The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-09
A STORY OF SUFFERING
,GahllaI 0skreko Receives a Letter From a
Relative In Stricken Armenia.
ANOTHER MASSACRE MAY Be EXPECTED.

COndftiOn-E0rcedT To Accept the
Faith of Mohammet Clothing
Stripped From the Living Bodies
OF Their Victims.
In the travelling troupe of OrientaIs
now performing at the Bijou Theatre
Is Mr.. Gabriel Dekreko, an intelligent
and well educated Armenian, originally
from the village of Hesneg, near Har-
peort, not long ago one of the wealthiest
and most powerful in the State, but now
desolate and ravaged, being right in the
path of the terrible devns,ations that
nave Been wrought recently by the
Turks and Kurds
Mr.. lie Rreko yesterday received a
letter from gentleman residing in his
native village. but whose name he Is
unwilling to tell for fear it might reach
the authorities In that tyrannized sec
ton of the world and lead to further
prosecutions of the writer. who was
occupied for four days inGSting the
eplstle to which reference Is had, ou
account OF brutal treatment and wounds
received at the hands OF the bloody
minded Turks. He has been laid up i'm
PED for four months as the result. and
MS wites broken arm has not yet heal
ed.
MIR. De Kreko's correspondent. whose
letter is dated February 90. tells n ter
riple story of cruelty and suffering. He
begins by asking the recipient to ex-
press his thanks In behalf of himself
ana unfortunate friends for the noble
support which the American people havct
rendered MS distressed country. Our
people. by their timely assistance, have
clothed the naked, fed the starving, and
given nope and encouragement when all
other avenues of help were closed and the
future was even darker than il Is now,
Ihe Armenians, with n constanoy that
Is pathetic, cling to the hobe that the
Dhited states VIII be the instrument in
the hands of Providence to rescue them
from their present condition and bring
them once more to n state where they
can worship God In peace.
Omlttlng the details of the massacre
which the writer declares have been
fairly truthfully published in the news
papers OF the world, De Kreko's far-ofr
friend, who Is 20 years old, declares that
In all history there never was anythine
ike 1t, and he considers the dead fortu-
nate In that they did not live to witness
the terrible scenes of the last few
months.
The houses and towns, he declares.
nave all been robbed and nothing of
Nalue can be found In them. Inmate
or the dwellings were forced to leave
them during the massacre, and eyerv-
thing they possessed on earth was stolen
from them. The old man, the writer. his
wire and daughter were driven out from
hearth and home and took shelter under
the trees. where after their house had
neen looted. they were stripped of all
their clothing except the thin underwear
Which was of slight protection against
the bitter cold. Over $3.50, 900 worth of
property was carried off.
Ihere is no foundation, the writer de-
clares, to the story which has gotten
abroad to the effect that all of this
stolen property Will be returned to its
owners. 1t will never be given back. and
Out LOT Inc generosity of America they
would now be starving in the snow !"
Moreover a small Turkish bow has
more power in the streets of Harpoort
IMAM score of Christians, because he
mas the powers behind him. He can dor
them around, spit on them. persecute
.hem to his hearts content and they
nave no power to resent insult or in
JuIy' me old man adds with odd pathos
,hat not long ago he saw q Turk wear
ing his Ohe writers) trousers in the
street and could not so much as dare
TO ever ask him for them
10 make matters worse, the Govern
ment was beginning to collect taxes
again, when there was not even enough
money in the land to buy bread aud
taxes, the unfortunate Armeniaus can
see nothing before them but the lash and
dungeon.
II the people had not accepted Moham
lnedoniSmsthe slaughter would have been
niteen times as great as 1t was They
would nave been practically exterminat-
ed. and were obliged TO accept the faith
OF their oRpressors TO save their lives.
Ihey are Christians now, and are pray
ing for the intervention of Christian
powers so that they may again worship
COD openly and In peace. AS il Is they
| know not where to turn nor what the
morrow may bring forth. and another
massacre may be expected at any mo-
ment.
| The recipient of the letter is one of five
| from the stricken land and saws tina
the principal object of their tour Is to
| excite the sympathy of our people for
his countrymen. He and his friends will
be glad 10 give any information wanted
about the country and its condition
lie viii probably be here a week vet,
| An estimate based on the best figures
obtainable gives the quantity of beer,
other liquors and bottled water drank
yearly in New York City at 10000 600
1