People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1895 — TEACHERS KILLED. [ARTICLE]

TEACHERS KILLED.

startling news received FROM TURKEY. Christian Missionaries in Trebizond and Erzeroum Fall Victims of Moslem Fanatictom—Washington Not Yet Offlclally Informed. Berlin, Nov. 14. —A dispatch to the Cologne Gazette from Constantinople says that all the Armenian Christian teachers in the Trebizond and Erzeroum districts have been killed. London, Nov. 14. —A dispatch to the Standard from Constantinople says that every day brings news of fresh massacres. It is quite clear if the powers waste additional time in negotiations the need for these negotiations will be past. The Standard’s Constantinople correspondent also says that recent details received from Erzeroum indicate that the massacre there was worse than at ’lrst reported. The outrages were evidently organized and planned days beforehand, and the pillage was on a colossal scale. The Armenians who escaped were literally left naked. Lord Salisbury’s speech last Saturday at the lord mayor’s dinner has thrown the sultan and members of the court into a state of panic. Abdul Hamid entertains the greatest fears of a declaration by the powers extending their Jurisdiction over a portion of the Turkish empire or the calling of a general European conference. It is generally agreed, however, that that end is not far distant.

No neWs at Washington. Minister Terrell and Our Consuls Give No Information of Massacres. . Washington, Nov. 14.—Disquieting rumors regarding the security of the Christian teachers in Turkey between Trebizond and Erzeroum were about the state department yesterday, but the officials refused to allay the popular apprehension. There is ground for the belief that the department had heard from Minister Terrell, and that his advices, while showing that a perilous state ot affairs confronts the American missionaries and teachers in that section, do not state that actual murders have been reported to him. The navy department also has a most energetic officer as near to the scene of the rumored trouble as. a warship can get in the person of Capt. O’Neill of the Marblehead, and up to the close of office hours he had made no report of a massacre, as he would undoubtedly have done had the news, reached his ears. The nearest state department representative is United' States Consul Jewett at Sivas, but he also has been silent. Admiral Selfridge arrived at Marseilles Tuesday and relieved Admiral Kirkland of the command of the European station and hoisted his flag on the San Francisco, under orders from the secretary of the navy to proceed at once to join the Marblehead in Turkish waters. With these two vessels present it is felt that our government will have done all possible to protect the Americans in the interior of Turkey, taken in connection with a most vigorous notice from Minister Terrell that the United States will hold the porte responsible for any injury they may sustain. It is felt that these two vessels are ample to protect American residents in Turkey, even in the event of actual hostilities, and to assemble a strong naval force there now might be construed as a joint participation by the United States in the demands which are being made on the porte, whereas the government has no« intention of becoming embroiled itt any European complications.

FRENCH FLEET ARRIVES. Formidable Naval Force Now ThreatensConstantinople. Constantinople, Nov. 14.—A squadron of French warships has sailed from the Piraeus for Turkish waters, and it is stated that an Italian fleet will rendezvous with the British fleet within a few days. There has been most serious trouble at Caesarea, not far from Jerusalem; but no details of the rioting there have yet reached this city. A great panic prevails at Moosh, owing to the Kurdish movement. All those who can do so are fleeing from the city and neighborhood. Many people are reported to have been robbed and murdered while fleeing. The Kurds are said to be in arms throughout the district. Troops are, it is claimed by the authorities, being hurried to the spot. Replying to the inquiry of the United States ambassador, Mr. Alexander W. Terrell, as to the safety of the American missionaries, Commissioner Darnham has telegraphed from Harput saying that the missionaries are alive, but in extreme danger. Mr. Terrell has informed Tewfik Pasha that his government will be held responsible for the safety of the Americans. The Turkish minister for foreign affairs has assured Mr. Terrell that everything possible will be done for their protection. As Mr. Terrell has great influence with the palace authorities, it may be presumed that Tewfik Pasha will keep his word. It is now believed that the powers will not take definite action against the porte until all the naval squadrons have assembled in Turkish waters, which will be about the time that the British ambassador to Turkey, Sir Philip Currie, returns here after consulting with his government as to the future action of Great Britain. In the meanwhile the state of suspense is decidedly wearing, and the ambassadors themselves will be greatly relieved when the hour for action upon the part of Europe arrives. Nobody doubts that this time is coming; it now seems to be only a question of days.