The morning call., 1894-12-21
AN EXILE IN AFRICA.
The Sad Story of Sahag, the
Armenian.
Sent From His Country for Trans
lating an Inscription for
Christian Enthusiast.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-Rev. Seth Swee-
ney of Indiana, who was Consul-General
to the Ottoman empire during General
Harrison's administration. is fu the city.
He came bearing d petition Representing
| 800, 600 Christian women-the Woman's
Christian Board of Missions-prayiug the
Sultan for the release of Sahag Mahdis-
sian, an Armenian life exile at Moorzouk,
10 the oasis of Fezzal, in the desert of the
Sahara. Mr. Sweeney presented the petit
ton yesterday to the Secretary of State,
asking his friendly Office in forwarding it
to Minister Terrell at ConstantinopIe, and
requesting him to present it to his Majesty
On behalf of the ladies.
The story of Sahag's supposed offense
Is as follows: Some years ago he was
teaching for the American missionaries in
an interior town in Turkey. A young
man of the village came to him with a
writing in Armenian and asked him to
translate it into Turkish. Sahag did so
without inQuiring as to the motives of the
writer. The young man took it and wore
it upon his breast In the marketplace. 1t
was passage from the Scripture pro-
claiming the coming of the kiDgdom of
Christ. The Turkish officials naturally
COuCluuOu tuhb ~ mOdni buO ONOlbuLOW VI
the Ottoman empire and arrested the
young man for conspiracy. The trial de-
veloped the fact that Sahag translated the
paper, and, although shown to be per-
fectly innocent of any conspiracy, he was
sentenced to life exile into Africa Both
were carried to Tripoli. where they were
forced to accept the Mohammedan reli-
gion. They were sent by caravan to
Moorzouk. twenty-one days journey. The
young man died of the cruel treatment,
but Sahag is still alive.
When Mr.. Sweeney was Consul-General
at Cons ntinople he opened up communi-
cation with Sahag, through the kindly
offices of British consular officer, who
forwarded money to him by private mer-
chants. The Turkish Government refused
Sahag's friends permission to send him
money or any way communicate with him
through the Postoffice Department. The
news of the terrible straits in which the
poor fellow was plunged reached his
friends in Turkey and through them the
Christian people OF America. AS result
the above petition was signed. and it l.
sincerely hoped by the petitioners Of
America that the personal attention of his
Majesty will be called to this case and that
Sahag will be released.
HARTFORD, Conn.,, Dec. 2O.-Malcolm
Aghanilian of this city, who has been
working to obtain the names OF American
citizens held in Armenian prisons. learned
that Dickran TarseiaD, formerly of Troy,
n. Y, is held under peculiar circumstances.
He left Troy year ago and established
an iron works in Harloot. after paying a
heavy license fee demanded by the au-
thorities. Shortly after the factory started
it was closed by the authorities, who said
the smoke was spelling other buildings.
Tarseian dem handed ebate of his license
fee, but this was refused and he was ar
rested on trumped-up charge. He claimed
to be an American citizen and produced
his papers. but the Judge tore the papers
to bits and refused to allow him to send
message to Consul Mitchell. He was
thrown into prison and remains there yet.