The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-16
NEEDOF RELIEF.
What Must Be Done for
ArmenianS.
Description of Hardships by a
Reliable Correspondent.
The Earnings Of a Generation OF
Thrift Are Swept Away.

IL from al AmSIiCdH correspondent ih
Turkey, describing what has been done
and what needs to be done for the Ar
menians:
The largest field of destitution Is that
which receives relief from Harpoot as
distributing center. 1t contains 100, COO
souls who are in need of relief. Some
S113, 635 have been distributed TO about
go, 600 souls. This gives to each soul
less than one half Turkish pound, about
S2.25. Ii has kept them alive, nothing
moro. Tie relief commission have
given food, clothing and bedding, few
tools, and, TO some little capital 10
stare them in business, but tho funos
at their disposal have been too scanty TO
allow them 10 supply tho needs OF the
people at all adequately.
In one Of nine villages visited the
people had begun to cut the timber
growing right around the village prepara-
tory to building few rooms In which
they may ind shelter the coming win
ter. la another the people were making
brick OF mud with which to ouild. in
the other seven villages there was 10
sign of any intention 10 build. They
have no money 10 buy timber, and they
have no heart to make any effort. Tney
still fear also that any effort to improve
their condition will call down upon them
another attack. The earnings of gem
Grafton of industrious, thrifty men ana
women have been swept away under con-
ditlons that leave them no hope or In
centive to take up the struggle again.
But il no houses are built this summer
the coming winter viii find them twice
worse off than they are now.
Hoolou, formerly the largest and
wealthiest village on the Harpoot plain
contained three large and fine churches
belonging to the Gregorian, the Protes-
tant and the Roman Catholic communi-
ties. The houses OF the village were
we'll built, two stories high and con-
tanning many rooms. But the ruin OF
the village has been complete. With In
finite pains the destroyeis fired the
houses, using petroleum to make sure
of their work. Now only the walls stand
and these are badly injured. On one
wall high up in the air exposed to rain
and sun there still hung photograph OF
n family group. 1t spoke eloquently OF
the home that had been there--a Christ
ian home. There were the faces of father
and mother and children looking down
upon the ruins OF their once happy home,
while below in the street men ana wo-
men on whose faces their sorrows nave
stamped an impression that can never be
effaced, pointed TO the ruins ana wept.
Relief money has not built any houses
for the sufferers. They have huddled to.
gether in sta ables and in the corners OF
half ruined houses. The government re-
lief commission has estimated that S2I2,
725 are needed to build shelters for the
people whose houses are burned, allow
ing only i've Turkish pounds Tor each
house.
Another sight as sad as the ruined
houses is that of the fields lying fallow.
In some respects this Is sadder sight
because II these fields are not ploughed
within twenty days before the rains
wholly cease, the ground will become
dry and hard 70 that 1t cannot DO
ploughed and no seed will be sown in
the fail. There will be no harvests next
year and that means starvation. The
CRYING need OF the people now Is the
cattle to till their fields. Without these
the future offers them no prospect OF re-
lief from their Indebtedness and misery.
Death alone can bring release from suffer
ing. Actuated by the hope of gain the
merchants have brought cattle from
Mosul and the adjacent districts and are
Offering them for sale in the villages OF
Harpoot plain, but the poor villagers have
no money with which to purchase. 1he
relief money has not given cattle.
An inspection of the rooms in which
the people now live show them TO be
bare and omfortless, destitute OF even
tho necessities Ct life. The greater part OF
the people have no beds. All winter they
have slept on the floor with no coverings
over them. Families that once had
twenty sets OF bedding now have only
one or none at all. The sick and tho
well huddle under one quilt. Mothers
bring forth their babies without even
bed on which TO lie. Some SIS, 1S0 have
been expended for beds and clothing
which have bee" given 10 the people, but
this is only drop in the bucket. The
multitude have received nothing as yet
for beds and clothing. Their clothes
a.. hay t1n n r.
menis to enable them 10 wash their
clothes. Ons pitiful request frequently
heard is that of little money to buy
soap so that they can wash their clothes.
Relief money has not provided 1.-THE OF
the beds and clothing needed Tor TINS
district.
In most OF the houses there are no
cooking utensils, in many petroleum tins
arc used for cooking; In others there Is
nothing and no food cooked. The people
ent bread alone. Relief money has pro-
vided them with n scanty supply OF The
simplest food. Three tlmos during tho
winter and spring relief has been DIS
tributod to the villagers. Now the
money is exhausted, and Tor month
no relief has been distributed. Many OF
the people arc again on the verge OF star
yation. The villagers are in oxtrone
need, while IL relief should be cut on
from the cities such as Malaiia, Arabkir
and Palu multlluueS Woulu ule ih bhol'
time.
In the village of.Ashwan their supply
could only last them day or two, aud
IN scmc houses food was already ex.
hnusted. with no means OF procuring
more. But the village OF korpe was In
n still more wretcned plight. Personal
inspection OF the houses showed that
their food supplies were exhausted. In
every house there was little bundle OF
grasses gathered from the iields. This
was the oniy iood with many. Beneath
tho tan on their sunburnt faces thcre was
n aallow, sickly color. Mothers sat 10y
the little bundles 81 grass and held their
babies 10 their empty breasts. The tops
OF trees around the villages had all been
cut of during tho winter. taken TO the
city and sold for money TO buy food, ana
now the bare trunks stretched out tnsir
mutilatea stumps of branches ~ ~ 10
plead for pity on this desoiated village
IL Is said that the scnsibiliiics OF Shris-
Or. Hcbbs Lifdc Liver TiiiS
uauy act gently yet promptly ou-tae