RIOTS IN STAMBOUL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXIII, Issue 1148, 4 September 1896, Page 3

RIOTS IN STAMBOUL.

The Armenian Committee notified the Porte and the Embassies on Friday that they intended to seize* the Ottoman

Bank in order to coerce the Powers to settle the Armenian difficulty. They threatened to use dynamite, and thereby destroy the securities, if molested. Porters, who were 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 up-stairs. 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 the cellars, and a man placed in charge, who had everything prepared to explode it. The roiters helped the cashier to lock up LlO,OOO worth of gold, and nothing was stolen. After lighting all day and losing h«.lf thei? number the roiters 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 roiters were escorted to a yatch by British sailors. A band of Moslems, who were furious at the reprisals, armed themselves with iron clubs and other weapons, paraded the streets and massacred every Armenian seen. It is estimated that from 2000 to 4000 were killed. Hideous scenes took place in the public thoroughfares, which resembled something akin to a battlefield. The police were apathetic, and looting was general, Xhere was a sanguinary conflict in Pera'on Saturday. The soldiers helped the mob to shoot the unarmed Armenians. The refugees and the rioters who seized the Ottoman Bank, accompanied by a number of foreigners, have sailed for Marseilles. The disorder showed signs of abating and on Monday the Sultan ordered the disarming of Mussulmans. The powers have intimated that the state of anarchy at present raging must cease. The Armenian Committee threaten further disorders until grievances are redressed. British sailors are guarding the British Embassy, and thrashed a mob who were rushing the streets and murdering Armenians. The Sultan has complained of the conduct of the British seamen. There was a million and a half worth of gold in the Ottoman Bank when the seizure was made by the Armenians, One hundred and sixty refuse carts full of corpses were seen on Thursday, and some estimate the number killed at 10,000, many women and children being included. The scene in the streets resembled the description of the mossacre of St Bartholomew. The representatives of the various nations have notified the Porte that they believe it connived at the massacre, and that no attempt waa made to control the mob. For upwards of 30 hours boys were allowod to parade the street stabbing the bodies of the victims. It is suspected in Berlin that the Government organised the bank episode Four hundred Moslems have been arrested and charged with excesses.