New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-31
MISSIONARIES IN DANGER.
ONE or THE AMERICAN WOMEN SENT TO
TURKEY SET UPON AND ALMOST
MURDERED.
A HITTER COMPLAINT AGAINST THE INACTIVITY
OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENTAL
rrMprs BEING MADE TO ROUSE THE
STATE DFpAETMENT-PERILS OF
THE OTHER WORKERS IN THE

n
Later adviceS received by the Boari OF Foreign
vsions ~ tho prcs,v,crian Church confirm the first
repor,s q, the attack upon Miss Anna Melton. a
missionary OF the board while stopping IN the Mes
Oran village OF Durec, in the koordHh Mouh'hhs IN
Turkey. 1t IS considered almost miraculous liat uie
woman escaped with her life, Tor inc nlEnt was 50
dark that she could scarcely see !" uelchu herself
against her ASSISTANTS. They br)ke INTO the tent In
which she was sleeping the roof OF the mhdcovered
house Of her servant As Is the custom oI NV people
drr,nr tho bot season The fact that Miss Melton was
not murdered convinceS the board That the work was
done ut the ins,g tion Of the authorizes Oh te toy
er,mcnt who # 1, believed, wished 10 brighten her
and her associate away from the country
1t is probable that this outrage upon III american
c,tiznn .l become the subject II lntrnauh mai cor
respondepcc. at least The matter has already been
MD .. IN. attention Of the State department
tbrouch tho LEGATION I'm C,n.tantinoplc before which
the fact OF the Outrage laid soon after Its oc-
currence on June Ii last. Bat the members oi uie
PRESBYTERIAN Board not satisfied TO let the in's
ton rest without making an appeal I'D inc "oVef1l-
mcnt in behalf OF the rights OF Miss Melton ana Others
who are stationed within the domains oil the sultan
on Saturday they sent to secretary OF State Gresham
communication setting forth the details Of the case.
The letter contained an earnest appeal Tor the
punishment OF the offenders against the treaty obi
cations and for reparatlon against the Turkish Gov
eminent II urged. In the strongest terms the neccs
siy Of immediate action, and predicted that unless
something be done to put an cfeclual stop 10 hta'ks
upon Americans. the life Of no citizen OF the United
states would be safe In Turkey Instances of previous
outrages were brought forward notably the one Of
ls-g when Or. John q. Wlshard and company OF
missionaries were beaten and robbed In broad day
BY band OF HISTORIANS at Ikoma, In the lonely noun
talns Of Koordcstan.
Enclosed in the letter TO tho state Department
Is complete account Of the assault upon Miss Melton
written by the Rev. f. w. Mcdowell. In charge OF the
little company OF missionaries TO which she belonged
From evidence which Mr. Mcdowell brings out IT
appears that the attack upon the woman was the work
Of soldiers Of Amadia, who had been sent by the
authorities OF that place 20 the village where Miss
Melton staying for the very purpose Of committing
the deed. Amsdt Is the town I'm which the other
missionaries were stopping while Mas Melton made her
way to Durcc. few miles distant, ut the Invitation
Of the Inhabitants among whom she had lived
before II is suimlsod that the brother OF the Kahn
akum or Governor, WIS himself implicated In the
metter Mr.. McDowrll's letter pretty clearly demon
strates that the attack was not made by lot Of
wandering Koords the Turkish authorities affect "
believe Tho letter says In part:
1.-The Government here will, In all probability, do
absolutely nothing toward Furnishing those men, The
same IS true Of the Governments IN Mosnl ana Goa
staninOplc II left 10 their wills. This Govern
Villages and that not BY sending soldiers With u,
bat by governing in carncstnes~, Had the men who
robbed us III lkOiaa been punished as thcy might
easily have been. aud the men who robbed Us at
1elkcii been punished rs they might hive been pun
ishod. tli, affair would never have happened.
" 1t Is word IN cverybOdy's mouth that our Gov
doe, anything for US, that We nave no
King. We not protected. not because the Gov
here cannot pfotect Us, but because our GOV
crnmrnt docs not demand n. What BE- don" AZ
10 final action ! do not know. bat rs 10 Immediate
action looking toward protection while this case
IS Icing Investigated. ana until able L. reach
MO,ul. which VIII not be- until the fall, would re-
srcctfilly suggest that the strongest influence De
Brought l-ar upon the state Department 10 hav"
Them telegraph TO Constantiuople demanding that
orders be at 10 Mo-ul a. take Tho
steps safety until the can be- invcs
tigated That such prompt and decided action IS
called for situation shows.
Miss Melton has just narrowly escaped death, and
That. In all probability a. the hands of men Ia this
city Cimadla pos ably by Government officer. There
powerful here who find our presence obnoxious
~ them. The Governments inaction IN previous
cases and in hi, ,nb0dcns them 10 stlll moro
desperate deeds. They fore" ~ 10 leave the city
without committing murder or robbery and yet. once
outside the city our lives would not be- worth u
farthlng.-
None is more helpless now than We; none. 10
their mind, offers greater prize reward for such
yOlpuCc.'