The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-02
SLAUGHTER IN BAKU RIOTS,
BUTCHERT THERE PLANNED, As
At KISHINEFF.
Caucasian Newspaper Says mat 1000
We're Killed ~ \ Result 'Of the Plot
tinG Of the Authorities ~ -. PeteTs-
burg-NO Real Race Feeling


We're Killed AZ . Result ,OT the PiOt-
tins Of the Authorities At -. Peters-
burg-NO Real Race FeeiinG.
Special Cabs DJpatoh 10 Tm Sun.
LONDON, April 1.-The true story Of the
Baku massacre as told In the Cauoaslan
newspapers is a tragedy With which the
atrocity Of Kishined alone Of recent years
may DO compared. Armenians at Baku
taking the place Of the Jews at Kishinen.
For four days in the words Of the
BdkinSkid IsUsstd, - savage baoohanaia
ragged In which the passions OF homicide
outrage arson and plumber were let loose
The paper goes on to say that during thoss
days no less than 1000 people lost their
lives as victims Of the cold blooded ma china
tons Of the st. Petersburg authorities.
The latter attributed the outbreak TO the
sudden development Of an inteTneolne
feud between the Mussulman and Armenian
inhabitants, but those acquainted with tho
relations Of the Christians and MussulmAns
there know this to be false. The truth 10
boldly asserted by the BdkinsLid Isvssiid,
which Il must be remembered, like all Rus-
sian papers, IL published under the super
vision OF the censor.
The Isuestia says that II hss not the slight
est doubt that the massacre was organized
by the same blood guilty persons who
planned the hatchery at Klshinef. II pro-
ceeds TO describe how after the first out
break At st Petersburg rumors were cir
culated by mysterious agents among the
Muewilmans throughout the Caucasus, es-
pecially at Baku, 70 the effect that the
Armenians were nrming themselves with
81. 10 IL
mans. Similar fears we're spread among
the Armenians about the NussulmAns.
and thus a nervous suspicion was en-
gendered
On February 10 a prominent hussulman
was shot dead near an Armenian church.
Il is significant that II has been impossible
to discover who Cred the shot which was the
commencement Of four dAys Of indescrtb-
able horror Tatars armed 10 the teeth
careered through the city firing at every
unArmed Armenian they could eco. Houses
we're burned. and women and children per-
ished In the flames or were cut 10 pioces
while attempting 10 escape. One Armen-
ian killed sixty Tartars while defending
bis life and the live OF his family. his
no use was burned and be and his wife
and children died in the flames.
While such soenss were being enacted
all over the city. Cossaok piokets stationed In
the street did not raise a hand TO prevent
them and looked on while the victims
rolled over dead within fifty PAGES OF where
they were standing
Nothing could show more clearly how this
bloody work was instigated than the dTa-
matte manner 10 which II was ended. On
the very first day Of the massacre Armenian
and Mussulman notables alike petitione d
the Governor 10 allow them TO have Joint
procession through the town. kilograms
arrived from all the towns in the Caucasus
In which Tatar and Armenian notables
and priests jointly urged the representa-
tives Of both nations TO put a stop TO the
fratricidal slaughter, but the Government
prevented their efforts until the Sheik-ul-
Is am, the religious head Of all the Moham-
medans in Russia. came from Tifls, gath
cred the priests and notablea together and
then proceeded without protection 70 q
spot where the most blood had been shed
Here the Sheil1h addressed the multituds !
in stirring words Fellow Mohammsdans, !
he cried, the blood freezes in my veins |
when / think Of the punishment awaiting |
you at the judgment seat Of God. You |
have shed the innocent blood Of your own |
brothers, the AmeniRns. Perhdious and |
Rbominable accusations instigated you 10 |
lift your hands against your brother Armen- ]
ians who were In no way guilty. recog- |
nize that II Is our enemies who have TIL |
umphed, who have at last succeeded In |
destroying the brotherly relations that have |
so long existed between the two peoples. !
But we must not allow them the full meas |
ure Of triumph. Stretch forth brotherly |
hands, repent 81 your crimes and with !
the Amenians console and assist the or |
phans Convinced that the horrors which |
have happened here between you will last |
for centuries, come and live together 10 |
and God viii bless you.'
The last words Of the Sheikh Islam we're /
drowned by the sobs Of the crowd, and the |
TsrtArs threw down their firearms and /
went over 70 the Armenians in tears. There |
followed a significant incident. me
mortal service for the victims was held In
the courtyard Of the Armenian Cathedral
at Tiais, and for the first time in history
were seen the Mutt (oficial e1pomder Of
law and the Sheikh Islam
with their mollahs and thousands Of Mo-
hammedans participating in a Christian
service.
There we're 5000 persons present. On
the balcony stood tho venerable Catholi-
kos OF the Armenians, between the Mufu
and tho Shcikh Islam The Mutt spoke
Of their common enemy who had brought
on this madness The Sheikh also re-
ferred TO that willy spirit that inspired
the Balru Mohammedans TO perpetrRte shame
full murdor.- He uttered his curse upon
them. He appealed TO the people to swear
that they wouldn't listen to the DEVIL
whereupon the ATmeniRns, Mohammedans
and Georgians, 5000 Of them, exclaimed
with one voice: we swear not to listen
10 the devil The Armenian Bishops then
made speeches In the Mohammedan mosques,
but did not allude 20 the devil tho spirit
Of darkness, which IL we'll undorstood 70
be a pseudonym for the Russian Gov