The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-04
Unfortunates Flock Into the
Sacked Villages and Find No
Food Nor Shelter.
SOME RELIEF WORK GOES ON.
Prosecutors of the Armenians Hold
All the Food Awaiting an
Increase in Price.
Correspondence of The United Press.l

CONSTANTINOPLE, TURKEY, Dec 21-
The United Press is able to furnish the
following, which gives the situation in the
various provinces OF Turkey, and also an
account of what is being done for the re-
lief of the destitute Armenians:
In the city of Trebizond DIR. Parmalee
and Mr.. Crawford are issuing food and
clothing to about 1000 destitute persons.
Many refugees have come IN from the re-
gion of Baiburt and Erzingan. About 5000
of these have crossed over into Russia,
where they can be secure from the sword
at least.
In the CITY of Erzeroum the wretched
people have been held in hopes of receiv-
ing back their plundered goods for some
time since the massacre, only to be disap-
pointed. Nothing of any value is to be
found. The villages of the province are so
stripped that about half of the population
is destitute. Twenty-four villages OH the
plain Of Erzeroum have been devastated.
In ErZingun thousands of men, women
and children wander about the streets in
hunger and misery. The offer is con-
stantly held before them that If they will
become Mohammedans they will be fed
from the bounty of the Sultan.
The villages of Pakarich, Abousdaia,
Hassan, Armedan, Gassna, Khuruakef,
Zimara, Pingian, Arver and others have
been pillaged Many people are wander
ing in the mountains without iood.
At Baiburt numbers of women and chill
dren almost without clothing and in the
most awful misery are constantly coming
into the city to beg aims among its ruined
houses. In Erzeroum w. n. Chambers
and his wife are doing what they can TO
relieve the destitute and care for the sick
with funds furnished by the Duke of West
minister committee in London.
Hardly village in the province of Bit
lis escaped pillage. In the Boulanik dis
trict of this province tbirty-eight villages
have been sacked.
In the city of Bitlis Cole and Knapp of
the American Mission, with their families,
are the only foreigners in the city. 1t is
hardly safe for Christians to go upon the
streets of the city as yet, but the mission
aries are rendering aid to the most press
ing cases in a cautious way.
AS many as 5000 refugees have rushed
into Van and are there houseless and with
out food The robbers have gathered up
the whole food supply of the country dis
tricts, and aided by the officials of the
country districts are holding it for rise in
price from the misery of the people and
the benevolence of the aid fund.-
DR.. Grace KimbalI and other members
of the American Mission are working in
the most prudent way to aid the sufferers.
The whole district of Silvas is given
over to indescribable misery, and if i'm
mediate relief is not sent famine will de-
stroy those who have escaped the mas
sacre.
In the city of Sivas the Rev. Mr.. Perry
and his wife and Miss Brewer of the
American Missionaries are trying to re-
lieve distress as it becomes more safe to
go on the streets of the city
Arabkir, in the province of Harpoot,
was pillaged by the Moslem inhabitants,
aided by rabble of Mohammedans from
outside the city. The Moslems continued
their work during ten fearful days. About
1000 Christians, of all denominations, were
killed, and every Christian house in the
city was stripped of all its contents. Over
1000 houses were burned. Efforts ara
being made to get money relief to these
people, but the difficulties are very great,
in view of the notion among the Turks
that money sent to Armenians is fair
plunder.
Twenty. seven towns and villages in the
province of Diarbekir have been sacked.
DR.. Andrus of the American mission at
Mardin has been supplied with small
amount of money for the relief of the
starving by giving work to refugees who
have gone to Mardln.
LONDON, ENG, Jan. 3-The corre-
spondent of the United Press at Constan-
tinople, telegraphing under date of Janu-
airy 2, says:
''The Porte has informed United States
Minister Terrell that Americans shall be
permitted to distribute relief to the Ar
menian sufferers at Harpoot without
hindrance."