The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-29
Mu~ssuImans Fired Haphaznrd and
Dragged the Bodies of Their Vic
Tins Along the Roadways.
OBJECT or THE A~RMENIASS IN sEIZ-
ING OTTOMAN BANK.
Their Surrender to Edgar Vincent
zibar Contemplated by Britain.

LONDON, Aug. 2S.-Unconfrmed dis
patches received here say that Constanti-
nople is still in a state of anarchy, and
that the number of people massacred in
the streets during the recent riot number
thousands. The Spanish minister at the
Turkish capital reports that the Mussul-
mans killed hosts of Armenians Wednes-
day and dragged their bodies through the
streets. The Sultan's Minister of Police
has appointed a commission consisting CT
eight Christians and Mussulmans to in
quire into the rioting.
A dispatch direct from Constantinople
says: When the Armenians seized the
Ottoman Bank on Wednesday last Mr..
Edgar Vincent and some of the other di-
rectors escaped to the roof, and when the
troops arrived the latter fired haphazard
at everybody appearing at the windows.
Thus several clerks who were trying to
escape were killed. While this fighting
was proceeding hundreds of Mussulmans
armed with cudgels and led by the Sofas
gathered in groups, overran the quarter
and killed or assaulted all the Armenians
they met. The scene resembled the riots
of September, 1895. Several shops in the
Galata were plundered, and panic spread
over the whole city, especially in the Pera
quarter, where two bombs were thrown
into the midst of a group of soldiers, sew
eral of whom were wounded. The people
generally were afraid to venture into the
street, the officials of the British postof-
flee were virtually prisoners until night.
and the mail was not dispatched. The
British charge d'affaires. Mr.. Michae Her
bert. telegraphed to Tewfik Pasha, the
Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs, urg-
ing the prompt restoration OF order.
1t also appears that while the Ottoman
Bank was being attacked circulars We're
delivered at the different embassies signed
by the Armenian revolutionary committee
declaring that they intended to seize the
bank and hold 1t for two days, during
which they wanted the powers TO actively
intervene in the settlement of the Ar
menian question, and adding that IL the
authorities tried TO recapture the bank
they would blow it up with all its Sc
curities.
Mr.. Vincent went to the Ildiz Kiosk yes
terday evening to see the Sultan. and while
he was there q message was received from
the revolutionists saying that they were
willing to surrender on condition that they
were allowed to leave the country. Mr..
Vincent, accordingly. returned to the bank
and parleyed with the leaders of the Ar
menians had revolvers in their hands. and
told him they held two of the directors
and a number of employees of the bank as
hostages, and that they had seized the
bank in order to demonstrate not against
the Turks nor the bank. but against the
powers who had abandoned the Armenians.
They added that they had selected the
Ottoman Bank because it was the most
suitable place. and expressed their willing
ness TO surrender provided they were al
lowed to retain their two revolvers while
yielding up the bombs in their possession
and receiving safe conducts out of the
country. These terms We're agreed on, and
the Armenians surrendered last night. and
were conveyed on board Mr.. Vincent'S
Yacht Gulnare.