New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-09
OTTCAGCS ~ AMERICANS.

,rr-pEtsII Authorities IMPRISON \ NATURAL
IZrp CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir. News comes from Marseiles. France. to the
effect that an American citizen named fiaroutuhe
Krachian has been imprisoned and robbed IN Tur-
kev bv the Turkish authorities. ana after peihg
sub.ctel 10 many outrsses has been expelled from
the country without being duly protected by the
United states Consul at Constaninople. krachian
IS now IN Marseies. robbed Of his money ana pen
n!less Mr. Krachian IA an Armenian by Drth anu
q naturaI.zsd citizen Of the United States. lie was
a resident OF Chicago and we'll known In the ArFae-
rlnn colony In tina, city. Wishing 10 pay Visit
a, Narsovan Asatic Turkey TO HIS parents whom
n. had not seen for several years. Mr.. Krachian
sailed for Turkey last summer ON his arrival at
Consfautnople he had n great many troubles WI"
the authorities there about his American passport
However he was at last allowed 10 90 to Marsovah'
Krachian boarded a vessel ct constan'inopie Tor
Samson a seaport on the Black Sea. whence ne
yss ,o nroceed to Marsoyan on horseback. As
soon "a he landed at Samson he was placed under
arr,s, as a political suspect and was conveyed 10
a prison.
When I say A prison I, shoull not be understood
a p,,sou like those We have IN the United states.
No. This is Turkish prison. which Is as horripie
aa II no, worse than he'll Prisons In Turkey are
y,ors.. than the auhest stable imaginable. There
are no separate cells for prisoners there prison
in Turkey IL a one-story building with low cell
,rg and strong walls Besides the ground Eoor
which is also the top floor OF the structure. there
T. q damp cellar below. wherein prisoners are
also kept Prisons In Turkey generally consist Oh Il
r.,v ARG. rooms in which prisoners are packed up
Ike chickens in box. without placing any as
tlnc;iDn between murderer ana n person aiFeS'en
on suspicion. All are put together IN t"e sai'ie
r,om ,rhe rooms are nothing but "A bare floor win
black walls and ceiling. and Few small ho'eS III
the walls called windows. The prisoners remain
,h.rc nh the time They not allowed 10 leave
the room even for their most urgent necess'i's III"
nothing IL provided for prisoners Tor any sueh ne
cess.ties: 80 that they cannot help iNhs IN '"ere
Tx. horses IN stable. The air In the room IS SUI
focatlng In the night the prisoners sleep 'here
crouched on that horribly filthy bround Washing
T., ou, of the question The food they receive daily
Il but two small loayes OF dry bread each w'iShhs
about eleven ounces. and they shouiu DE MINIMUM
n they receive even that regularly do not speak
M thc treatment the miserable prisoners receive at
the hands OF their fierce keepers. VINO lash 'heih
vii, thelr whips freely and do they please
II was such prison this in which Mr. Krachan
was thrown AS Is the case with most OF the per-
sons arrested IN Turkey. he was robbed by the
police of all ns money and valuables. He was well
guarded that he should not send communication to
any person There Is no American consul at
Samson. and was impossible for him TO e,esraph
| TO Inc consul a; Constantinople However ne SUE
cre1" IN gent ai samson begging him protect
! him The British agent declined To nave anything
IN ia
tns,ructions from the British Consulate at Constan-
| fInopic 10 protect American citiz"ns - 49,.
X rach,n remained In that prison Tor twenty-five
| DAYS After tha; he was removed 10 Constantnope
AMI NM i'm a prlson there After some days ne was
t.ten before Nazim Hey. the head OF the Police
! Drnartment at ,onstantinople. who Is well known
as a fanatic and n sworn enemy or CHRISTIANS, es-
| nrcialIv of Armenians. Krachan was suDJected 70
avery careful examination bus no'nins 'Da'a n n
| abandoned the bonds Of Subsection to the ottoman
| Soverecntv and had become a naturalized citizen
~ tho I'nited States. Nazim hey released
Krachian on condition that he leave the country
i,nmediately Mr. Kraehian was so much terrified
With his ;carful experiences AT the hands OF the
T,rkish officials that ne was quite WILING TO DO So
", comd NOT think any more Of seeing his parents;
hmt as he had been robbed he had no money to
nav his ossage back to Chicago. where he had a
/ .yo1I nostion In plano establishment through
The mediation Of the American consul az '1ns,aEt,-
nnn,n tho nolIcc authorities. however gave l<iachian
free ticket that would take him to AlHrseilies on
d. ,,cci, of q steamer In reply to his complaints
~, consul nj Constantinople told Mr.. krachian
that he was not the only Americanlzcd Armenian
49, Ind heen subjected To such troubles. NOW
Krnchian IL AT Marseilles penn'less and unable TO
across -, ,oa, -