Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-05-06
THEY ARE SAFE
MISSIONARIES NOT HURT Ex-
CEPT BY ACCIDENT.
But They Suffer Very Much for the
Want of Food and Witness Many
Shocking Scenes.

Want of Food and Witness Many
Shocking Scenes.
There Is a total of thirty-three
American missionaries in Syria and
the Cicilian district of the vilayet
of Adana, where the conflict between
Mohammedans and Armenians are
raging the fiercest. With the excep-
ton OF ID. NJ. Rogers and Henry
Mourer. who were killed at Adana,
no one of them, SO far as 1t known
at the British or American embas-
sey at Constantinople or the offices
of the American board of commits
sioners of Foreign Missions, has been
injured.
The Mohammedans indulging in
massacres and incendiarism evident
foreigners. When in the midst of
the fighting and pillaging of Adana,
1t became known to the Mohamme-
dams that Messrs. Rogers and Maurer
had but lost their lives while at
tempting to put out a fire In the
house of Turkish widow, the fanat-
les ran away in alarm and practically
deserted that quarter of the town.
The missionaries appear to be In
danger only from accident arising
from the fact that they are in the
midst of frightful conflicts in which
they bravely seek to protect Chris
than refugees and conciliate their
assailants.
Rev. Stephen r. Trowbridge, of
the American board of commissions
ers for Foreign Missions, who is
stationed at Aintab, was in Adana on
the day of the fiercest fighting. He
made courageous but Intellectual
attempt to protect an Armenian
teacher. He threw his arms around
the mans neck and interposed his
body between him and his assailant.
but the Moslems shot the Armenian
dead in Mr.. Trowbridge's arms.
The greatest sympathy is felt for
the American women missionaries
who are alone at Hadjim, in the
northwestern part of the vilayet OF
Adana. Those women are now said
to be Miss Virginia A. Billings, of
Kirkland. o.; Miss Emily e. Rich.
ter, of Chicago; Miss Rose Lambert.
daughter of Bishop Lambert, and
a Miss Baldwin. Christian refugees
by the thousand have massed at
Hadjim, and for ten days now the
town has been threatened by Moham-
medans, whose camps completely en-
circle it.
Rev. w. w. Post, representative
in Constantinople of the American
board of commissioners for Foreign
Missions, sent telegram last Sun
day to Rev. III. M. Irwin, at Talas-
Cesarea, instructing him to ask for
strong guard of troops and go i'm
mediately to Hadjim to the assist
ance OF the beleaguered women
Hadjim is two days journey on
horseback from Cesarea. Telegraph
ic communication is very much in
answer from Mr.. Irwin. Today, how
ever, Mr.. Post received a message,
much delayed in transmission, dat
ed Hadjim Friday, April 23. 1t
says:
"Our sad condition is unchanged.
We fear fire. The people are taking
refuge in the churches. The out
look is terrible
William Chambers. an American
missionary at Adana telegraphed Mr.
Post from that place few days ago
as follows:
There are terrible fires near the
mission, which Is in danger"
The lack OF food, medical help
and shelter is very great among both
Armenians and Mohammedans in the
district distributed. Mr. Post has an
| admirable organization for the dis
tribution of relief If funds to this
| end were sent to him.