The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-01-08
DESTITUTE THOUSANDS.
An Outline of the Situation in Turkish
Provinces.

An Outline OF the SITUATION In lurklsn
Provinces.
Constantinopic, Jan. 4.-The follow
ing gives an outline of the situation in
the various provinces of Turkey and
also an account of what is being done
for the relief of the destitute Arneni-
ans: In the city of Trebizo nd. Dr. Par
malice and Mr.. Crawford are issuing
food and clothing to about 3,000 desti
tute persons. Many refugees have
come in from the region of Baiburt AMI
Erzinga. About $500 of these have
crossed over into Russie, where they
can be secure from the sword. at least.
In the city of Erzercum the wretched
People have been held in hopes of re-
ceiviug back their piiii,lercI goods for
some time since che massacre, only to
be disappointed. Nothing of any value
is to be found. The villages of the prev
inccs are so stripp,l that about half
of the population is destitute. Twenty
four villages on the plain of ErZeroum
have been devastated. In Erzingan
thousands of men, women and children
wander the streets in hunger and
misery. The offer is constantly held
before them that if they will become
Mohammedans they will be fed frrm
the bounty of the sultan.
The villages of Pakarich, Aboush-
dajh. Hassan, Armchair, Gassna,
Khuruakef, Zimara, Pingian, Arver
and others have been pillaged. Many
people are wandering in the mountains
without food. At Baiburt. numbers
of women and children almost without
clothing and in the most awful misery
are constantly coming into the city, to
beg aims among the ruined houses.
In the city of Erzeroum, Mr.. W. N.
Chambers and his wife are doing what
they can to relieve the destitute and
care for the sick with funds furnished
by the duke of Westminster commit
tee in London. Hardly a village in the
province of Bitlis escaped pillage. In
the Boulanik district of this province,
3s villages have been sacked. In the
city of Bitlis. Messrs. Cole and Knapp,
of the American mission, with their
families, are the only foreigners in the
city. 1t is hardly safe for Christians
to go upon the streets of the city yet.
But the missionaries are rendering aid
to the most pressing cases in cautious
way.
AS many as $4,000 refugees have
secured into Van and are there house
less and without food. The robbers
have gathered up the whole food sup
ply of the country districts, and aided
by the officials of the country districts
are holding it for rise in prices fr'm
the misery of the people and the
benevolence of the aid fund.
DR.. Grace Kimball alsd the other
members of the American mission are
working in the most prudent way to
aid the sufferers. The whole district
misery, and il immediate relief is not
sent famine will destroy those who
have escaped the massacre. In the
city of Sivas Rev. Mr.. Perry and his
wife, and Miss Brewer, of the Amer
lean mission. are trying TO relieve DIS
tress. as it bee ONES more safe to 60 on
the streets of the city,.
Arablir, in the province of Harpoot,
was pillaged by the Moslem inhati
tants, aided by rabble of Mohamme-
dams from outside the city. The Mos
lens continued their work during ten
fearful days. About 1900 Christians
of all denominations were killed, and
every Christian house in the city was
stripped of all it's contents. Over 2,0C0
houses were burned. Efforts are being
made to get money relief to these peo-
pie, but the difficulties are very great,
in view of the notion among Turks
that money sent to Armenians is fair
plumber. Twenty-seven towns and viii
lagos n the province of Diarbekir
have been sacked.