The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-07-25
WAS terribly beaten.
DiSSraceful Treatment Of a Woman
Missionary In Turkey.
SATISFACTION is SOUGHT FOR,
But Government Officiais show no Sign
OF fcompliance-They Say the Woman
should not Have Gone Unprotected,
but Should Have Asked for Soldiers.

NEW YORK, July 25.-Letters to the
Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions
In this city contain news of an unprovoked
attack upon Miss Annie Melton, an
American missionary who was stationed
at the time Of the outrage in a little viii
lage among the n orian mountains in
Turkey. Miss Melton escaped with her
life, but was mercilessly beaten by her
assailant. The letters are dated from
Amadia, Turkey, June IA, last.
A little more than a week before that
date Rev Z. Mcdowell with his family
and Miss Melton left Mosul, missionary
station In West Persia, to go to Amida,
Turkey, journey of five days duration.
Having reached there In safety, Miss Mel
ton proposed TO continue on to the noun
tain village of Duree, some miles away.
She had received an invitation from tie
people there to make them visit.
Although the route was somewhat
dangerous one, Miss Motion went unat-
tended, save by her servant and a native
preacher who was considered to be wholly
trustworthy On the night of her arrival
she pitched her tent on the roof OF house
in the village, AS Is the custom of the
country. The preacher slept on the roof
about 10 feet from her tent, and the fam
lily of the house also occupied places not
far away. There was no indication at any
time Of hostile feeling on the part OF
anyone against the American, on the con-
trary her reception
Having Been Most Friendly.
In the middle of the night, however, she
was awakened from a sound sleep by the
appearance OF a man i'm her tent. The in
truder was armed with a heavy stick,
With this weapon he began to attack the
defenseless woman, who screamed loudly
for assistance. No one came to her aid,
however. and she was compelled to defend
herself sing,e-handed. In some way she
was able to break away from her assailant
and ran bleeding from the tent The man
followed, but ia the darkness missed his
footing and fell to the ground. At the
same time forms were seen running about
and the sound OF firearms was herd from
the distance.
No trace could Miss Melton find of the
preacher or of the others who had occu-
pied the roof with her. They had all fled
in terror without giving her any help. She
was brutally cut about the head and body
and blood was flowing from her wounds
TO such degree that her night clothing
was saturated. When all had become
quiet again some of the people of the
house, and others who had fed at the first
intiiuation OF danger, appeared on the
scene. Miss Melton managed to dress her
injuries herself and the following day was
carried to Amida, where the others of the
missionary band were staying.
A subsequent examination of her tent
showed that few of her effects had been
stolen, but robbery was evidently not the
purpose OF the attack upon her. Mr.. Nc
Dowell laid the case before the authorities
but was
Unable to Obtain Satisfaction.
They said that Miss Melton should not
have gone through comparatively unpro-
tected, but should have asked for some
soldiers They claim that the outrage
was perpetrated by the Koords, a tribe of
robbers and thugs that infest the HISTORIAN
mountains, of which the villagers are in
abject fear.
After much insistance on the part of Mr..
Mcdowell an inquiry was instituted by
the authorities, but with little satisfac-
ton. The matter has been called to the
attention OF the state department. at Wash
ington.
Miss Anna Melton, the victim of the
outrage, has been missionary of the
Presbyterian church for many years. She
was appointed from Bardolph, La