Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-11
ARMENIAN MASSACRE
The Pitiable Condition Of the Sur
vivorp Told.
TURKISH 0FFlclAt8 RBrARD RELIEF
Efforts Made by the Missionaries
to Distribute Funds.
PEOPLE ALMOST DESTITUTE
PEOPLE ALMOST DESTITUTE

The pitiable condition of the survivors Of
the Armenian massacres and the alleged
efforts Of the Turkish authorities to retard
the work of relief, are described in a COM
munication just received here from an
American gentleman now at the scene Of
the Sassoun massacre. The letter Is dated
August l, and after referring to the distri-
button of relief funds, which has been in
trusted to American missionaries, saws. in
part:
Missionaries Disheartcned
THE missionaries are now here, but the
opposition of the Turkish government is so
great that they can make but little pro-
gress. They are much disheartened: but. of
course, If they can have fairly free hand,
they will be more than glad to continue the
work. The needs cannot be exaggerated
The people are completely Frustrated Two
villages, samples of the thirty-two that
were destroyed. are now marked by crumb-
hing walls. the roofs being so completely
destroyed by the incendiary soldiers that
not chip remains to show they ever had
roofs. The mass of the survivors of the
massacre were scattered about among the
villages of the surrounding region and sup
ported by those scarcely better off than
themselves. Two months ago most of the
survivors were induced to return to their
old homes, sow their fields with kind of
m1llet that natures In a few weeks and seeL
TO establish themselves before the winter
Many have only a few boughs to cover a
corner of their former homes, and furnish
tngs are bare; little hay to sleep on with
possibly some filthy rags to throw over
them, In place of abundant carpets.
Almost Destitute of Clothes,
Hardly child has more than the rem
nant Of tattered shirt to cover him. and
many of the adults are not many degrees
better off. Food is very scant and working
tools are lacking. In short, they are utter
ly PROSTATE, and must be put on their own
feet by supplying them with everything.
till they can begin the upward road toward
the old prosperity. There are already more
than 5000 people to be thus cared for
england has already sent f1,OOO and the
Armenians themselves have raised two or
three times this amount but it will all be
SUFFICIENT to do the work only yery inn
perfectly. Still. with sure prospects of re-
form, and present protection, they would
go at the great task before them with
cheerfulness and hope But alas! these
conditions do not vet obtain, nor do we
Know that they will The history OF the
Turkish relief commission is entirely char
acteristic of the national character
Character of Turkish Relief,
when. despite the herculean efforts to
prevent the world from hearing of the
deeds of last fall. they saw that the world
was aroused over it. and that there was a
disposition to render aid the sultan decid
ed 10 assume the rolesof gracious benefac-
Tor, and announced gift of E2.0eO
to his beloved subjects. Only 400 of This
was sent In money. the rest in the form of
due bills on the future taxes of these
provinces commission was organized to
distribute this fund. =. the salary of its
members amounting to nearly 20 n
day The people were told that they could
get this fund on condition of signing a
paper saving it was not the soldiers who
ntt!e brush with the Kurds, expressing
their great thanlfuiness to their soyer.
elgn , FOR his bounty and handing in their
overwhelming feeling Of gratitude swelled
their hearts. when, in place of returning
them the property stolen, which 1t could
easily do. the government forsooth. offers
q paltry dollar apiece, under the sweet
name of charity! At first the people
spurned the help entirely, but with the
odif1catfon that only plain receipt should
be required, they were persuaded to accept.
Obstacles In the Way of Distribution.
The English ambassador obta ned a prom.
ise that all assistance should be afforded
to the distribution of the English funds,
and the American missionaries were re-
Quested to come and superintend. but the
three weeks they have spent on the ground
nave seen almost nothing accomplished, be-
cause the government has thrown obsta-
Gle after obstacle in the way, demanding
that all distribution must be through its
hands, forbidding the missionaries to do
anything about building, the most import
ant thing. They were even forbidden to
talk to the people about them. But this
moment comes a letter from the consul,
saying he has strong orders to come up
himself and push the thing right through,
and we hope a better day is dawning.
Extent of tho Oufrarex
1.-THE first estimates of the slain were ex-
aggerated.. as no one could get into the
region. and the survivors were scattered in
different directions. Probably not more
than 1000 really fell at the time; the others
died of want. but the tales of beastly lust
and fiendish outrage that here come to our
ears exceed all we had dreamed of. and
can never be allowed to soil the page of
the clean historian"