The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-02-07


ter published. But the friends of Miss Hes
here in Owosso feel that the personality which
she gives to the account supplies an interest
which, II left out, would detract from the letter
Miss Hess asks lin seperate note to hel
friends) that they make some two dozen copies
OF this letter on typewriter and send TO friends
OF hers, whom she hopes may give her help say
ing, II know what great thing am asking
but these people are starving, freezing, dying
In abject misery and am right in the thick o.
it," We publish the letter that the people oi
the county may know the exact facts and the
real condition existing in the far away LAND
whose inhabitants are practically held at the
point OF a revolver and liable to be murdered al
any moment.-ED.
MARAsH, TURKEY, Dec. 4, '95.
DEAR FRIEND:
| 1 have written various cards and letters
in the past few weeks, hoping that some
might reach you and re-assure you concern
ing our personal safety. In them have
only dared hint of the terrible scourge that
threatened to sweep our Protestant civiliza-
| ton out of existence in the general war of
determination that seemed to be waged
| against all Christians.
think that it was Oct. 16 that the news
reached us that the articles" were signed.
The ignorant Moslems thought that it meant
the turning over of the government to the
Armenians and storm began brewing at
once.
The next day a Moslem was killed in a
drunken quarrel by an Armenian, and when
the friends were coming back from the
funeral they proposed revenge and killed
several Armenians. Eight to twelve Ar
menians are considered an equivalent for a
common MOslem here, and never do they
fail to have revenge In full measure. A
and was killed and mutiated at his own
door. He was the leading man in our First
church, and from his ''little all" had given
$500 toward the building of this college.
We deplore greatly the excuse that was Civ
en- by the killing of the Moslem, but we
since learn that there was plan to keep
perfectly quiet and massacre the Christians
in the churches the next Sunday. The AS
Immediately fled from their shops and the
whole city was in a panic. Armed police
were brought to take the city girls home and
we were naturally troubled as to the out
come. No Armenian showed himself out
side his yard, but suburb in plain sight
from our school on the hill to the south
west was attacked by Moslems, men shot
and beaten aud dragged off to prison with
wounds from which many died. One man
had his hands cut off. The women, only,
were left to the tender mercies of the
Moslems. There was much talk about
coming up and burning our buildings, and
friendly Moslems warned our native helpers
to leave. Mr.. Lee sent cipher telegram to
Constantinople, and Minister Terrell re-
piled, saying that our protection had been
ordered by the Porte and our Pasha was
held responsible. No guard came and mat
ters were worse, so the two gentlemen
called upon the Pasha. They asked il they
might not have permission to visit the
wounded at that suburb where the trouble
had taken place, and asked that guard be
sent to take care of our property. The
Pasha, who has the ''polish" and dress, and
probably the education of Frenchman to-
gether with the diplomacy OF Turk, told
Mr.. Lee that he had received orders from
Constantinople two weeks before to take
especial care of the Americans, as there
was pot ON hand by the Armenian revo-
lutionists to kill the missionaries here and
lay It to the Turks; that Minister Terrell
had known of 1t, etc. Therefore he begged
Mr.. Lee not to go out In the streets at all
as for 'those people"-well, Mr.. Lee had
better 90 back to his school. With the
most elaborate and oriental courtesy he told
Mr.. Lee what might be translated and con-
densed into ''you mind your business and
| I'll attend to mine." Furthermore he went
on to explain this trouble was the work Of
the Armenians. That Zeitoon had risen,
and he had sent for 10000 troops, who
would be here in week from Aleppo and
the South. That Amenians were leaving
their houses and several families were liy-
ing together; that the Moslems were afraid,
etc. What did 1t mean?
or course Mr.. Lee came home beaten.
His life would not be worth anything II he
should venture out. We knew there was
no truth In the accusation that Christian
would kill him, but he would be killed, and
then what cry would be raised against
those Armenians, of whom he had been
warned. Al for any other person-Chris-