The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-05-04
BLOODY ADANA
Miss Elizabeth Webb Tells of
Armenian Massacres
RECITAl. OF EVENT

Woman Missing 'Recounts Happen
ings in the Midst Of the Reign
of Terror, When the Reform Fore
es Slated Its Savage Fury Upon
the Sultan and Troops.
Miss Elizabeth S. Webb, mis-
sionary from Bunker Hill, ILL.,, has
written as follows Of the first days OF
the massacre in Adana when the
girls school to which she was at
tached was in the greatest danger:
"Our friends came to school as
usual on Wednesday<(April 21). AL
though we heard there was much un-
rest in the city, we went on with
preparations for school entertain
ment to be held next day. Soon mr.
ing began and before noon we were
afraid to send the day scholars
home. We tried to go on with our
annual meeting, but were interrupt
ed by the screaming in the streets
and the shooting.
"Mr Chambers attempted to go to
the government building for
guard. but found it impossible to
get through the mob. Our Turkish
children wept. and we thought 1t
would be possible to send word OF our
danger by a Turk who had come
eSto take them home. Accordingly
notes to their fathers and to the
poyernor were written but there was
Pno response.
"Fire began to flare up in all di-
rections and we were fearing that
the rioters would break into the
school building. Finally about
o'clock there came a knock at the
gate and in walked the English con-
sui. He left three of his guard OF
Turkish soldiers to take care or us.
Gail through the night we seemed
to be in state Of siege.
Fires Increase.
..Tn the meantime fires about the
civ had increased and the sound or
shooting could be heard from every
noint. At last the consul passed.
He was able to spare only one man.
but thought this one would be more
useful than the other three. who had
run away. Soon after fires broke out
in the adjacent streets. unless
something was done speedily our
school building must be destroyed.
We Fad hung Turkish flags on all
sides OF the building, but this did
not stop the thousands engaged IN
the riots from firing their weapons
although apparently they were not
directed against US,
.If our building burned the
Chambers house must burn also.
Onr only safety seemed to be to
check the flames. The women and
girls carried water, while the men
cut down the shed and an old house
in the corner Of our yard. A shed
ON the opposite side of the street
was also torn down. About TINS tlme
we were Mortified to learn that MT.
Rogers and Mr.. Maurer had been
shot. 1t seemed that they had been
fighting the fire and were with the
other men cutting down the sheds.
They were brought into our dining
room. Mr.. Maurer already was dead
and Rogers only lived few minutes.
The Rev. Stephen r. Trowbridge,
who was near them at the time, es-
caned.
ga new misfortune C?ertook up.
Our guard of one man disappeared.
came to my room where the girls
were writing. For me to tell them
what had happened would only cause
panic: so I said: we have done
all we can: now let lis pray
A Fearful Situation.
"Before had finished praying the
hugle of the consul's guard and the
Turkish officials with whom he was
natrolline sounded. He could not
spare guard. but promised to send
one immediately. Tt was a terrible
situation: women and girls practi-
cally alone in the building, murder
ous. bloodthirsty mob outside. with
knife and bullet for the Armenians
and the torch for their homes. To
add to the misery. there were the
dead on the floor below and the Wild
ow Of one Of thom. Mrs. Rogers. with
her infant. ten weeks old, to COM
, fort. The afternoon and evening
]. A.nassed and no guard came. The fol-
y lowing day we learned that the Brit
ish consul had been shot in the
arm. That night young men from
Gregorian and Protestant commit
tees ratrolled the streets around our
building. The situation was grave.
A great crowd. bent on plundering.
had gathered at the rear Of our house
: for an attack. Our Armenians asked
s&hose below to send one man to con-
SSsfr with representative of our
ne.
S'This was agreed TO. hut in place
ore nan. hundreds started to
bme. They demanded that we give
gMr orr arms. but this meant certain
death. We decided to take the girls