Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-28

of these days Of massacre. rapine and
| incerdiarism: isN
The entire vilayet of Adana has
been visited during the past Ave days
| by a terrible massacre Of Arnenians.
the worst ever known in the history OF
the district The terror has becn uni
versal and the government is power
| less 70 check the disorders. Adana, the
capital of the province has been the
| storm center. tt
Conditions have been unsettled for
sometime past and there has been ami
mostly between Turks and Armcnians
| owing to the political activity Of the
latter and their open purchasing of
arms
EARLY last Wednesday while was
| in the market l noticed that the Ar
mcrians were closing their shops and
hnrrying to their homes. IAN Armen-
ian and a Turk had been killed during
the night and the corpses were parad-
cd through their respective quarters.
The cight Of the dead inflamed the in
lahitants and crowds began to gather
in the streets armed with sticks, axes
ana kri"es. \ few young Armenians
assembled in the center Of the COW
cred market and Began firing revolver
shots into the air Ry II A. NJ. the
crow d had begun the looting of shops.
The military commander of Adana
was by my side in the market when
the firing began. He had not the cour-
age TO cndeavor to dispense the mob:
he returned to his residence and did
not venture out for two days.
"Willi?m Chambers, field secretary
Of the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton. and myself, proceeded to the Ko-
max and found bowling mob demand
ing arms with which to kill the Gia-
ours. We then went to the telegraph
Office to summons the British consul.
On the steps of the building we saw
three dead Armenians. Their bodies
had been mutilated While we were in
the telegraph office q mob burst into
The room where we were and killed two
Armenians before our eyes. The un-
fortunates were suppfcating the pro-
lection of the Vail when they were
struck down. 'N
I'VE managed to make our way into
the next room, where we made repre-
sensations to the Vail. This official
said he could do nothing He was afraid
Of his own life, and he made no at
tempt to protect Us. Somehow we man
aged to get to the interior OF the Ko-
max, where we remained at the side
of the government officials for the next
As hours
THAT afternoon the situation grew
distinctly worse The Armenians with
drew to their quarter of Adana, which
is situated on a hill, and converted
their houses into fortresses. Here the
fighting went on for two days, the Ar
menians beating off their Turkish as
sailants. tf-F
"wednesday evening Major Daughty-
Wylie. the British vice consul ut Mer-
sind, arrived at Adana and established
headquarters in the house OF drakO-
man OF wealthy Greek resident. where
many refugees had been received. Tho
wife of the British vice consul. who
was brought into Adana under fire on
Thursday tended personally to many
wounded women and children.
"Adana was hell. The baxaars
were looted and set on fire. There was
continuous shooting and killing in
every part Of the town. and fires RACED
in many quarters. IA Il &i y
"Moslems from the neighborhood be-
gan pouring into the city, and not
withstand.ng our vehement protests,
the Vail distributed arms to these men.
alleging that they were Turkish re-
serves. f~ 1M
Major Daughty- Wylie. at the, head
Of troops which he compelled the Vail
to supply went to the railroad end Of
the town and vas successful In pre-
venting the villages from coming into
Adana. Later, while the major was
attempting to pacify the town, he was
shot and disabled. tft8 sG
Missionaries of the Central Turkey
Mission had assembled for district
CONTINUED on Page Two.) sr