Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-09-11
Story Told by a Man
Who Has Been in
Macedonia.
CORPSES NOT SPARED
Foreign Consu1s are
Penned In Their
Homes.

Sofia, Bulgaria. Sept. IA Eu-
ropean merchant who left AIOnastir
Sept. 9 has arrived at SOfia and has
given the Associated Press correspond
ent an account of the terrible condi-
tiOns prevailing in the vilayet of Mon
aStir. He says that Hilnii Tasha'S ad-
ministratiOn has greatly disappointed
the Christians, who expected that he
would make an Improvement in the
situation Hilmi Pasha, however. is
following the lines of his predecessors,
and the greatest eXceSSes that haVe
ever been committed have happened
since his arrival. Throughout the
vilayet of MOnaStir the Turkish sol
diers are daily perpetrating almost in
conceivable atrocities. They dishonor
the young girls in the presence of their
parents and pillaGe and murder every
where
They Even Rob the COrpsss.
Even funeral professions are halted
and the corpSes stripped of the new
clothes in which they are dressed. ac-
cording to the Macedonian burial Gus
tom. The priests veStments are seized
and the soldiers sell all their plunder
openly. the officers apparently consent
ing. The informant Of the Associated
Press says the Christian inhabitants
are terror-Stricken, hourly fearing
general massacre by the MusSulmans.
whose fanatical hatred of the Chris
tians has reached the highest point.
The shops are closed in MOnastir. busi-
ness is suspended and the streets are
deserted.
COnsu1s Dare Not Leave Home.
Even the cOnsulS do not dare to
venture outside their homes The
country people are afraid to come to
the city. lest they should he robbed
and murdered on the way. Europeans
desiring to see the burned villages are
prevented by the authorities on various
excuses. The British consul wanted to
go TO Smilevo, but Hilmi Pasha in
formed him that he could not guar
antee his safety as the revOlutionaries
had plotted to kill him.
Starvation in Front of 10000 People.
The informant continues that it is
estimated that there are over 10000
people in the fields without shelter and
starving Hilmi Pasha has promised
the cOnSulS that he will assist thedesti-
tute people. but he has done nothing,
even refusing TO allow them to enter
the town and beg for goods.
CrueIties Charged to Christians.
Many cruelties perpetrated by Chris
tians are attributed to Greek spies
headed by a Greek bishop. who with
the Greek cOnSulS, it is said. are paid
by the porte for their services. The
Greeks are accused of inventing re-
ports for the purpose of tanning the
Mussulman hatred of the Bulgarians.
Tie Turkish functiOnarieS openly scoff
at Tie idea of reforms or European
Intervention. declaring that should
armed European forces come the
Turks would Immediately burn, de-
stroy and massacre. leaving only bare
fields throughout Macedonia.
Leishman Secured His Release.
Washington. Sept. II. Minister
Leishman has cabled the state depart
ment that he has secured the release
of Abdul Kader Mathaney, natural
lied citizen of the United States. who
was jailed by the Turks for an offense
for which he had already been pun
ished.
Recapture a Town.
Constantinople Sept. 11.-An official
us patch announces the imperial
troops recaptured NasiIike, on the
Black sea, Sunday, after the insurgent
force occupying the place was attack
ed by 1000 Turkish troops with two
\ fresh engagement occur
red at Klisura, Albania. the 9th. 4
strong band of insurgents attacked
the Turks who were occupying the
town. Reinforcements were speedily
sent and the insurgents were repulsed
after sharp fight. Both sides lost
heavily.
Consular reports from Salonica say
300 insurgents at Zelenitz, district of
Kastoria. who surrendered after be-
ing surrounded, were massacred by
Turkish troops.
Paris, Sept. 1.-THE commander of
the French Mediterranean squadron
at Toulon has received orders to hold
in readiness to leave for the Levant
with the naval division consisting of a
and three cruisers under
command of Admiral Jaureguiberry.
All the news all the time - Tn,
Argus. - a6FsAA