The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-08-02
TURKISH OUTRAGES.
The Lives of American .Mlssiona-
ries Not Safe.
THE ATTACK ON MISS MELTON.
SGT Upon and Almost Murdered,
Bitter Complaint Against the In'
activity Of che United States Gov
erument-Attempts Being Made to
Arouse tho state Department.
PeriIs of Other Workers.


New YoRK, August I.-Later advlces
received by the board OF foreign mis-
sions Of the Presbyterian church con-
firm the first reports Of the attack upon
Miss Anna Melton, a missionary OF tho
board, while stopping in the HISTORIAN
Village OF Durse, in the Koordlsh
mountains in Turkey, It is considered
almost miraculous that the woman
escaped with her life, for the night was
go dark that she could scarcely see to
defend herself against her assailanss,
They broke into the tent in which she
was sleeping on the roof of tho mud
covered house OF her servant, as Ia the
custom Of the people during the hot
season. The fact that Miss Melton was
not murdered conVinces the board that
the work was done at the instigation OF
the authorities OF tho government, who
1t 10 believed, wished to brighten her
and her us sociates away from the eoun'
try,
II is probable that this outrage upon
an American citizen will become tho
subject Of international correspondence
at least. The matter has already been
called to the attention OF the state de-
partment through the legation In Con.
stantinople, before which the TACT OF
the outrage was laid soon after its oc-
currence on June IA last. But the
members Of the Presbyterian board
were not satisfied to let the question
rest without making an appeal to the
government In behalf OF the rights OF
Miss Melton and others who are sta
toned within the domains OF the sui.
tan. On Saturday they sent to secre-
tary OF State Gresham a communication
setting forth the details OF the case.
The letter contained I'm earnest APP
peal for the punishment OF the offend.
era against the treaty obligations aud
for reparation against the Turkish gov.
eminent. It urged in the strongest
terms the necessity Of immediate
action, and predicted that unless
something be done to put an etfectual
stop to attacks upon Americans, the
lie OF no citizen OF the United States
would be safe in Turkey, Instances OF
previous outrages were straightforward,
notably the one OF 1880, when DR.. John
q. Wishardand O company OF mission.
aries were beaten and robbed in broad
day by q band OF HISTORIANS at Ikoma,
in the lonely mountains OF Koordestan.
Enclosed In the letter to the state dc.
partment Ia o complete account OF the
assault upon Miss Melton, written by
the Rev. Z. W. Mcdowell, in the charge
~ Az ltkNIn d6RN~ a = o nj VDtuufn n Rtnu 20
which she belonged. From evidence
which Mr.. Dowell brings out 1t appears
that the attack upon the woman was
the work Of soldiers Of Amadin, who
had been sent by the authorities OF that
place to the village where Miss Melton
was staying for the very purpose Of
committing the deed. Amadia is the
town by which the other missionaries
were stopping, while Miss Melton made
her way to Duree, q few miles distant,
at the invitation Of tho inhabitants,
among whom she had lived beford 1t
is surmised that the brother Of tho
kaimakup, OF governor, was himself
implicated in the matter. Mr.. Nc
DowelPs letter pretty clearly demon
stratea that the attack was not nude by
q lot OF wandering Koords, rs the Turk
ish authorities affect to believe. The
letter says In part:
1.-THE government here will, in all
probability, do absolutely nothing to-
ward furnishing those men. The same
is true Of the governments in Mosul
and Constantinople, if'lott to their own
wills. This government can protect us,
whether on the road or in tho villages,
and that not by sending soldiers with
us, but by governing In earnostness.
Had the men who robbed ua in Ikoma
been punished us they might easily
have been, had the mon who robbed US
at Telkcif been punished rs they might
have been punished, this affair would
never have happened.
at Is q word in everybody's mouth
that our government never docs any.
thing for US, that we havO no king. We
are not protected, not because the gov.
eminent hero Cannot protect us, but
because our government does not de-
mand it What eau be done as 10 final
action / do not know, but as TO imme-
diate action looking toward our protec-
ton while this caseIs being investigated,
and until We arc able to roach Mosul,
WHICH Will IUt Db until tllV lull, L WOulu
respectfully suggest that tho strongest
influence DO brought to bear upon the
stato department to have them tele.
graph to Constantinople demanding
that orders be sent at once TO Monsul
to take the necessary steps to secure our
safety until tho case can be investigated.
That such prompt and decided action Is
called for our situation shows.
"Miss Melton has just narrowly es.
capped death, aud that In all probable.
ity, at the hands OF men In this city
(Amandal. possibly by a government
officer. There are powerful mon hero
who find our presence obnoxious to
them. Tho governments inactlon in
previous cases and now in this embold.
ems them to still more desperate deeds.
They can force US to leave the city
without committing murder or robbery,
and yet, once outside tho city, our lives
would not be worth q farthing."
None Ia more helpless now than We;
none, to their mind, otlera a greater
prize as q reward for such violence"