People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1895 — FIGHT IN THE STREETS [ARTICLE]

FIGHT IN THE STREETS

SERIOUS RIOTS IN TURKEY’S CAPITAL. Armenian*, Goaded to Desperation by Turkish Cruelties. Attack Soldiers and Police—Revolt Put Down tn Shor* Order. Constantinople, Oct. 3. Five hundred arrests have been made in connection with the recent rioting of Armenians here. The government is greatly alarmed, and the garrison is kept under arms. Armenians had determined to make an attempt to presept a petition to the Sultan, through the Grand Vizier. A large body of Armenians marched with this intention on Monday toward the palace of the Porte. The authorities, in anticipation of trouble, had stationed a strong force of police about the palace, and the other public buildings were also guarded. The arrival of the Armenians at the palace was the signal for several desperate encounters between them and the police, during which several Turks and a number of Armenians were killed or wounded. A conservative estimate of the affair places the killed at ten, with forty persons severely wounded. In addition, as already cabled, about 500 arrests were made. The rioting was continued almost throughout the remainder of the day, and alarmed the government that the gar.lson was hastily' ordered under arms, and has been so ever since, night and day, the troops being rigorously confined to their barracks. The arresting of Armenians went on all day Monday and Tuesday, and was accompanied by more bloodshed, several Armenians who resisted attempts made to take them into custody being killed while fighting the police. In addition, eight Armenians were killed within the precincts of the Ministry of Police, where, besides, many persons were wounded. The Turks were greatly enraged at the outbreak and threatened vengeance upon the Armenians. As a result, during the evening of Monday a body of Softas (Mohammedan students of theology), armed with ugly-looking sticks, assembled in the public square, threatening to start out and massacre the Armenians; but the authorities hurried several detachments of police to the spot and the Mohammedan students were eventually dispersed. The authorities everything possible to belittle the affair, but there is no denying that it was a most serious disturbance, and that more trouble Is anticipated. The Turkish government, in its efforts to calm the apprehension experienced on all sides, has sent a quieting circular to the envoys of the different foreign countries here. At the palace the utmost consternation is sail] to prevail, and every precaution bsi been taken to suppress further outbreaks on the part of the dissatisfied Armenians.