New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-26
THE SACK OF KRUSHEVO.
Town a Heap of Ruins-Cruelties of
the Turks.

Monastir. Aug 24.-The once beautiful town
Of Krushevo is a heap Of ruins. The women
and children are homeless, exposed to the
weather and famine The town is rendered I'M
inhabitabIe by the odor of cOrpses which are
being gnawed by dogs and pigs. the Turkish
authorities refusing to allow them to be re-
moved under the pretext that an inquest will
be held.
Krushevo is situated on the summit Of hill,
eight hours distant to the northwest from
Monastir. 1t contained two thousand houses
and ten thousand inhabitants, mostly Vlachs
CNaUachians), calling themselves Greeks There
were only one hundred poor Bulgarian houses.
The Vlachs were prosperous merchants who
travelled abroad on business, leaving their fam
lilies in Krushevo. After making money abroad
by their diligence and economy, they returned
to spend their savings in Krushevo. where they
owned fine houses, furniture and jewels The
Turkish inhabitants of the surrounding villages
have long envied the prosperity of the town.
The Macedonian Committee, IN concert with
Bulgarian bands, has been making arrange
ments for several months with a view to occu-
plying the town. In July last the authorities Of
Krushevo. observing the threatening movement.
begged the Vail Of Monastir to send reinforce
ments as the garrison Of thirty soldiers was
insufficient to cope with an insurgent attack
This appeal was ignored.
REBELS CONCEALED IN CHURCH.
On August 2, the day fixed for the Bulgarian
attack on Krushevo, while four marriages were
being celebrated in the Greek church. number
Of konitajis remained hidden in the church and
were locked in by the sacristan after the cere-
monies. AT 10 o'clock at night they sounded
alarm by ringing the church bells Stimuli
taneously a band of three hundred insurgents.
headed by Patroff, entered the town. discharg-
ing their rifles. The terrified inhabitants re-
NAMED indoors. The band first burned the
residence of the NIudir and massacred the gar
rison OF Turkish soldiers and the officials of
the town. but the invaders spared the Turkish
harems
On the following morning the komitajis estab-
lished a provisional government, and instituted
a police and municipality. They killed ten
Christians who they believed had betrayed the
plans of the committee. The men Of the town
were compelled to contribute $4,000 to the
revolutionary fund. The Bulgarian villagers in
the neighborhood, hearing that Krushevo was in
the hands Of the insurgents. entered the town
and demanded ammunition which however
was unobtainable. The provisional government
constructed a rampant inclosing the town, and
the inha bitants were ordered to melt down their
spoons to make bullets.
The Turks informed Of the capture of the
town, sent from Perlepe three squadrons of cav
airy, which were attacked on the road and com
PEELED to retire, with a loss OF one hundred
killed.
THE RECAPTURE OF THE TOWN.
On August Is the Turks concentrated seven
battaIions and one battery on Kruschevo. They
made an offer to the komitajis TO allow the
women and children to leave the town This
proposal was declined. and the bombardment
began The komitajis quickly abandoned the
town and escaped 10 the neighboring forest,
where pursuit was impossible.
The Turks entered the town, and, guided by
Turkish villagers from the neighborhood, at /
tackled the houses of the Vlacks. and ordered
the inmates to be searched and stripped. They /
seized the money and Jewels and ravished the
women those who resisted being Immediately /
killed. a Greek priest who sought 10 protect h 5
daughter was killed. The girls earrings were /
torn out and her hand was chopped OF TO secure
a bracelet
When the houses had been pillaged the Turk (
ish peasants loaded their horses with whatever
the soldiers had left. and the houses We're
burned. The sack Of KrUschevo lasted three
days, in which the women and children remained I
without food and shelter and al the mercy OF
the soldiers and the bashibazouks