The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-01-18
BRIGANDS OF TURKEY
AMERICAN MISSIONARIES KILLED BY
BULGARIAN ROBBERS.

Death OF Mr.. Cohiug-Two Cases OF
Particular Interest That Occurred
Forty Years Ago.
There have been suggestions that
the abduction of Miss Ellen NJ. Stone |
by Bulgarian brigands was in reality |
by the Turkish Government.
and that the arch conspirator was TO !
be found in the Yildiz Kiosk in Con-
stantinople. That, however. Is not at |
all likely.
OF course the Sublime Porte hates
all missionaries, because. through their
schools particularly, they educate the
people too much. But it fears the Eu-
ropean powers too much to resort to
any openly violent acts. and contents
itself with petty persecution, which
can be construed as coming under the
laws of the country. such as they are.
Even in the great massacre of 1850.
IN the Lebanon, which was practically
prompted by the Government, the mis-
sionaries were left undisturbed as far
as their lives and property went. There
have been numerous cases, neverthe-
less, where American missionaries
have been killed by robbers, and two
of them are of particular interest.
They occurred nearly forty years ago,
and the first crime appeals especially
inst now because 1t was committed In
the region where Miss Stone was kid
naped.
On July 8. 1862. Rev. William W.
Merriam, a missionary OF the American
Board, stationed at Philipopolis. was
returning to that city from CONSTANT
nople, where he had been to attend the
annual meeting of the mission. He was
in a wagon. there being no railroads
In those days, and was accompanied
by his wife and family, and two or
three native attendants.
At noon Of that day Mr.. Merriam
reached the town Of Hermanli. where
he lunched. and then set out on his
journey. The country was infested
with brigands, but Mr.. Merriam had Of
ten traversed 1t in safety and had no
fear. Notwithstanding the fact that
bands of robbers had been seen In
the vicinity.
The September issue Of the Mission
airy Herald Of 1862 has a graphic &C
count Of what followed, written by Mr..
Crane, of Adrianople. Mr.. Crane says:
"They were informed Of danger Sew
eral suspicious persons-armed horse
men-had just passed through the
, place. The villagers, alarmed at the
sight of the horsemen, endeayored to
| dissuade Mr. Merriam from proceeding
but as others were willing to start
they apprehended no danger. They
had gone but few miles when five
J mounted brigands attacked them.
'The Government guards ran on the
first appearance Of the robbers. This
! left them defenseless. except so far al
they might hope by their numbers OIL
any demonstration Of resistance to in
timidate the bandits. One of the rob
bers, dismounting, seized the horses o.
Mr.. Meriam's wagon. which was IN TIT
van. Mr.. Merriam drew his revolve
and warned the man. who Instant!
dropped the bride, while the driver. III
energetic Mussulman, whipped up hi
horses to escape. They sprang forward
and Mr.. Merriam, thinking escape Ger
tain, turned and remarked to his wife
Thank God, my pistol has saved us
The robbers, however, soon com
menced firing in quick succession a
the wagon. A ball at length struc
one Of the horses and he reeled an
fell.
'eThe brigands still firing, Mr.. Mel
lam, fearing for his wife and family
got ND and was in the act Of alightin
when he fell pierced by two balls
his right side. One of the two robber
then sprang forward and stamped o
his face and head"
This brutal murder aroused gres
! commotion, and the entire machiner
, of diplomatic influence was moved
| avenge 1t. The Turkish Governmer
. acted with what, for it, was promp
ness and arrested a number OF mel
) Although Mr.. Crane. in his report
: the Missionary Herald. mentions OIL
3 two robbers. yet three were sentence
to death in October, 1862. The
4 ! names were Balsam, Ramizan an
q Khaleem, and their execution expiate
!. the death of Mr.. Merriam.
q In March of the same year Jacksc
4 G. Coffing, a missionary at Adana.
Asia Minor, was killed by robbers me-
a Alexandretta. On March "a Mr.. Co
. fing was journeying from Adana
Aleppo, when he was set upon by hig
waymen in the mountains above Ale
!, andretta and shot in the side. Tv
: days later he died in Alexandrett
where he was taken by his servant
the robbers having escaped.
A rather picturesque incident is co
!. nected with this murder. 1t chanc
that at the time there were one Anne
AN and two Italian gunboats in t
70 .iarbor of Alexandretta. The Anne
;. can commander was intensely arous
). over the affair, and sent perempto
:. demand to the local officials that t
% murderers be caught and punisht
1 lie uOt kCt AdSh ootiSAoNeAvA "
of them, and decided on more stringe
measures.
The Italian commander sympathiz
le with him entirely, and the two La
a out a plan Of action which speed
10 brought the governor Of the provir
to his senses. They wasted no furtf
is time on argument. They simply clear
" ship for action and trained their gu
1t on the town. Then they waited.
pc a very short time man named 4
p. med was arrested, and on Septeml
IS was executed. There has alive
been more or less Of suspicion Il
Ahmed was only an unfortunate sea
lie goat, and that the real murderer
a. capped, but with the American a
"a Italian guns staring him in the Il
~. Doubo did mt want fo take q