Armenia and Her People; or, The Story of Armenia by an ArmenianFilian, George H.
History
Armenia and Her People; or, The Story of Armenia by an Armenian
Filian, George H.
Armenia; Armenian question
Meantime the Moslems liable to military service were called out
and equipped and hurried off toward Zeitoon, where it was reported
that the Christians were in rebellion. This, no doubt, was the
occasion of intense irritation, and both the soldiers and their
friends were saying, "If we must fight Christians we will begin
with those close at hand." Under these circumstances the native
Christians became very anxious, and made such preparations for
defense as circumstances permitted, at the same time keeping as
quiet as possible, and avoiding all controversy and altercations
with the Moslems. The government increased the police force in the
city, and held a considerable force of troops at the barracks near
the town, and the governor and principal men seemed to be making
much effort to quiet the people. Several considerable tumults
had occurred and been promptly suppressed without bloodshed;
so day after day dragged on, each hour increasing the hope that
we should tide over the crisis.
Saturday morning, November 16, more than three weeks after the
first riot in Marash, at about half past seven, just as we were
rising from breakfast, our people came in with white faces saying,
"The day of judgment has come in the city." We hastened to the
door, and sure enough the mob was at work; all the west and
south part of the city seemed to be in an uproar; crowds of
people rushing in every direction, roofs covered with excited
men, women, and children; the strange mingling of cries of fear,
anger, and defiance, with occasional gun and pistol shots, made
an exhibition of the most fearful tumult and confusion.
Already troops were hurrying forward, and soon a company of some
sixty soldiers were stationed in front of the Girls' Seminary,
with pickets out to cover the approaches to the hospital and
college. Dr. Shepherd and Mr. Sanders mounted their horses
and hastened to the hospital and seminary, where they remained
until the rioting ceased. The college is about half a mile west
of the seminary and hospital, and commands a full view of these
buildings, and of the whole west end of the city, where most of
the rioting occurred.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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