The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-05-21
The Horrors of Armenia.
Ninety Thousand In One Province Alone ar
Starving.

Starving.
Letters have been received in Boston
from various parts of Turkey, stating
that about 80, 600 Armenians in the Sivas
province are dependent upon what is given
to keep them from starvation. Thus far
relief in this province as far as it has been
given to foreigners has been limited to the
j smallest possible amount, but the destitu-
ton is increasing and those who are dis
trbuting relief should know what further
sums they are to expect. Many OF the
people are now eating roots which are
good for food. Arrangements had been
made for the relief of the district about
Gamerek, but the Vail OF Sives has re-
fused to allow this to be done. Unless
definite instructions are sent from Con-
stantinople to the Vail to allow relief to
be distributed it will be difficult to carry
on relief. Al least so, 900 will be re-
quired to carry on this work. An exact
census has been made Of the needy and
destitute among the ArmenianS OF Curun.
The inky blackneSs OF the ground as tar
as eve could reach over what was once a
most attractive and beautiful place, show
ed at a glance what d terrible foe tire may
become.
The PROSTATE walls of fifteen or sixteen
hundred homes, that formerly were nestled
SO costly in the midst OF as many thrifty
fruit gardens. were only to be seen where
once was every indication OF prosperity
and contentment The surviving people
are huddled together in herds in stables,
sometimes in solitary room left from the
general Wreck-all that remained stand
Ing of once comfortable home. The
miserable people We're clothed IN rags,
confined to the person only by a string
around the waist, and this constituted all
the wearerS had to cover their bodies.
The government was attempting to Issue
ratons to the miserable people The
ration consisted OF a part OF an oke OF
wheat for each person, doled out once IN
five days. But the government sometimes
fails to issue the rationS on ''ratlon day,
much to the sorrow of the miserable peO-
pie. Mothers besought help in securing
the restitution of their captive daughters.
BY actual count there are :, 1910 persons
in Gurum that are in need OF daily bread
to prevent their starvation. For two and
one half months they have not received
any help from the government, not SO
much as one grain OF wheat, and what is
true of Gurum is also true of many other
lHClC AlltSii oiShASoo eeioo III
some of the villages.
Typhoid and typhus fever are preva-
lent. The thanks Of these people are sent
to those who have sent contributions for
the relief of their needs, but vastly more
is needed to complete the work under
taken in their behalf. Shepik consisted
of Sc houses, but now it has only 20 of
the poorest buildings left, and these have
no windows or doors
The village had 40 inhabitants. Fifty
three of the men, mostly young men, have
been killed, and now it has AT persons,
many of whom are widows and orphans.
They all live in wretched houses, without
beds and without sufficient clothing. They
have been robbed so that they have not
kernel of grain in their stores, no beds,
no clothing, not even vessel to cook food
in. Thus far they have received only
$40, and until this time they have not re-
ceived any clothing or beds. They are
agricultursts. But what can they do in
the future? They do not know, because
they have no implements, no seed, no
oxen and not even a pillow.