The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-21
HIS LETTER FROM ARMENIA
PitifuI Scene Enacted in the Cleveland
POstoffice.


POstoffice.
Cleveland, o., Jan. pa number of
people in this city were given vivid
portrayal of the horrors of war by an
incident which happened this morn
ing in the postoffice.
Rev. Sarkis G.. Yenovkian, native
Armenian, but a naturaliZed citizen Of
the United States, for the past two
months has been a daily caller at the
general delivery window of tie postof-
flee. This morning, he made his usual
anxious call, and the delivery clerk
handed him a large envelope. y single
glance at the writing, and the next mo-
ment he was clutching cOnvulsively at
the rail. His face was a picture of men,
tai agony. He murmuTed:
My God! Oh, my God! My poor fam
lily"
Before taking the letter out Of the
clerks hands he guessed its contents.
For two months he has sffered much
distress and anxiety, trying to find out
whether his family were alive or dead.
His wife and four boys were in Marash,
Armenia, on November IS, the day on
which 900 people were massacred
there As there were but l., 900 in that
city, he feared his family was numbered
among those slain. In addition 10 this,
he had a large number Of relatives in
this town.
Within a few moments he recovered.
He leaned against the rail in the post
office, and, tearing open the envelope,
commenced TO read the letter. As soon
as he glanced at the handwriting, which
seemed 10 be familiar TO him, he buried
his face in both hands and sObbed. An
eager and curious crowd had gathered
about him, attracted by his sobbing.
and as soon as they found out what
was the matter quietly passed on. A
little later he read the letter. In the
first few lines he read Of one of his sons
being killed. Then he stopped. slowly
repeating the lines 10 himself several
times. To those about him il seemed
as if he was losing his reason. He again
commenced 10 read his letter, and. get
ting down a little farther, saw that a
brother had been killed. The climax
came when he read about his seven
brOthers-in-law having been killed and
their houses plundered and burned. He
put both hands upon his temples and in
his frenzy cried out. Then. as if he did
not know where he was going, Re hur-
riedly left the postofiiCe, leaving be
hind many a fearful eye.
Mr.. Yen0vkian was seen shortly after
by a reporter. His voice tremoled as
he spoke and his eyes hlled with tears
Every relative I had has been kill
ed" said the Armenian. y received 4
letter this morning, telling me the aw-
ful news. l am trying 10 bear up the
best I can. II l We're not 4 Christian. I
would al this time be a maniac. Just
think OF il. Thirty of my relatives IN
one house killed. And my brothers.
Nothing IS said about my wife, but I
know she IS among the number slain.
= "a ~T-m
too much - tell me that. The only rel-
ative I have living IS the one who wrote
this letter. L Is simply terrible"
Here = a translation Of the letter:
1895. December u,
Narash. Turkey-il-Asia
:. H The house Of your eldest bro
theT BragdassaT. was plundered and
burned. aud he is dead. Your second
oldest son tKiragos) is al the gate of
death. his property is ConfScated and
his house burned. Your youngest bro
Their John has been killed. his prop
erty burned and piUndered. the or
phans are now wandering the streets
without food or shelter.
The families belonging 20 your seven
broth=rs-iu-law are entirely wiped out
the orphans are destitute. and are
wandering the streets This Is Gods
truth. For Coils sake help Us.
(Sigledl Il :
SinSularly enough OF the very day
II the massacre IN which l.Ga5 persons
persisted. Mr. Yeuovkian became
alarmed Cor the safety Of his family
and Telegram hed 70 P-esi5sn; Cleveland
asking government protection f1- his
family as the family OF a.. American
citizen. To this communica ton Sec
retary 81 State Olney replied. saying
thal every preczution possible had been
taken oy this government for The prop
er protection Of life and property OF
American citizsas in Turkey.
on November 5 Nr. Eenovkisn read
a paper relating 70 the massacre Two
days later IL wrote % Minister Ts-r!Il