The Egin Massacre.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 206, 4 March 1897, Page 2

The Egin Massacre.

Details as to the origin and extent ef the massacre at Egin in September last, published in the latest files of the Westminister Gazette, show that the disturbance was quite unprovoked. The municipality ordered 100 axes from Christian artisans several days before the attack, stating that they were needed for the fire department. These were subsequently used to break open the houses. A great many Kurds gathered in the suburbs and in the vicinity of Egin, and on the morning of September 15, at about half-past seven, began to descend the sides of the mountain behind the town. The soldiers made a pretence of resisting them, firing volleys over their heads, and the Kurds feigned a retreat. At this jnnoture three shots were fired in the town, and immediately the soldiers ceased to oppose the advance of the Kurds, and joined with them in attacking the honses of the Armenians. The Armenians for three days were hunted and slain. It is said that in the evening of each day lists of fshe slain were given to the Government, and those not found in these lists were sought the following day. The Christians attempted no defence. Not a shot was fired by them, and it has been impossible to get the names of a single Mohammedan who was wounded in the attack. Every male above 12 years of age who could be found was slain. Moslems were not allowed to shelter Christians. The wife of the director of the Tobacco Regie threw her arms around her husband's scribe and en* treated that his life might be spared. But the murderers placed a rifle nnder her arm and shot the young maa. The murderer in this case was a captain of tbe troops. Many children and boys were laid on their backs and their necks cut like sheep. Tbe women and children were gathered together in the yard of the Government building and in variou places throughout the town. Turks, Kurds and soldiers went among these women, selected the fairest, find led them outside to outrage them. In the village of Pioguan fifteen women threw themselves into tbe river to escape diss honour. A decoration has been bestowed upon tbe acting Kaimakam since the massacre. Egin is hopelessly ruined*