The writer became acquainted with many noble Armenians here during his
three years in the Theological Seminary, and almost all his friends
were killed. Among them were the Rev. Sdepan Jirnazian, a noble
Christian minister,--when I was a little boy he was my pastor in the
suburbs of Antioch;--Bedros Iskiyan, an American citizen, butchered
before his wife and children; Garabed Popalian, another noble man, and
the richest among the Armenian Evangelical people; Dr. Kevork Gulizian;
Khacher Bayramian and his family; Garabed Salibian, in whose house
I used to take my meals. A private letter says that about half the
Armenians were killed by the Turks. Marash had about 35,000 population;
about 15,000 were Armenians, of whom about 7,000 were killed. It has
four Evangelical Armenian churches there, a theological seminary,
and a ladies' college. The local governor led the regular soldiers
to plunder and kill the people.
Letter from Marash.
London, Nov. 28, 1895.--The correspondent of the United Press in
Constantinople telegraphs, under date of November 27, that a second
terrible massacre has occurred in Marash, and that the houses there
have been pillaged without regard to who their occupants might
be. It is reported that thousands of persons were killed and many
hundred wounded. The American Theological Seminary was plundered
and burned, and two of the students in that institution were shot,
one being fatally wounded. The hotels and boarding houses also
were plundered. The Christians at Marash, and in that vicinity,
thousands of whom are destitute, have appealed for aid.
The following letter, under date of November 25, has been
received here:
"I will report the events of the 18th in this city. At 7 a. m.,
almost simultaneously the firing of Martini rifles was heard all
over the city, with conflagrations in three Christian quarters.
"We understood the meaning of it. Soldiers began firing against two
Christian houses, and their inmates fled into missionary houses,
and soon the soldiers were looting their buildings, followed by
a mob, who smashed doors and windows, and carried away property.
"Towards noon a squad of soldiers approached the missionary
grounds, and it was thought that a guard had been sent in behalf
of the missionaries. They entered the grounds of the seminary
and academy boarding department. Two seminary students, who had
concealed themselves in a cave, were discovered, and one of them
fatally shot, while the other was badly wounded.
"The soldiers looted the missionary academy boarding department
of all the students' clothing and bedding, and a part of the
year's provisions in store. Other soldiers joined and looted
the seminary. They repeatedly went to an Armenian house near by,
but did not force it.
"Three-quarters of that terrible day the missionaries were left
to any chance fate that might befall them. They had been informed
by a Moslem of a purpose to burn the Girls' College that day, and
a note had been sent to the local governor asking for a special
guard. He replied that the barracks near by were charged to care
for them. It was soldiers in relays from that very place that
were wrecking everything.
"In the afternoon four or five soldiers entered the seminary, and
soon after, fire broke out in the rear. As the flames wrapped the
building, a trustworthy captain with thirty soldiers appeared at
the gate, and the missionaries were assured of safety. The soldiers
still continue with the missionaries. We cannot estimate the loss
of life. Leaders of society have been struck down everywhere,
two missionary academy teachers among them."