes were smashed. Tho
utmost pains were taken 10 leave be-
hind nothing OF value 10 tho owners.
And all this was done at Cime when
Winter was close at hand as TO make
1t reasonably sure that cold and hunger
would destroy those whom the sword
had spared Wherever you SO. you
meat wan. pinched faces and people
clad In scanty garments. And you know
shat multItiFlcs spend long. cold nights
hnddled together with nothing TO lie
down upon and nothing to cover them.
or course disease sets IN and carries
them on.
The Destination.
1t is estimated that there are be.
tween 5000 and 100000 people in ex-
sreme dest!tutIen, Europe and America
arc touched with compassion and funds
are being gathered for the relief OF the
sufferers In every town and city. II is
FAR otherwise with the Turk. He views
his work with coSnpllcency and does
not Hike 10 see Il lnterfcrei with. The
government has given q little MD occl-
slOnally In many cases the allow
nnce Is One-sixth as much az Is given
TO Turklgh Ecnd'ITmr or soldier.
{ have seen the bread given IN seveTni
places. II resembles the lnsced cake
used In Europe and America for feeding
cattle. EvCn this allowance Is seldom
cOntinucd for any length OF time A
large share Of teto governments mp
propriniiOns for the relief OF tho desti-
tute E0es Into the pockets OF officials
Moreover tho Turks are hostile to re-
lief work and oppose 81 In various ways
In the city OF PRlu thc Turlts snid to
the Christians: "if our bGnefclent sui.