Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-01-29
Shows Itself in the Preparation of
Outrageous Crimes Against Chris
tianS in Constantinople.
An American Physician Forced TO
Leave the Turkish Capital to
Save His Life.
Turkish Doctors Murder Dr.. keati-
bian, Who Had Gained the
Favor Of ;hr Sultan.

of this world ever made the geographical
student can find certain >l,ot in Asia
Minor designated as Ab7ssiria
! Should he desire to store up Interesting
information, to increase the stock Of learn
ing with knowledge concerning the one
particular locality originally inhabited by
man, the land where Christianity had its
inception, let him consult Biblical history
and read apostolic stories.
But these give only vague idea of the
many sacred traditions handed down
from the time Noah landed his mighty
ark on Ararat. You should, as the writer
has, heard a bright, serious minded man,
born and reared In the shadow Of that
famous mount, weave fascinating tales of
the people, the religious creeds, social
customs, mode and manner of living.
DIR. Markar G. Dadirrian, who has
been sojourning in Chicago for two
months Or more, says he first saw the light
of day in Cesarea. Two thousand years
ago, and before the flood, it was called
Majac He quit the place, however, when
ready to enter. upon q career of business
and located in Constantinople. In the
meantime Markar's parents had given
| him an excellent education. part of which
! he obtained In two of America S we'll
known meQ1Cal cOllegeS.
The conversation was suggested by
Gladstone recent remarks, both in pub
lished letters and an address to parlia-
ment on the outrageous treatment Chris
| tians are being subjected to by the Turks
| in Turkey. Said DIR. Dadirrian. Il know
something about these things from per-
sonal experience. Twelve years residence
in Constantinople would surprise any man
not thoroughly posted as to the true con-
dition of things there. That was the ex-
tent CT my stay. Six years ago | either
had to leave or lose my life. | preferred
to accept the first alternative. and came to
New York, with my FIRMLY, where we are
now happily located, and getting along
| very nicely. But it grieved US to break up
| our love y home in that most beautiful, as
we'll as un-ChristiaD city, and transfer our
hopes for comfortable fortunes among
| strangers in a far-away and strange land.
A plot had been laid to murder me, and |
was informed of it in time to save myself
by getting out of the country
This gentleman related many outrages
perpelrated by Mohammedans on the sons
and daughters OF fair, peaceful, sacred
Auyssinia. One case In particular had ref
erence to the most foul and dastardly as
clan, DR.. Keatibian. by force of superb
or intellect and skill in practice he had
risen to such distinction that one day the
sultan, whose favorite wife was about to
be delivered of child, and had been given
up by the palace doctors, sent for him to
consult with them. Much exalted at re.
ceiving such an eminent call, DR..
Keatibian fastened to place himself in the
In,.' hat
wanted of him. Naturally, he felt anxi-
Gus to add to his already renowned repu
tation by saving the suffering woman,
consequently exerted all his power as /
medical expert. He did not know, how
ever, that his presence in the harem was
an insult to the sultan's chosen doctors, or
that when he said the case was not a hope
less one their combined opinions and de-
cision had been OverthroWn and set at de-
iance. Nevertheless he sailed in, and not
only brought the unfortunate woman
through her confinement all right, but
saved the child. The result so pleased bis
royal highness that publicly he compli-
mented the successful ke:tibian, and
honored him with rare, costly presents.
The palace doctors could not endure
being overshadowed so completely, espe-
cially by Christian. AS a consequence
they at once conspired to remove him. This
is the way it was done. Shortly after
having served the sultan he was unexpect-
edlv summoned on an afternoon to visit
the stately residence Or harem of a wealthy
prince in the suburbs of Constantinople,
and some distance across the bay from nis
part of town. Once moro as you can read
lily imagine, his vanity and pride were
toached at the smooth manner in which
desirable patients were coming his way,
and again he lost no time answering this
summons. Crossing the bay In a swift
gondolier he hired carriage on the other
side. and was raJ idly driven to the place
designated, hurriedly entered the house.
and that was the last ever seen of him.
He never came out alive. Weeks after
two boatmen found his body in the bay.
The doctors sudden disappearance caused
great excitement, but nothing was ever
done to have his murderers arrested. Those
who were at the house where he met his
death claimed that he left there all right,
and committed suicide First they said
by poison. but post mortem examina-
ton proved that statement false. Then
they made out that he had thrown him
self into the bay This the Christians
proved to their entire satisfaction was
not SO.
We found the cab driver who had taken
him to the house. He told US that after
waiting about an hour a man came out,
said the doctor would not return home
that day, paid the cab bill and dismissed
him. This convinced us that the unfortu-
nate man never left that house alive. He
fell shining victim to Turkish jealousy
for having dared to practice his pro-
fession in the better class of Turkish fami-
lies
Because of his prominence, continued
Markar G. Dadirrian, NJ D., Il thus par
ticulariza this foul crime, but it's only one
of hundreds that have been committed
against my people since they dared to in
wade the precincts of Constantinople. But
we have patiently suffered and endured it
all without attempting to avenge our
selves. 1t is my earnest hope that some
day the civilized nations surrounding
Turkey will call her to account.
''At present there are about $50. 900 Ar
menians in that city. They compose the
most respectable portion of its population.
Among them are the best merchants and
professional men. But so far as the gov
eminent is corcerned they are like slaves,
and must daily endure the vilest insults.
Should an Armenian attempt to defend
himself by assaulting a Turk. he would
either be set upon and torn to pieces or ar
rested, convicted without trial, thrown
into a miserable prison dungeon and let
rot there. The reported persecution OF
Jews in Russia is no comparison to the
outrageous treatment Armenia residents
of Turkey are now receiving at the hands
of Turks. Besides being murdered they
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