The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-18
HORROR ON HORROR.
Letters Describing some OF the Armenian
lias.acres-Thsso Things Occur White
the Christian Powers Arc IIesitatiig.

Letters Describing Some ofthe Armenian
lIaEsaeres-The Things Occur Whtie
the Christian Powers Arc IIeaitating.
NEW YORK, Jan. 17.-The Armenian
Relief Association made public tonight
two letters which describe the horrors
of the recent mussgacres In Turkey:
cEsAREA, Nov. 80. 1S95:-Whlle the
Armcnians were ngased in their bust
ness as usual, the Turks fell upon them
killing COO defGnseless men, and wound
ing thousand more. The mob divided
Into four parts. The first piundercd the
stores: the second looted the houses;
the third secured the mnidens ana
young brides, while the fourth, AendS
in2arnate, attacked the public baths.
These human devils killed six naked
women IN the presence OF the Others,
snatching thelr babies from their arms
and bayonetting tho mothers. The
shrleks and agoniZing cries OF these
poor creatures made no impression up
on the mind OF the savage Turks who
laughed at their death 1gonles, They
then took some OF the young girls who
were with their mothers at the bath
and dragged them naked by the feet
through the streets followed by 5eer-
ing and hooting mob.
Tho Turks who attacked the houses
then killed them and fred the houses.
The cry Of the women In their distress
mingled with the hoarse shouts OF the
Turks made n sound that can never be
forgotten. The men who survived the
sword were discovered, taken TO the
magistrate apd searched; but no arms
were found In their possession, not even
q knife. When reiaSed and allowed to
return to their homes they were con-
fronted by most ghaStty pictures. Some
found their wives dead, others horribly
mutllnted; daughters had been outrag-
ed and were bleeding. Ny hands almost
fail me to write the awful particulars.
1t Is impossible to describe II. II took
three or four days 10 remove the bodies
OF the dead with forty cars. Add to this
the want, the desolatlon. Oh! Ny God,
for how long! how. long! Where are
those Christian powers who saved
African slaves? Where are those
Christians who advocated brotherly
love and mercy, sending their miss
ionarles to teach us? Are they deaf to
our piercing cry?
VAN, Nov. II, 1S95.-The ATZneHinns
have determined not to be slaughtered
like sheep, but to defend themselves ns
best they may. After the massacre In
Paghesh, five or SIX hundred Armen-
ians were gathered in an inn and the
government soldiers were called to con-
duct them to their homes, but Instead
they were taken to the court yard OF
the government buildings and fOw OF
them only were set at liberty after sign.
Ing by coercion the statement that
Turks are not guilty, as the Armenians
made the first attack.
The Turks gave similar reasons for
massacrcing the Armenians in the sur
rounding country.
Near Harpoot seven villages were
compelled to accept Mahanmedanism
and also near Van. The entire populn-
tIon OF the two villages were forced to
change their religion. Eight villages
near Van have been entirely depopula-
ted, most OF the inhabitants were kill
ed, and those who survived escaped to
the snow covered mountains where
they now wander with their children
naked and starving. The men who were
forced TO accept Mohammedanism have
been compelled to take their own SIS
ters-in-law whose husbands have been
killed, 70 wife. a practice most horrible
to the Christians who hate polygamy,
They are also compelled to plumber
and I'LL their Armenian brethren TO
bnoW lnut AusAE SSHNCLsAOH " NtSH9nt
mechanism Is genuine. The young maid
ems OF these villages are carried into
the Pnsha's haren. The Kurds have at
tackled the same villages over and over
to make their work OF destruction CONF
plete. The country has been reduced
to such absolute poverty that there iS
now no money in the treasury. Tho
ArmenIanS are unable to pay taxes as
they have no stores. no harvest fields.
"This Is the prophecy OF n still worse
fate in store for u.s. for the reason that
the government will inslst on money
being raised and as we cannot pay we
Will be considered as rcbellious and
rnnssncra Will follow"