THE SACKING OF SISTOVA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 2610, 3 September 1877, Page 3

THE SACKING OF SISTOVA.

The special correspondent of the Daily Neivs writes ou tho 2nd July, from Sistova :—lf: — If all the houses sacked in tins town belonged to the Turks, I can only say that tho Mahometans vastly outnumbered the Christians. More that) that, they occupied all the best houses. In fact, the whole town lias boon plundered and wrecked, excopt the foreign colony on the Dannbo. Tho Russians say that the Bulgarians did it. The Bulgarians accn=e tho Turkish garrison. I cannot venture to decide between them at present, but it is significant that the native population as well as the Turkish has disappeared. During several hours' wandoring amongst the deserted houses I saw only half-a- dozen people at most. The foreign colony romains. It is more than strange that, whilst in Boumania only the barest necessaries of life are to be procured at any price, in oppressed and plundered Bulgaria, luxuries may be bought at a reasonable rate. There is better wine hero than in Roumania. Meat is to be obtained. Several bakeries are in constant work, and in thedwellings, sacked and ruined as they are, one sees evidence of greater comfort than in Roumanian houses of a like class. No stick of fnrniture is left. Whoever began the loot, the Bulgarians certaiuly finished it, and broke what they could not carry away. The gardens still look neat and pretty, though they are strewn with rags, fragments of furniture, potsherds, letters, and books. Inside the buildings, if they aro of any size, one steps knee deep in rags, wool, paper, and nameless rnbbis'i that has once served to stuff mattresses j and pillows. Not for the first time do I sco a looted .town, but the sight is always painful. In street after street all is empty and silent ; with broken doors hanging ajar, clothes and papers and emptied boxes lyiug about. In house after house no pine of glass remains. Even the very baby's cradle has been smashed out of pure devilry. The little treasures of each family have been dragged to light only io be destroyed and trampled upon. In the gardens the fruit trees have been stripped, and the wells have been defiled. Splinters' of timber arc tying across the roads, such as remain. In Sistova many houses had line woodwork, especially in the ceilings and balconies, which looked opon the gardens. The wealthier inhabitants evidently took alarm before the catastrophe' arrived, but I found several - moneyboxes — to be recognised by stamps — which had been smashed. The floor of every house was a chaos of lauterns, sacred books, carved wood, broken desks, and miscellaneous furniture. I have not heard any tale of outrage ; but if the Bulgarians worked this destruction that I see, I should pity any Moslem who fell into their hands, especially if it was a woman or a helpless person.

Shumla, July 3. — Daring the Russian attack npon the town of Sistova the f Jfajgarians fired on the flying Turks, violated the woman, and broke into tho houses, from tho windows of which they throw "HuPyoung children into tho streets. This information has been received from an eyewitness, and is causing an intense feeling among the Turks.