THE RECENT RIOT.

Hastings Standard, Issue 108, 31 August 1896, Page 3

THE RECENT RIOT.

THE ARMENIAN DIFFICULTY THE CAUSE. ANOTHER GREAT SLAUGHTER OF ARMENIANS. THE POLICE APATHETIC. Constantinople, August 29. The Armenian Committee has notified the Porte and Embassies that it was intended to seize the Ottoman Bank in order to coerse the Powers to settle the Armenian difficulty. They threatened to dynamite the premises and thereby destroy the securities if molested. Porters thought to be carrying coin introduced the bombs. The rioters entered singly and unnoticed. Revolvers were fired and bombs thrown, and a panic resulted which enabled the rioters to capture the bank.

The staff fled upstairs. Sir Edgar Vincent and several directors escaped on to the roof. Two directors and 150 clerks were retained as hostages. Twenty pounds of dynamite were placed in a cellar and a man placed in charge who had everything prepared to explode it. The rioters helped the cashier to lock up £IO,OOO worth of gold but nothing was stolen. After fighting all day and losing ■half their number the rioters offered to surrender if allowed to proceed to England, otherwise they would destroy the bank by dynamite and kill the hostages. The Government accepted these terms and the rioters were escorted on board a yacht by British sailors. A band of Moslems, who were furious at the reprisals, armed with iron clubs and other weapons paraded the streets and massacred every Armenian seen. It is estimated that from 2000 to 4000 hideous scenes took place in the public thoroughfares, which resembled something akin to a battlefield. The police were apathetic, and looting was general. August 30. The rioters, who seized the Ottoman bank, accompanied by a number of foreigners, have sailed for Marsailles.