The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-13

for public information more ano more OF
the ghastiy details OF the winners hor-
rors in that wretched and, and oom-
munication, OF the date OF Feb. II, has
now come from Marsovan, Western
Turkey, bringing the only account that
has reached America concerning the mas
sscre in that vicinity:
znle is town OF t00o houses, writes
the correspondent, $50 to $50 being Ameri-
cans, Is to 20 Greek, the rest Turkish.
After the announcement of the scheme OF
reforms, when disastrous events were
reported OF other cities, 1900 Redif soldiers
were drafted, one half OF them teing
qusrtered in kahn, the other half being
stationed in and about the city, it was
hoped that Zille would be left in safety.
But threats from the Turkish population
being heard and increasing, the Arme-
mans grew fearful some desiring to
close their shops and remove their goods
to their houses were prevented by the
officers, who called the principal men Of
the Armenians, assured them there was
nothing 10 fear, and urged them to con-
tinue their business. Nov. 26, being the
time of the annual "Gaire' in lille, the
authorities sent out of the city the crowa
of Circassians, Kurds, and villagers who
had gathered, leaving the city TO its
usual inhabitants. The Armenian fear
increasing, the government sent them
document saying: "The government is
making all this expense for your protec-
tion, and for you to show fear is an in
suit to the government, for which treat
you as rebels and determine your punish
ment." Hence thus, November 2S, almost
all the Armenian shopkeepers were in
their places, and of those whose busi-
ness did not require shops, 30 or go
of the principal men were collected by
the police at casino in the market
under pretence of business about taxes.
At noon the trumpet was blown and the
Turks, soldiers and civilians together be-
gan to assault the Armenians with the
cry "Down with the Armenians; this Is
the Sultan's order, real estate to the
crown, commodities to plumber. The
captain gave orders to 40 to 80 soldiers to
open fire. They obeyed and when the
Armenians tried to run. from the market
to their houses, they encountered the
soldiers stationed in the quarters, as we'll
as the armed Turkish mob, neither OF
whom showed any quarter to the Christ
ians. OF those in the casino all but is or
20 were killed. The survivors escaping,
one by one, were wounded. Intwo hours
200 shops were looted.
The governor called to the crowd "Be
sctive; don't fail In killing, pfundering
or preying for the Sultan" The other
officers joined in killing. A major at
tended to the distribution of cartridges
as the supply was exhausted. The off,
GERS arranged to have valuable plunder
secured by their men for themselves. A
woman tried tp intercede for her hus-
band, anc was killed with him, their
young babe sharing their fate. An old
man OF 80 years was killed by the mob
aud then his skull was broken into
pieces by man equally aged. The alter
native OF life or the acceptance of Moka
Mahometanism was commonly offered.
One, a priest, barred his own heart to the
wespons about him rather than deny
Christ. lie was killed. Another said,
"I do not believe In Moko Mahometan-
ism, but i will die for the honor OF
Christ. in the name OF the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Ghost" He
was bayoneted.
In all 20 shops with 800 houses were
loot,d; 100 to 200 people killed, 80 to go
wounded. One hour before sunset the
trumpet was blown again, and the mob
began TO desist, though some could not
be called from the spoils till sunset put
an end to the activity. During the night
the dead were gathered In wagons and
carried to the trash pile outside OF the
city. Though some wounded begged to
be carried home they were killed and
carted out with the rest. Bodies were
thrown from the upper stories and
dragged by cords, tied to the feet. The
next day 100 were buried in one trench
in the Armenian cemetery, OF whom oil
but three were cut and hacked beyond all
recognition. The burial of the rest is
unknown TO this day. The Armenians
had hid in the garrets, or in the straw,