The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-24
hERoInEs OF zElrouN


sonkea Turkish Shelis With Wet Ross t.
Prevent Thsir Explos;oa-
A recent meeting of Armenians in
this city YVES addressed by two Of the
city's defenders at the famous siege
at Zeisoun who were spared from death
by the sultan On condition that they
left the country.
Tho names of the patriots are Meleh
and Gejaoin. They lived in Boston
two years ago. and Gejaoin took out His
naturalization papers. When the Ar
manian atrocities broke out anew they
returned to their native mouDtsins or
Zeltoun, and with 4 band Of petrioeo
kept the Turks at siege nearly seven
months. Through the Intervention OF
the British and American ministers hos
tilities and prosecutions were stopped
on condition that Meleh and Gejaoin.
with four companions, left the spltan's
dominions.
At the head OF 5000 nounteinesH
these six leaders protected the Zeitoun-
lis from the outrages perpetrated upon
other Christians and gave shelter to
10000 refugees. Nearly 10000 Kurds
and Turkish troops laid siege to them
in vain. NJ Meleh talked to reporter
for the world through an interpreter.
IN the siege Of Zeitoun we forced our
foes to expend their ammunition upon
us while we were in safety. was told
afterw2rd by an officer in the Turkish
army that not single bullet from
Zeitoun was wasted. Three thousand
shells were fred upon Zeftoun, but only
1000 exploded. The rest we collected.
took out the powder and used the shells
to make bullets 70 fire back at the
Turks.
Our women stood ready with wet
blankets to soak the shells as they fell
30 that they would not explode. The
women Of Zeitoun are drawer than their
husbands. With clubs in their hands
they policed the streets. So faithfully
did our women help US that il our pro
visions had not given out we should have
established our own kingdom in Celicia
If we had arms and provisions in Ar
mepia we could do away with the Turk.
ish government and put something bet
ter in it's place. Before the siege we
had drawn up q constitution giving
equality to every race and religion.
The Turks in the immediate neighbor.
hood of Zeitoun voluntarily joined US
giving written statement that they
were happier and safer under the pro-
visional government of Zeitoun than
under their own.
when we learned that the massacre
had taken place In Marash and that the
soldiers were advancing upon Zcitoun
we decided to lay siege to the barracks,
which was held by coo Turkish sol.
dies. Upon their refusal to surrender
we cut of the water from the barracks,
We killed several sheep and allowed
the blood to flow into the reservoir.
We also poured in kerosene oil until
the water was unfit for use. We then
hoisted our flags, and this was the be.
ginning of the battle, which lasted 81
hours.
''In Zeitoun proper was the court
and government house, in which were
IS soldiers, whom we compelled to SUI:
render.
I'VE showed them and their w1vea
and children every consideration, but
while we were engaged In battle with
another squad of Turks they tried &c
fire the barracks and fire the whole
city. Angered at this perfidy, and ala:
at the stories of atrocities that were
consistently reaching US. the Zeitoun
women rushed into the barracks and
put the soldiers to the sword. The
Turkish soldiers were in SO much feal
Of the Zeitounlis that when the mes
were sent out by the government they
were kept in ignorance of their des
tination, lest they should revolt
Y. World.