New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-08
BAKU TERROR STRICKEN.
INH4BIT4NTS FLEEING.
Fear General Massacre-Panic Pre-
uails-Ho1o Rioting Began.

Baku. Caucasia, Sept. THE situation here
tonight shows signs of amelio-ation. 1t
could hardly be
The terror stricken inhabitants are fleeing
from the city, knowing that the garrison is ut
terly inadequate to protect them, and, although
the worst scenes of fire and massacre have not
yet occurred in Baku itself none dare think
how far the excesses may proceed.
The entire oil and commercial quarters of the
suburbs of Balakhan, Sabunto and Nomani have
been wiped out by fire. and the inhabitants re-
naming behind were massacred and thrown into
the flames. Bibiebat continues to burn and is
threatened with the fate as Balakhan.
The consuates, banks and administration
buildings In Baku guarded by troops. All
of the English residents, and almost all other
inhabitants of the better class have boarded
ships and gone to to escape from danger.
All available steamers have been employed for
this purpose.
Martial law has been proclaimed in the city.
Nobody is allowed in the streets after o'clock
at night, and inhabitants of houses are held
strictly responsible for shots fired from them.
Artillery employed against house from
which shots fired. The walls were
preached, the house stormed and all the
people inside were killed. There is general
panic in the city.
whole army OF hungry workmen. driven in
from the burned suburbs has f1ocked into the
city. There is the greatest destitution. and
measures for transporting the workmen from
the city are imperativey necessary.
Reinforcements of troops are arriving daily,
and It IS hoped the authorities will soon have
the situation better in hand
Following is brief review, in sequence Of
the events of the last six days as witnessed at
Baku:
At about o'clock on the afternoon of Satur-
day last reports began running from mouth to
mouth that the Tartars and Armenians We're
massacreing each other. Everybody imme
dately greatly alarmed and a panic prevailed.
Stores were closed and windows and doors
barricaded. Twenty minutes later sounds of rife
firing were heard from the various quarters of
the city and everybody wished to fee,' but no
one could tell whether safety lay within or with
out the city.
At o'clock in the evening patrols of Cos
sacks and other soldiers armed with rifles be-
gan TO arrive from the barracks. and these
troops Immediately engaged the rioters The
firing between the warning factions continued
ell of Saturday night. On Sunday the situation
showed no improvement, and firing in
progress all the day the streets being de-
serted except for the combatants. At s
o'clock Sunday evening the first reflection
the sky of fire in the BLACK Town quarter
oil reservoirs We're burning.
Sunday night was more fearful than the pre-
cedng Fires broke out in several quarters
and the firing of the troops uninterrupted.
Fires also broke out in the suburbs of Baak-
han and Sabunto- Communication by telephone
between Baku and these points destroyed,
and 1t was impossible to ascertain what
burning on Monday morning.
Many of the inhabitants decided to brave the
dangers in effort to leave the city. They went
in cabs surrounded by Cossacks to the railroad
station. and the flight from the city soon be-
came general.
BY this time provisions had become scarce
and prices were soaring.
On Monday night the burning shooting kill
ing and plundering continued. and refinery
beyond Bibiebat which in flames lit up
the whole sky in that direction. A big woodward
IN Baku also caught fire, and a strong wind
famed the flames which soon spread TO Nikitin
Circus and adjacent houses.
The fires continued all of Tuesday, breaking
in several places. embracing the rail
road station and a number Of Armenian houses
in different quarters of the city
On Wednesday fugitives from Balakhan began
TO arrive here and told of the horrors they had
witnessed All the oil works there. they said.
were in the hands of Tartars. who were pillag-
men, carrying away everything Of value and
then burning the buildings Ten thousand work
men, they said. would be left in poverty. and
they believe that Balakhan will be destroyed.
At > o'clock Wednesday afternoon the
situation somewhat improved. Tartars and
Armenians running through the streets
CRYING Peace and little later a procession.
made up Of both races with clergymen at its
head vert through the town But these efforts
toward stopping the fighting were not effective,
for the firing all Wednesday night.
The soldiers however. continued their efforts
to rapress the disorders and by Thursday morn
inq affairs were more orderly everywhere.
The streets to-day are deserted. and the stores
hanks and other public places are closed. hardly
a.,,body venturing out. A pail of heavy black
-,ol,e hangs over Baku and It's suburbs. The
,.as II, these six days have not yet been ac-
,urafclv determined
II was reported this morning that the Tar;ars,
,.at,r;,bstapding their part in tho Peace" pro-
.to, are opposed 10 The establishment of
H. md that they demand substantial
-, 80 authorities in place Of permission to
continue their pillagng
pr, for the activity Of the soldiers, the blood
-, ,,trb, have been much crater. As it is
-, n,anv have been killed 1t will take nearly
year 10 repair the damages here