The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-04-26

render.
Hundreds OF Armenians are trying
to reach our compounds from many
parts Of the city. but are falling In
the attempt, and the light of the fires
that the Turks are making in Armen-
ian quarters render escape impossible.
and those who flee from smoke and
flame fall victims to the sword or the
axe. News came today that scores
Of women and children huddled In one
house were butchered with knives and
hatchets, after the men had been TAX
en- out and shot. They surrendered on
the promise Of protection, but were
cruelty betrayed. Today In one of our
orphanages woman was killed while
standing in the doorway. and others
were shot and wounded in the College
compound,
Jan. 26.
We are still in the throes OF most
terrible way, that involves not only
the armed forces OF the opposing
armies. but also the unfortunate Ar
menians who are the victims of the
most he.lish cruelty imaginable. The
crescent moon, the cold-blooded sym
Dol of Moslem fanatlcism. Is rising TO.
might on city in whose streets to-
day have been enacted tragedies that
ought TO stagger humanity and send
shudder of protest to the throne OF
God.
have read much, and heard more,
of the atrocities the Armenians have
suffered in the past, bur ! never ex-
pected to witness first. hand the bar
barities that are disgrace to ciyiliz-
alton and a stain on the escutcheons
of the Great Powers that can permit
such a government to exist. And yet
what have seen and heard during the
last few days is but a small part OF
the horrors that are registered for.
ever upon the brains of those who es-
capped bleeding and wounded 10 tel!
their tale upon the operation table In
the hospital. or to bable in an inco'
herent way from their sick beds OF
the Inferno from which they have e.i'
capped. Some OF the most revolving
stories heard have been told US today
by those who have come limping into
our compounds from different parts
OF the city Little girls. 8 and 10
years old, and wrinksed women OF 10
years, we're agcnizing with palm from
dum-dum bullet wounds, which TO e
great pieces of flesh from arms and
legs, while soldiesr have had to have
limbs amputated or to pay the su-
preme sacrifice. Children have been
brought to the hospital with their
brains oozlng from Jagged holes in
the head and elderly people while ST.
ting in their homes have received
shots which have shattered both mind
and body
Jan. 27th
This morning one Of the native help
ers OF the A. G. r. N. T. came 10
tell us of his escape, He had been
waiting fro seye a, days for a favor
able opportunity to flee. 1t came
about 3 O'Clock this morning. He
tells us that the Turks are killing hun
dres of people in the city, and tina
they are no. content with using weap-
one as shot and shell but resort to the
brutal use Of axe and the KIN 10.
At this very moment there is in our
own house young woman who tells
us that with a hundred other pc sons
in celia she prayed for s days and
nights for help, aud no help came.
Then the Turks asked them to sur.
render, promising to give them pro-
lection II they should. Being desper'
ate, they threw themselves IN the
mercy Of the enemy,
The men were told to come out OF
the house, and her own husband was
the first to leave He was shot I'M
mediately in the doorway Of their
own Turkish neighbors, who knew
and who was a Gendarme in the serv-
/ ice of the government. After the men
had been taken out there was scene
Of indiscribab'e horror, as the Turks
came in with axes and knives and be-
gan their murderous work. In The
general melee, she with ono of her
children, escaped One child was