Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-30
BUTCHER|ES SHOCK
CIVILIZED NATIONS
REV. HERBERT ADAMS GIBBONS,
EYEWITNESS TO SCENES OF
CARNAGE, GIVES FIRST AU-
THENTIC DETAILS.

Kew. HERBERT ADAMS GlpDOuSS q Aii4SSA-
airy:
1.-THE entire vilayet of Adana has been
the scene during the last five days, OF a
terrible massacre of Armenians, the worst
ever known in the history of the district
The terror has been universal and the
government is powerless to check the dis
orders. Adana, the capital OF the pro-
vince. has been the storm center
Conditions have been unsettled tor
some time and there has been animosity
between Turks and Armenians owing to
the political activity of the latter and
their open purchasing of arms.
COrpses in Parade
early last Wednesday morning, while
l was in the market, l noticed that the
Armenians. were closing their shops and
hurrying to their homes. An Armenian
and a Turk had been killed during the
night and the corpses were paraded
through their respective quarters. Inc
sight of the dead infiamed the inhab1t-
ants, and crowds at once began to gather
in the streets armed with sticks, axes
and knives. few young Armenians as
sembled in the center of the covered mar
ket and began firing revolvers into the
air. BY II o'clock in the morning the
crowd had begun the looting of shops
THE military commander of Adana was
by my side in the market when the firing
commenced. He had not the courage TO
endeavor to dispense the mob; he return
ed to his residence and did not venture
out for two days.
Found Howling Mob
William Chambers. field secretary of
the Young Mems Christian association,
proceeded to the Koenik and found
bowling mob demanding arms with which
to kill the Giaours. We then went to the
telegraph office to summon the British
consul. On the steps of the building we
saw three Armenians who had been mas
sacred. Their bodies had been mutilated.
While we were in the telegraph office
mob burst into the room where we were
and killed two Armenians before our
eyes The unfortunates were supplicating
the vail when they were struck down.
I'VE managed to make our way into the
next room, where we made representa-
lions to the vail This official said he
couAd do nothing. He was afraid for his
own life and made no attempt to protect
us. Somehow we managed to go to the
at the side of the government officials for
the next forty-eight hours.
Fought for Two Days
THAT afternoon the situation grew dis
tinctIy worse. The Armenians
withdrew to their quarter of Adana,
which is situated on a hill, and converted
their houses that held advantageous po-
sitions into fortresses. Here the fighting
went on for two days, during which the
Armenians succeeded In beating off their
Turkish assailants.
"wednesday evening Major Daughty-
Wylie the British vice consul at Mer-
sina, arrived at Adana and established
headquarters in the house of a dragoman
raffr
gees had been received. The wife of tho
British consul, who was brought into
Adana under fire on Thursday, tended
personally many wounded women and
"Adana was a hell. The bazars were
looted and set on fire. There was con-
tinuous and unceasing shooting and kiln
ing in every part of the town, and tires
ragged in many quarters.
"Moslems from the neighborhood began
pouring into the city and Notwithstanding
our vehement protests, the vail distribute
nd arms to these men, alleging they were
Turkish reserves.
Major Daughty-Wylie, at the head of
troops which he compelled the vail to
supply, went to the railroad end of the
town, and was successful in preventing
the villagers from coming into Adana.
Later, while the major was attempting
to pacify the town, he was shot and
disabled.
Missionaries Murdered.
Missionaries of the Central Turkey
mission had assembled for a district con-
ference in the center of Adana on tho
day of the outbreak. They received ana
protected hundreds of refugees in the
American seminary for girls, and cour-
ageously endeavored to pacify the warning
elements.
ION Thursday Daniel Miner ROBBERS and
Henry Haurer, American missionaries,
were killed under treacherous circum-
stances.
ION Friday the Armenians yielded, since
when there has been little numbering
"Adana is in a pitiable condition The
town has bene pillaged and wrecked and
there are thousands of homeless people
here without means of livelihood. 1t is
impossible to estimate the number OF
killed. The corpses lie scatter
ed through the streets. Friday, when I
went out, I had to pick my way between
the dead.
Many Americans Killed.
Sunday morning counted a dozen cart
loads of American bodies in one-half hour
carried to the river and thrown into the
water In the Turkish cemeteries graves
ae being dug wholesale. The condition of
the refugees is most pitiable. Not only
are there orphans and widows beyond
number, but a great many, even the ba-
bies, are suffering from severe wounds.
speakable. On Friday afternoon $50 So
called Turkish reserves, without officers,
seized train at Adana and compelled the
engineer to convey them to Tarsus, where
they took part in the destruction of the
Armenian quarter of that town, which is
the best part of Tarsus. Their work of
footing was thorough and rapid. 1t is said
that they fired the great historic Ar
menian church at Tarsus, the most i'm
portant building in the city. They de-
molished marble statues and shattered
important tablets. Everything portable
was carried away, but the church itself
resisted their attempts to burn it. For
tunately, few persons were killed there.
This was owing to the proximity of the
American college. where four thousand
destitute and homeless persons had sought
and found shelter"
<