The Penn's Grove record., 1903-07-17
wAH AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN
PERSIA.
Mrs. VIM. s.. vanneman Writes
of Threatening Dangers

PERSIA.
Mrs. VIM. s.. vanneman Writes
of Threatening Dangers
The wife Of Dr. William S. vanneman,
who has been at Urumia, $50 miles IRON
Tabriz since last October where nel
three daughters have been attending
school, writes as follows to Mrs. hoper'
N. Yanneman.
Urumia, Persia, June 18th, lSO5,
MY DEAR MAY planned TO leave
here last Tuesday and arrive in IaDri2
last night, but while / was planning, tne
Kurds also were planning. They are
the fierce mountain tribes which noio
the whole country, especially the people
OF this plain, to whom they have easy
access, in great fear. They are to TINS
country something like the Indians we're
to America several hundred years ago.
At this particular time they planned an
attack on some of the Christian villages
four or five hours to the west OF US, sack
ed and burned five villages, killed all
they could lay hands on, and stole al
the focks in the villages surrounding us.
They threatened all the Christians n
as they know no law nor do they nave
any mercy, VIZ felt for a week or SO, oui
time might come any day.
The worst Of it was that the govern
ment was not lifting one finger to stop
their awful work. The governor, Whom
| think wanted to respond to the appeals
of DR.. Cochran, our physician, made IN
behalf of those in danger, was AFRAID &c
do anything without orders from the
central government at Tabriz, five days
distant. He said he could not expose
one of the Kings soldiers to danger
without especial orders, SO DR.. Y. tele'
graphed to the English Consul General
in Tabriz and to Will to stir up the au'
thorities there and send us help. Inc
Consul was out Of the city beyond tele'
graph communication and did not return
until two days later, when he telegraph
ed in reply that help would come IN two
days. That two days was a week n IN
the meantime, the Knrds for some rea'
son known only to themselves, ceased
active hostilities, instead of making
strong attack as they threatened. Luck
ly for us this was, or / might not DC
writing you today.
For the present there is peace, but the
roads, especially over the mountain pass
is still considered unsafe. While IN
Tabriz there has been a great uprising
against the government giving the GUS
toms into the hands of the Russians, and
therefore the feeling against everything
foreign is running high. At least that
was the news a week ago. In the mean
| time | am stranded here and / am afraid
it will be very hot to travel later. | have
no idea when / a go. The children are
| going on with their studies, but | am
anxious to get home to give some direc-
| tions about things I want done IN the
new house. expect poor William will
never want to be a bachelor again, and !
| imagine he has found out a m isn't
a bad thing to have about a house. This
! is a beautiful fertile plain and an very
comfortable and happy here, but for all,
there is no place like home is there?
June l5th-The mail from Tabriz is in
this morning and as there is no special
trouble at present, / am planning to leave
here the 23rd. Win says things are
quiet, but the situation is serious. The
Belgian in charge Of the customs, and
put in by the Russians, had to have a
government escort to a village a day out
of Tabriz, for fear anything would hap
pen, and the Mullah's (priests) says if he
returns they will kill him.
lido feel a little shaky about taking a
five days journey over such a lonely
road with the whole country in such a
| ferment, but | must get home and l will
have good servants, SO ! will attempt it.
/ took a picture Of some old pottery a
friend gave me here, dug from ash hills
in two villages, supposed to have been
deposited by the ancient fre-worshipers,
but one of the hills was said to belong to
the time Of Isaiah by a scientist who
| came here for the purpose Of investiga-
ton. The picture, however, did not turn
/ out well, but / will try it again after |
get home.
We have recently had a visit from
Professor Jackson, of Columbia Univer.
sity, who is writing a book on Fire-wor.
shippers. Some OF this pottery was dug
up for him, but as he could not carry ii
all, it was given to me.
Salem County Board Of Agriculture,
The quarterly meeting of the Salem
County Board Of Agriculture will be held
| in the Borough hall, Woodstown on Wed.
nesday afternoon, July %, at 80 o'clock.
! After the usual routine OF business is at.
tended to, Prof. John B. Smith, State En-.
tomologist, Of New Brunswick, will deliv-
er an address on "What shall we do with.
out birds?v
B. F. Strengthen, Of Pedricktown, who
has had considerable experience, will talk
on Gardening for the home table,
A discussion will follow az to the time
and subjects for the winter institute, to
be opened by CLARK Flitcraft.
There will be the usual opportunity fol
questions, and a large turnout is invited
of farmers and their wives, and all inter.
ested in these excellent and helpful meet.
inuc