3144) Pastermadjian Brothers -Episode of Treachery or Bravery

Karekin (Garekin) was born in Erzurum in the year 1875, his father was a well to do person, most likely “making pastrami” and had his son educated well. In the year 1894 Karekin was studying “Agricultural Engineering” in Nancy, France. He says that he became antagonist against Turks because his father was killed by Turks. Yet, we do not know the reasons or if the rumor is true.

In the year 1895 Armenians in Zeytoun, raised in revolution against the Ottoman State. They refused to pay taxes, saying that . . they were already paying Kurds a traditional ransom called “hafir”. The young Karekin heard about the revolution, left his school and came to Zeytoun to support the revolt.

In 1896 the Dashnakist Revolutionary Armenians in Istanbul planned a big event, to call the attention of all European Superpowers to the unfulfilled promises of reforms in their areas. A group of twenty six “fedayee” Armenians headed by a leader named Papken Sium, was to raid the “Ottoman Bank” which was the biggest bank serving also as the Central Bank. Most likely detailed plan was made by Karekin. . .

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