Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-26
A HEAP OF RUINS
EtarsnHTT
Alone Remains of the Beautiful
City Of Krushovo.
Women and Children Homeless and
Without Food or Clothing.
The Unspeakable Turk Will Have Much
to Answer for.

Monastir, European Turkey, Mon
day, Aug. 2i.-The once beautiful city
of Krushovo is a heap of ruins. The
women and children are homeless and
exposed to the weather and famine.
The town is rendered uninhabitabIe by
the odor of corpses which are being
eaten by dogs and pigs, the Turkish
authorities refusing to allow them to
be removed under the pretext that an
inquest will be held
krushovo is situated on the summit
of hill, eight hours drive and to the
northWard of Monastir. 1t contains
1000 houses and 10000 inhabitants.
mostly Vlachs calling themselves
Greeks. There We're only 100 Bulgarian
houses. The Turkish inhabitants OF
the surrounding villages have long en-
We'd the prosperity of Krushovo.
The Macedonia committee in concert
with Bulgarian bands, has been COM
pleting arrangements during several
months with a view to occupying the
town. In Jnly last, the authorities of
Krushovo, observing the threatening
movement, begged the vail of Monastir
to send re-enforcements, as the garri-
cope with an insurgent attack. These
warnings were ignored.
On August 2, the day fixed for the
Bulgarian attack on Kruschovo. while
four marriages were being celebrated
in the Greek church, a number of Ko-
mitajas, by arrangement, remained
hidden in the church and were locked
in by the sacrestarian on the conclu-
sion of the ceremonies. At 1 o'clock at
night they sounded an alarm, ringing
the church bells. simultaneously a
band of 800 insurgents, headed by Pc
troff, entered the town. discharging
their rifles. The terrified inhabitants
remained indoors. The band first burned
the residence of the mudir and massa-
cred the garrison of Turkish soldiers
and the officials of the town, but they
spared the Turks.
On the following morning, the Ko-
mitajis established a provincial gov
crnment and instituted a new policy
and municipality. They killed 10 Chris
tians who they believed had betrayed
the plans of the committee. The nota-
bles of the town We're compelled to con-
tribute $4,000 to the revolutionary
fund.
The Turks, informed of the capture
of the town, sent from Perleps three
squadrons Of cavalry, which We're at
tackled en- route, and compelled to re-
tire with a loss of 100 killed.
On August IS, the Turks concentrated
seven battalions and one battery on Krus-
chovo. They made one offer to the Ko-
miteajas to allow the women and chill
dren to leave the town. This proposal was
declined and the bombardment began
The I<omitajas quickly abandoned the
town and escaped to the neighborng for
ests where pursuit was impossible.
The Turks entered the town, and guild
ed by Turkish villages from the neighbour
hood. attacked the houses of the Greek
notables and ordered the inmates to be
searched and stripped They seized the
money and jawels and ravished the wo-
men. those who resisted being Immediate
ly killed. A Greek priest who sought to
protect his daughter was killed The
girls ear rings were torn out and her
hand was chopped off to secure a brace
let
When the houses had been pilIaged the
Turkish peasants loaded their horses with
whatever the soldiers left and the resi-
dences were burned. The sack of Krus-
chovo lasted three days, during which
time the women and children remained
without food and shelter and at the mercy
of the soldiers and the Bashi- Bazouks.
Continued on page 81