The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-05-05

| :"
beth 8. Webb. a missionary from
Bunker Hill, Ill. has written as fol-
lows Of the first days OF the massacre
In Adana. when the girls school to
which she was attached was in the
greatest danger:
"Our friends came to school as
rsual on Wednesday (April 21). Al
though we heard there was much un-
rest In the city. we went on with prep
arations for a school entertainment TO
be held next day. Soon firing began
and before noon we were afraid to
send the day scholars home. There
was constant firing. We tried to 60
on with our annual meeting. but were
interrupted by the screaming In the
streets and the shooting.
"Mr. Chambers attempted to go to
the government building for a guard,
but found II impossible to get through
the mob. Our Turkish children wept.
and we thought II would be possible
to send word Of our danger by Turk
who had come 20 take them home.
Accordingly. notes to their fathers and
to the governor were written but
there was no response.
Fire began to fare up in all d.
rections and We were fearing that the
rioters would break into the school
building. Finally about 8 O'Clock
there came knock at the gate and
In walked the English consul. He left
three Of his guard Of Turkish soldiers
to take care Of us.
IAN through the night we seemed
to be In a state Of seige. '.t"
In the meantime fires about the
city had increased and the sound OF
shooting could be heard from every
point. At last the consul passed. He
was able to spare only one man. but
Thought 'this one would be more use~
fui than the other three. who had run
away. Soon after fires broke out in
the adjacent streets. Unless some
thing was done speedily our school
building must be destroyed. We had
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 appar-
ently they were not directed against
us. 4~
'If our building burned. the Cham
bers house must burn also. Our 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
o. our yard. A shed on the opposite
side Of the street was also torn down.
About this time we were horrified to
learn Mr. Rogers and Mr.. Maurer had
been shot. It seemed that they had
been lighting 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 Mr.. Rogers only lived q few min
utes. The Rev. Stephen r. Trow-
bridge. who was near them at the
time. escaped.
"A new misfortune overlook us. Our
guard Of one man disappeared. I
came to my room where the girls
were writing. For me to tell them
what had happened would only cause
a panic: so I said: We have done all
we can; now let us pray
Before had finished praying the
bugle OF the consul's guard and the
Turkish officials with whom he was
patrolling sounded. He could not
spare a guard. but promised to send
ono Immediately. It was terrible
situation; women and girls practical
ly alone In the building. a murderous,
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 widow of one of
them. Mrs. Rogers. with her infant.
ten weeks old. to comfort. The after
noon and evening passed and no
guard came. The following day we
learned that the British consul had
been shot In the arm. That night
young men from Gregorian and Prot
estant committees patrolIed the
streets around our building. The sit
uation was grave. A great crowd.
bent on plundering. had gathered at
the rear of our house for an attack.
Our Armenians asked those below to
send one man to confer with a repre-
sentative Of our side.
This was agreed to. but In place Of
one man. hundreds started to come.
They demanded that wa eive nm our