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Page 3
It was soon found that dynamite bombs had been thrown into the windows
of the Government Council House. The entire building was shaken to its
foundations, the roof torn off, and the walls badly damaged.
A meeting of ministers in the Grand Vizier's office had been proposed
for the hour at which the explosion took place, and it was supposed that
the cowardly assassins had intended to murder the Turkish officials
while they were attending to their duties. Happily the meeting had been
postponed, and therefore but little harm was done beyond the damage to
the building.
The people had hardly recovered from their horror over the wrecking of
the Council House when word was brought that an attempt had been made
to blow up the Ottoman Bank.
Just a year ago an attack was made on the Bank, and on that occasion its
officers were so unprepared for an attack that the Armenians gained
possession of the building, and held it against the soldiers for several
hours.
The Ottoman Bank of Turkey has charge of the public funds, so it is to
the interest of the Government to see that it is well protected. Since
the Armenian attack, therefore, there has not only been a special guard
on duty to protect the bank, but men stationed at the doors to inspect
every person who entered, and prevent any suspicious-looking characters
from gaining access to the main building.
These precautions probably saved many precious lives, for, on the same
afternoon that the bomb was thrown a man was seen entering the bank who
was so extraordinarily fat that the watchers became suspicious of him.
They refused to let him enter the main building, and taking him into a
little side room set apart for the purpose, they searched him.
They found, as they had suspected, that his great size was due to a huge
dynamite bomb, which he was trying to conceal under his robes. In Turkey
many of the people have not adopted the European dress of coat and
trousers, but still cling to their long loose robes.
As soon as the bomb was discovered it was carefully put into water, the
man was arrested, and the bank closed its doors, an extra guard of
soldiers being sent for to protect it.
The news of the attempt on the bank was followed by the calling out of
the palace guard and the closing of all the entrances to the palace.
A rumor was then spread abroad that another bomb had been found within
the palace grounds, and that yet another had been found that was
intended to blow up the Police Headquarters.
When the news of these various outrages was noised abroad the people
were panic-stricken.
Crowds of Turks rushed from their homes, anxious to defend their city
and their Sultan, and, armed with sticks, they hurried through the
streets, not knowing where to go, or what to do first.
Alarmed lest their good intentions should lead them into acts of
violence, and that Constantinople would be plunged into the horrors of
riot and mob rule, the police and patrols ordered the men back to their
homes, severely clubbing those who were slow to obey.
Soon the streets were given over to the soldiers, and not a soul was to
be seen abroad but those connected with the guards and patrols.
When the streets were cleared, the police made a search of the Armenian
quarter, and many suspicious characters were arrested.
The certainty that these outrages were the work of Armenians has roused
the Mohammedan population to fresh fury, and a repetition of the
massacres of last year is feared.
The better class of Armenians in Constantinople denounce the shameful
deeds, and are enraged at the men who have once more turned the wrath of
the Turks against the unhappy Christians in the Sultan's domains.
There is a feeling of great uneasiness throughout the city, the Turks
fearing that more dynamite bombs will be thrown, and the Armenians that
the mob will take a hideous vengeance for the outrage.
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