The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-26
Once Beautiful Village Northwest MOnastir ObIiterated by the
 Turkish Troops
DEBATING CORPSES ARE
 GNAWED BY DOGS AND PIGS
Defenseless Inhabitants Endure All the Horrors of a Sack--JeWels Are
 Seized, Men and Children Killed, Women Ravished. W x

Monastir, European Turkey, August 25. The once beautiful city of Kruschevo is a heap of ruins. The women and children are homeless. exposed to weather and famine. The town Is rendered uninhabit- able by the odor of corpses which are being gnawed by dogs and pigs. The Turkish authorities are refusing to allow them to be removed under the protest that an inquest will be held
 Kruschevo is situated on the summit of a hill, eight hours distant and to the northwest of Monastir. It contained 1000 inhabitants, mostly Vlachs, calling them selves Greeks. There were one hundred poor Bulgarian houses. The Vlachs are prosperous merchants who travel abroad on business, leaving their families in Kruschevo. After making fortunes abroad by their diligence and economy they re- turn to spend their wealth in Kruschevo, where they own fine houses, furniture and jewels. The Turkish inhabitants of the surrounding villages have long envied the prosperity of Kruschevo. 4
 Authorities Ask for Aid.
 The Macedonian committee in concert with Bulgarian bands was completing ar- arrangements during several months with a view to occupying the town. In July last the authorities of Kruschevqs observ- ing the threatening movement, begged the wall of Monastlr to send endorsements. as the garrison of thirty soldiers was in- sufficient to cope with an insurgent att tack These warnings were ignored. On August g. the day fixed for the Bull garian attack on Kruschevo, while four marriages were being celebrated in the Greek church, a number of Komitajis. by pre-arrangement, remained hidden in the church and were locked in by the saeris- tan on the conclusion of the ceremonies. At 10 o'clock at night they sounded an alarm by ringing the church bellsa si- mutaneously band of three hundred in- surgents headed by Petroff, entered the town, discharging their rifles.
 komltaJis Seized the Town.
 The terrified inhabitants remained in doors. The band first burned the residence of the minister and massacred the garri- son of Turkish soldiers and the officials of the town, but the invaders spared the Turkish harems On the following morn ing the Komitajs established provis- lonal government and instituted a new policy and municipality. They killed ten Christians who they believed had be- trayed their plans of the commission. The notables of the town were compelled to contribute $l0,0O0 to the revolutionary fund. The Bulgarian villagers in tho neighborhood. hearing that Kruschevo was in the hands of the insurgents. en- tered the town and demanded ammuni- tion, which, however, was unobtainable-
 The provisional government constructed a rampant enclosing the town and the Inc habitants were ordered to melt down their spoons to make bullets. The Turks in- formed of the capture of the town, sent from the Perlcp three squadrons of cav airy which were attacked en route and compelled to retire with a loss of 100 killed.
 Turks Storm kruschevo.
 On August IS the Turkish concentrated seven battalions and one battery on Kruschevo. They made an offer to the Komitajis to allow the women and chil- dren to leave the town. This proposal was declined and the bombardment be- gan. The Komtajis quietly abandoned the town and escaped to the neghboring forest, where capture was impossible. The Turkish entered the town and guided by Turkish villagers from the neighborhood, attacked the houses of the Green notables and ordered the inmates to be searched and stripped. They seized the money and jewels and ravished the women, those who resisted being killed. A Greek priest who sought to protect his daughter was killed. The girls ear rings were torn out and her hand chopped off 10 secure d bracelet. When the house had been pill aged the Turkish peasants loaded their horses with whatever the soldiers left and the residences were burned The sack of Kruschevo lasted three days, dur;ng which time the women and children re- mained without food and shelter and at the mercy of the soldiers and the Bashi BaZouks