The woman found in the cabin was clearly overwhelmed by fear and grief, and she seemed mentally broken by the terrible events. The guide who told the story believed she was not hurt because she had been away when a group of Turkish soldiers stopped at her home. During their brief stay, the soldiers murdered her husband and child. The exact reasons are not clear, but the man was known as a hardworking and honest farmer who had married a pretty daughter of a wealthy neighbor about three years earlier.
Neighbors were too afraid to talk openly about what happened, but from what little information was shared, such tragic events were common. The man belonged to the Greek Church, and the soldiers killed him and his child either because he refused to give up his Christian faith or because they thought he was hiding his beautiful wife from them The Turkish Government and the Sultan’s Role.
The Cause of the Trouble: Desire and Cruelty
Much of the suffering comes from Turkish officials and soldiers wanting to take daughters from Christian families for their harems. This cruel desire causes great fear among women and families. Because of this, many women in Bulgaria and Macedonia have taken up arms to protect themselves and their homes. They fight with bravery and strength, showing courage equal to that of men.
In one past revolution, a group of brave Bulgarian women, sometimes called “Bulgarian Amazons,” fought fiercely against the Turks. After they were captured, the Turks cruelly impaled them alive in front of the governor’s palace and displayed their heads on the city walls as a warning.
The Population and Political Situation
The rebellious provinces have about four million people. About three-fourths of them are Christians, and one-fourth are Turks. Nearly two-thirds of the people are of Bulgarian descent. Because of this, the people of Bulgaria feel a strong sympathy and connection with the people living there.
Part of Macedonia once belonged to Serbia, and the rest was part of Bulgaria. If the area ever gained freedom from Turkish rule, many think it would be divided again along these old boundaries. If this happened, Serbia would likely help Bulgaria fight for the cause. But if the situation is unclear or uncertain, Serbia might instead work against Bulgaria because of jealousy between neighbors, even helping the Turks to stop the rebellion by fighting Bulgaria Travel Bulgaria.
The Goal of the Macedonian Committee
The current Macedonian Committee wants the province to become independent, like Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania. Their local newspaper says it would be a terrible mistake to start a war involving these three countries. The committee wants to avoid conflict and instead find a peaceful solution that respects the independence of Macedonia and the rights of all its people.
