New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-27
A TURKISH OFFICIALS STATEMENT.
lie ESTIMATES THE MURDERS IN HARpoOT AT
NEARLY 4OOoo-NO FAULT OF TIE
ARMENIANS

Boston Feb pa Turkish official. whose heart
has been greatly moved by the recent outrsges In
the province OF IIarpooi. has prepared statement
and forwarded IL to Boston Coming as II does from
Mahomc;an who has a Tile and is In the public
service. 1t is document of no small interest and
importance for 1t Is testimony Independent OF
other testimony which has been given, bat
which on every essential point confirms what
has been previously related The translation OF the
Turkish statement accompanying the table OF sta
tistics IS In part as follows:
a petition In behalf Of the Armenians was given
TO the Powers In the hope OF improving Their cond-
ton An imperial hrman was issued for carrying
on this account the Turkish population was much
excited and thought that an Armenian principality
10 be established and they hcSan 70 sho" sr'a'
hostility the poor Armcnlans who had been obedi-
ent to them ana with whom they had lived In peace
for than 900 years. To the anger OF tle proPIe
were added the permission and help OF IN" Govern
ment. and So before the reforms were undertaken.
eyiI intent of celebrating the Armenian name: and
the Turks Of the province. joining with the neigh
weapons which are allowed only 10 the army. ana
with the help and under the guidance OF turkish
officials. I'm an open manner IN the aay'.n, az
tackled the Armenian houses shops. store;
monaseres churcncs schools. ana 'o ,hn s ,Ti
companying table They killed bishops. priests.
teachers and common people with every KIND OF
torture, and they showed special spite toward &C.
clesiastlcs 10y treating their bodies with extra IN
dignity. and in many cases they ga not allow lhrir
bodies to be buried. Some they burned ana some
they gave food 10 dogs and Mid beasts
They Numbered churches ana inO1ast'rlcS anu
they took all the property OF the common people.
their focks and herds. their ornaments ana tnri,
money. their house furnishings ana their food ana
even the clothing OF the men ana women IN thelr
flight Then. after plundering them they burned
many houses. churches. monasteries, Schools ana
had brought with them to hasten me burning, anu
the large stone churches which they could not Dufh
they ruined in other ways. . ,,
Priests laymcn women and even small children
bans on the and circumcised them IN cruei
manncs They cut the hair OF the women IN
bangs, like that OF Moslem women ana maze in'"i
go through the Mahometan prayers. Marie !
women and girls were deled against the sacred Ii"'
and soire married by force. and are sun i'-
tanned in Turkish houses. Especially IN PaIu.
Sevorek. Maata. Arabkr and thoou"oosh man!
and girls were taken TO the soldiers bar
racks and dishOnored. Many. to escape such MS
honor. threw themselves into the Euphrates anu
some committed suicide In other ways. ,,,,., -.
IIarpoot Sevcrek Husenik. Ma,atia and Arabkr
were killed by the eod.ers and also that the schools
and churches OF the missionaries and GreTorianS
IN the upper quarter Of Iarpoot city together with
the houses fire by cannon balls.
At present merchants. bankers and others OF the
principal Armenlans are obliged to beg their brei !.
If immediate aid is not sent. multitudes or the
sufferers Will perish OF hunger and cold during the
provide for the comfort and security OF the people,
and unless special protection Is provided the sur
vivors viii perish like the rest.
II H. impossible to state the amount of the pc
cuniary loss. The single city OF Egin has gwen
200 (some say 1900 Turkish pounds as ransom
These events have occurred for the reasons !
have mentioned. wish to show by this statement,
which ! have written from love TO humanity. thar
The Turk whose document Is thus translated fig
ures that the total deaths in the Province Of Har-
poot have been 1884; the wounded. 500; houses