The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-11-06
THE ARMENIANS.
Eighteen Of them Depart For Their
New Homes.

The Terrible Experience of Dignon Ger
agesean-The Refugees Receive Every
Kindness Hero.
Yesterday morning the Armenian
refugees left their comfortable quarters
at the Atlantic house and proceeded to
the headquarters Of the W. c. T. u. on
Free street. Here good breakfast was
served which they apparently enjoyed
thoroughly. These men are all as neat
in their personal habits as the most
fastidi0us and Mr.. Bibber said shat in
all his experience he never saw better,
or neator set Of men. They are, AZ we
said yesterday, very quiet party. An
air Of sadness pervades them. This Is not
wonderful when one realizes what they
have been through. Mr.. Allen, who was
present at headquarters yesterday, and
who speaks Armenian fuently ohatred
with them and translated for the benefit
of the PRESS reporter. Some of them
have not seen their families for six
months and do not know whether they
are dead or living.
One of the party had terrible ex-
perience. His name is Dignon Gera-
gasian. He WAS In tho vicinity of Har-
poot at the time Of the massacre. A
body of Turkish soldiers attacked
number Of defsnseless Armenians, of
which he was one, Strengthening and
mutilating them in every way. This
man struggled with his assailants, but
was overpowered by tremendous blow.
and then the Turks poured kerosene oil
on his body and set it on fire. This had
hardly been done when they were called
off from their victim by orders to 90
elsewhere and Mr.. Geragasian managed,
by rolling over and over in the dust. to
extinguish the flames. Not, however.
before no had received terrible wounds,
the great scars from which his body bears
today. In the darkness of the night he
was found by some plying peopla who
harbored him q few days until his
wounds were healed sufficiently to permit
down to Constantinople, struggled
aboard vessel going to Marseilles where
he joined the party coming to America.
After breakfast four teen Of the refugees
were sent to their new homes at Bangor,
Rockland, and other points east. After
dinner one went to South Berwick and
one to Windham. Two competent
mechanics have secured good places in
Portland through the efforts Of their
countrymen. Two will 20 to South
Bridgton today and one to West Lebanon.
Applications have been made for the
others and the committee will send them
where the situations seem most adj
vantageous One of these, the youngest,
is very bright and about eighteen years
of age. One is not very well. in fact be
has not been since he left Turkey, but
DR.. Lawrence Dana attended him yester-
day, and he felt much better in the after
noon.
When these ref ugees were sent out
every one was provided with an envelope,
on the outside of which was printed his
destination, and the name Of the party
who was to meet him, and inside was
placed his name, ticket, and a request to
wire headquarters W. G. I. u, Free
street, Portland, ii anything went wrong.
By this way it Is the in tent of the W. G. T.
U. here 10 keep in touch with them all,
and the W. G. T. U. people in the neigh
borhoods where they have gone will also
look after them with motherly care.
Through the kindness of some of the
leading dry goods dealers, every man
was furnished with warm under cloth
ing, wooden stockings and great coats.
while other dealers provided stout boots
and shoes. The bills for transportation
and for board at Ellis island have beer
heavy, but there ais no doubt that the
Kindness Of our citizens will REIN burse
the W. g. L. U. of this city for what
ever expense TO which they have been
nut.