“The insurgent villages made little or no resistance. In many instances they surrendered their arms upon the first demand. Nearly all the villages which were attacked by the _bashi-bazouks_ were burned and pillaged, as were also all those which had been abandoned by the terrified inhabitants. The inhabitants of some villages were massacred after exhibitions of the most ferocious cruelty, and the violation not only of women and girls, but even of persons of the other sex. These crimes were committed by the regular troops as well as by the _bashi-bazouks_ [irregulars]. The number of villages which were burned in whole or in part in the districts of Philippopolis, Roptchus, and Tatar-Bazardjik is at least sixty-five. “Particular attention was given by the troops to the churches and schools, which in some cases were destroyed with petroleum and gunpowder. “It is difficult to estimate the number of Bulgarians who were killed during the few days that the disturbances lasted; but I am inclined to put 15,000 as the lowest for the districts I have named.... This village surrendered, without firing a shot, after a promise of safety, to the _bashi-bazouks_, under command of Ahmed Aga, a chief of the rural police. Despite his promise, the arms once surrendered, Ahmed Aga ordered the destruction of the village and the indiscriminate slaughter of the inhabitants, about a hundred young girls being reserved to satisfy the lust of the conqueror before they too should be killed. Not a house is now standing in this lovely valley. Of the 8000 inhabitants not 2000 are known to survive. “Ahmed Aga, who commanded the massacre, has since been decorated and promoted to the rank of _yuz bashi_ [centurian]. “These atrocities were clearly unnecessary for the suppression of the insurrection, for it was an insignificant rebellion at the best, and the villagers generally surrendered at the first summons. “I am, sir, yours very truly, “EUGENE SCHUYLER. “The Hon. HORACE MAYNARD, etc.” “The British Government had glossed over and tried to cover up these horrible transactions, Premier Disraeli turning them off with a sneer. The facts, as unearthed by Consul Schuyler, shook the British nation like an earthquake, and came near unseating the Ministry.... “A similar investigation was made in the same district by Mr. J. A. MacGahan, the brilliant correspondent of the London _Daily News_, who confirms all that Mr. Schuyler discovered, in a special dispatch to the _Daily News_, dated Philippopolis, July 28, 1876.” The circumstances and character of the Armenian massacre of 1894 are found in the first chapter of the present volume. In regard to this event the writer in _The Independent_ of January 17th above quoted asks: “Will history repeat itself in 1895? Will the remaining Armenians of Sassoun be so terrorized as to refuse to testify before a Commission? Undoubtedly.