St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-12-19
Letter from Turkey.
ANGORA, TURKEY. Sept. 10.

ANGoRA, TURKEY, Sept. 10.
Editor of the Caledonian:
We reached this place this morning
and intend to remain until tomorrow.
We are, l believe, about 215 miles dis
tant from Constantinople. We will not
attempt now to give much of a des-
criptiOn of the various places through
which we pass, for lack of time. Suffice
it to say the town is surrounded by
walls lying in ruins, and it has an old
castle and market place much in the
same condition. But it is quite pref
ty place, and it is said to resemble
Sivas somewhat, only much smaller in
size. 1t is chiefly remarkable for the
camel-goat, that yields long silky hair,
which is so valuable that the wool is
largely exported.
We are staying at the house of one
of the native brethren it is one of the
best here, and constitutes, with six or
seven others, what might be termed
the 5th Avenue of the city. The En-
glish residents and natives have throng-
ed the house since our arrival, mani
Testing much interest and curiosity, not
only to see and converse, but to exam
inc the articles which compose our
wardrobe asking many singular and
curious questions: doubtless our ap-
pearance eXcites much the same feel
ing that the Turk does in our country.
After leaving Constantinople, we met
MIR. Bartlett at BrOosa, the port of the
City, less than 60 miles distant, with
the carriages. Three constituted the
caravan, which was to transport us on
our inland journey of some say 400 and
others $50 miles. 1 scarcely know how
to describe them so as to give you an
accurate idea of them. The one. the
property of Mr.. Bartlett, made in the
United States, resembles an express wa
gon, with springs and stuffed seats,
with white covering over it to shield
from the sun but the others are desti-
tute of such luxuries; they are quite
small, especially at the base, but ex-
tend out over the wheels at the top.
We have single iron bed-steads
which fold in small rolls, placed in the
cart or wagon, and wOolen beds, COM
fOrters and pillows placed over them :;
so when weary, we can recline upon
them to rest or have a change of base.
This is much better than one would
suppose. Above us is an arch of will
low bows, and mating, and over all
white cloth curtain drawn down with
string at both ends. The third wal
gon takes some of the luggage that
was not sent by the Black Sea.
Your sympathy might have been
strongly enlisted for the horses had
you seen them: the most expensive
costing less than sixty dollars but as
there is no Mr.. Bergh nor Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
here, we proceeded sometimes almost
fearing that the old harnesses would
scarcely hold together in going up and
down the steep Turkish hills. As we
lett BroOsa, the tongue of one of our
wagons hit the saddle of a man who
was riding swiftly around the corner of
a street: the man was thrown from his
horse, suspended by the rope stirrups
to his saddle and taken up in an un-
conscious state: our driver was arrested
and we were detained one hour and a
half, before he was released, and Il
small tree was cut down to make new
tongue to the wagon. We were heart
lily thankful to get away so soon, by
making little present to the officer,
fearing the man might have another
spasm aud we should he mObbed as
the cause of his death.
The third day from Broosa, becoming
weary of riding, Mrs. Bartlett and |
walked up long, stony hill, getting in
on the brow of the hill before making
the descent Of the west one, but near
the base were startled in looking back
not to see the third wagon following
us but only few moments of sus-
pense, and we saw the horses coming at
full gallop, and knew by the excited
looks and appearance of our fliends
something had occurred. As they were
driving up the hill they heard voices
calling after them not needing tbev
quickened their speed, but six mounted
Circassians fully armed appeared, seiz-
ed the horses heads and. turned then,
from the path while three of them GOV
cred Mr.. Bartlett and DR.. Davis heads
with revolvers and pointed one at Mis-.
Davis until she relinquisbed her revolv- :
er which she wore in sheath. They
declined her watch, while the remain
Ing two took possession of the wagon.
appropriated all the available and port-
able articles of our wardrobe, such as