The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1896-04-29
BROKE HIS PROMISES.
The Porte Is Finally brought to His
- Senses.
WALL OF ALBPPo's FAILURE
10 Induce Rev. Knapp to Sign an Agree
ment Not to Return to Bitlis.
United States Cruiser Shakes
the Porte's Resolution.

CoHsTANTINoPLE, April 2T.--Rev. q.
p. Knapp, the American missionary who
has been expelled from Bitlis by the
Turkish authorities without trial ON the
charge of having melted Armenians to
rebel against murkish rule, has been
surrendered to the United States consul
at Alexandretta. Details of the affair
which have reached here show that the
step was not taken until IL United States
warship had been telegraphed for.
1t is now stated that the missionary
has been II prisoner throughout his Jour-
ney to tho coast, and that the vail of
Aleppo detained him at that place for
five days while making futile efforts to
force him to sign an agreement not to
return to Bitlis under any circumstances,
Mr.. Knapp steadily refused to sign any
such agreement, on the ground that lie
had committed no crime, and had i'll no
way broken the laws of the country,
and that the charges brought against
him were entirely unfounded. He also
distinctly gave the vail to understand
that he intended to protest to the Unit
ed States against his expulsion from
Bitlis and his treatment i'll general, and
to hold the Turkish authorities response
BILE for the safety of his family. When
the vail saw that it was useless to con-
tinue his attempts to get Mr.. Knapp to
to sign the agreement mentioned, the
missionary was allowed to proceed, still
treated as n prisoner, to AleXnndretta
1t had been agreed between Mr.. John
w. Riddle, tho United States charge
d'affuircs at Constantinople, and the
Turkish government that the American
missionary upon arrival ut AleXandrctta
was to be delivered to the United States
consul there, and tho latter was to see
that Mr.. Knapp came OH to this city for
trial before the representative of the
Q,,t In 111ic
nry reached AleXnnQrctta, on April 23,
i'll spite of the portc's promises, the
Turkish authorities refused to deliver
the prisoner TO the United States consul.
The latter entered formal protest
against the detention of the missionary,
and communicated by wire with Mr..
Riddle, informing him that the Turkish
officials intended to eXpcl Mr.. Knapp
from Turkish territory by compelling
him to embark OH board a steamer sail
ing for Europe OH April "a.
ThcrcupOn Mr.. Riddle made energetic
representations to the Turkish govern
ment, demanding that the latter respect
it's engagements, and i'll order to give
emphasis to his remarks the charge
d'ntfnircs tclegraphcd to Mcrsina, where
the United States cruiser Mrblchead
was ut anchor, asking the commander of
the vessel to proceed to AleXnndretta
aud place the cruiser ut the disposal of
the United States consul at that port.
This prompt action upon the part of
Mr.. Riddle had Il decided effect upon
the porte, for the lattcr 10 sooner be-
came aware that tho Marblchcad had
been telegraphcd for than orders We're
sent to AlcXundrcttn fOr the release of
Mr.. Knapp.
Tho American missionary is now FREQ
and will probably, by the advice of tho
United States representatives, como to
this city and offer to have his conduct
ut Bitlis thoroughly investigated before