The Portland daily press., 1895-08-20

Needed.
Boston, Aug. 19-The American
Board of Foreign Missions has received
from some of it's representatives in the
Sassoun regionTof Eastern Turkey, an ac-
count of the distribution of aid sent from
England fand America to the poor sur
viYors of the terrible massacre Crumb-
ling walls scattering here and there over
the hillsides are said to show where once
.lived well to do and happy population
Not vestige of wood was left to show
that the Armenians ever had roof to
cover them, save that few small build
tngs were hastily covered in last fall A
| few oxen kindly loaned by the villagers
i ON the plain were all there was to remind
Eene that this was grazing country. No
herds of COWS, or 1ocks of sheep were
Ito be seen. A few of the fields were be-
ginning,to blush into greenness as with
che millet the returned fugitives had
been sowing during the weeks they had
been there, but general air of stiffness
and desolation reigned. Tents were
pitched near the little stone church, the
Ouly 1G1U lAUhSU3 dII0DSOd I'LL
the sick who had come up from Moosh,
or were to follow, under the trees and the
shade of willow boughs laid over ruined
walls, and soon little hospital was i'm
provised, where pure air aud suitable food
with very little medicine are gradually
restoring the poor creatures. More than
5000 souls must be supplied with daily
food, tools of all kinds must be furnished
them, wall layers must be brought in
from Moosh to labor with them in laying
up their walls preparatory to receiving
the roof timbers the government has
promised to furnish as its part of the re-
lief Material for clothing and bedding
out to these multitudes that they may be
protected for the winter not far off. They
came up with fear and trembling, lest
they were preparing themselves for a
worse fate than befell them last year, but
Mr. Shepley, the acting English consul,
had assured them that they might trust
to the efforts of the Powers and they
their slow length along and the hoped for
reforms seem more distant than eyre,
while they are constantly hearing the
threats OF the Kourds that this time they
will leave no vestige of the race to make
them further trouble, and it is no wonder
the little courage they had gained should
so-oalied Turkish Relief Company, three
members. evidently putting good COM
mission off all their purchases in their
pockets and they are trying to interfere
with other relief operations as far as they
can. 1t seems evident that the govern
ment isspot going to allow the Armenians
to distribute in their own name. In
coming to the Sassoun region, the relief
corps climb 8, 800 feet higher than Moosh
city, and over very hard road. They
drop down upon beautiful little plain
among the Taurus mountains, still bein g
1000 feet higher than Moosh. 1t is sad
sight to see the poor creatures wandering
about among the charred ruins, but
still more touching to see certain of the
women, arriving on the scene since the
i'll fated occasion, crying as though their
hearts would break, not only at finding
no habitation left them but at the sadrecol-
lecGions of the past. Sir Philip Currie,
the English Ambassador at Constantinople
selected as distributors of the relief funds
raised in England, Rev. Geo. G. Ray
nolds, NJ. D., from Van, and Rev. r.
M. Cole of Bitlis. BOTH missionaries of
the American Board and men of long
residence in that country. They have
the full confidence of all parties except
the Turks, who do not wish to have relief
given. These men also distribute relief
funds raised in this country. More money
is needed at once Funds sent to Frank
III. Wiggin, assistant treasurer, Congre-
gational House, Boston, will be promptly
forwarded