The villagers opted to defend themselves staunchly, gathering provisions and fortifying a church situated atop a small hill overlooking the town. This strategic location, enclosed by a sturdy stone wall, provided an ideal defensive position. Loopholes were created in the wall, barrels of water were stockpiled inside the church, and the villagers readied themselves for a potential siege. Notably, they refrained from venturing beyond their village or initiating hostilities against their Muslim neighbors.
Arrival of Threat
On the morning of Tuesday, April 29th (according to the old calendar), equivalent to May 11th in contemporary reckoning and preceding the Batak massacre, reports surfaced of approaching Bashi-Bazouks from Ustuna. Promptly, all villagers, including women and children, sought refuge within the fortified church. However, some individuals, overcome by fear, opted to surrender and were tragically massacred after relinquishing their weapons. Despite this harrowing event, it did not sway the resolve of the remaining villagers, who vowed to continue resisting Guided Tours Turkey.
Involvement of a Frenchman
During this critical juncture, a Frenchman, engaged in commercial activities in Philippopolis, returned to the village in search of a fellow Frenchman who had been absent for several days, fearing for his safety. Accompanied by villagers, the Frenchman encountered the Bashi-Bazouks and engaged in dialogue with Achmet-Aga, leveraging his fluency in Turkish to communicate. He explicitly identified himself as French, elucidating his purpose amid the escalating tensions.
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