The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1910-07-20
Gives Proof That the Order for
the Massacre Of Christians and
of Orphaned Little Children
Came from Abdul Hamid Him.
sell.

I will now tell of the prof | have
in my possession that the order for
one of the greatest massacres in the
worlds history came direct from Sui
tan Abdul, says Jerjes Barsoon, con-
tinuing his articles in the Cleveland
Press:
I Will ask pardon for saying some
thing of myself. While at the Royal
Military college I became member
of the Young Turk party along with
number of my friends. Later |
attended and graduated from the
Roberts college, established by Amer
leans in Constantinople. Then liber-
ally provided with money by my
father | came to New York intend
ing to perfect my education by at
tending Harvard. About the last
words | heard my father say (and he
still lives in Constantinople) We're:
My son, you are going among an in
fidel people. Do not make friends or
they will lead you from the religion
of your fathers And so--came to
New York a devout Mohammedan.
But one day | became involved in
a religious discussion with an Epis-
copalian bishop, and he made the re-
mark that l was too ignorant of
Christianity to discuss it. Then | felt
myself badly Stung, as YOU Ameri-
cans slang it, and | said I would
study the teachings of the NaZarene
Christ to the bottom. The result was
that | became a Christian, and l am
ready to die for my adopted faith.
The result was also that my father,
when he learned of it, wrote me that
l must renOunce Christianity or be
forever banished from his house. I
refused and when later | went to
Constantinople | was ordered from
his sight, although my good mother
fell at his feet and pleaded for me.
one of my friends who had been
with me in New York was one of
those who joined in the Young Turk
movement while we were students at
the Royal Military college, and when
it became apparent that there would
be exciting times in Turkey, he re-
turned there. AS an emssary for
the Young Turks he was sent to
Adana at the beginning of the massa-
ere there and from Adana he wrote
me several letters. | cannot describe
to you the horrors that he wrote me
about. of the thousand of Christians
young and, women and children
ruthlessly slaughtered in the streets
Of that city.
ON one of the days when tho
slaughter was at its height, a group
n h, re-, ,h -
them, whose parents had been killed,
came running down the street toward
the palace. At the gates of the pail
ace they We're met by the governor
in his official robes. To what fol-
lowed my friend was an eye witness.
"What would you have?" the gov
ernOr asked them.
For moment the children were
ovelawed then one, bolder than the
rest of them, spoke up: "Our par
ents told us that if ever we were
lost we must call for Jesus. Are you
Jesus"
Then the governor knew that they
We're Christian children, and he
said: No | am not your Jesus,
You little Christian dogs, but | viii
slIs. March right over to that open
pace and YOU will soon see yom
Jesus"
In apparent confidence that the
promise would be fulfilled, the chill
drcn dia as he ordered. Then oc-
CURED one of the most horrible
things me had ever Witnessed. That
governor ordered a company of SOL
diers before HIM and said: BY his
m.5esty's command to kill all Chris
dams and spare none. ! command you
To fire upon those children until all
are dead"
| need not relate all that my
friend wrote me Of the unspeakablc
sight that followed. 1t is enough to
say that on that very night my friend
left Adana for COnstantinople armed
with such conclusive proof that the
sultan himself was responsible for the
massacres as to leave not tho slight
est loom for doubt.
THIS information was reported in
fun to Shevket Pasha. leader of the
Young Turks And my friend was
appointed one of those to go to the
sultan in his palace and place him
under arrest as a man unfit to rule
a great country whose people had
hrgUn to see tho light ard were
struggling for freedom.
Not few Americans have asked
me. "Why didn't they hang the sui
tam" and my answer is that he de-
served hanging. but that is was wiser
not to. Let him live, repent and