New-York tribune., 1909-05-03
PERlLS OF AMERICANS
MaSs Wcbb Tells Of Days Of Terror
at 4ddn0.

Adana, May (via Constantinople, May 2).-Niss
Elizabeth S. Webb. missionary OF the American
board, from Bunker HiI ILL., has written for the
Mission Board narrative of her experiences
during the first days of the uassacres in Adana
when the girls school to which she was attached
was In the greatest danger and the lives OF the
students were threatened from all sides. She
says:
Our friends came to school as usual on Wednes-
day CApril 2D. Although we heard that there was
our pIepara tons for a school entertainment which
vas to be held the next day. Soon firing began
IN the city, and before things were in such
a disturbed condition that were afraid to send
to study, as there was constant sound of firing
we ourselves tried TO so on with our annual
meeting, but the reading OF the reports was in
lerrupted by the screaming in the streets and the
shooting, which evidently was close at hand.
Mr. Chambers attempted TO go to the govern
ment buildings for guard but he found it impos-
Iurn- Two Of our Turkish children were present;
ana we thought it would be possible to send word
them home. Accordingly. notes to their father and
TO the Governor were written, but there was no
As night came on fires began to fare, up in all
directions, and we were fearful that the rioters
would break into the school buildings. Finally,
about o'clock there came knock at the gate and
in walked the English Consul. You imagine
our relief at sight of him He had heard Of the
disturbance and had come from Mersna to in
Xestsate- The consul is Major Doughty, ,Wylie:
bs R could o & stay only H moment but he 10 et three Of
OF us.
GUARDS DESERT THEIR POSTS,
All through the night We actually seemed 10 be
IN state OF siege. The three soldiers kept firing
mnaret houses t near by B tbe morning our oi gr
diScovered-whether it was new discovery or not
whose fire they had been returning were Turkish
Us We're friends whom We knew by name. After
good deal OF parleyins the firing on our building
stopped for the time being Finally, in spite OF
the fact that the consul had said they must remain
until he returned. the guard insisted that they
clImbed The wall and Tan away
creased and the sound OF shooting could he heard
from every point. At last the consul passed. He
this one You'd be more useful than the other
three soon after the consul left fires broke out
IN the adjacent streets. and unless something was
stroyed We had hung turkish 45gs on all sides
OF the building but this did not stop the thousands
engaged IL the riots from firing their weapons al
though apparently they were not directed against
II our building burned. the Chambers house must
9urn also Then where could We go Tor SAFETY!
Our only safety seemed TO he 10 check the flames.
cut down the shed and old house in the corner
OF our yard; shed on the opposite SIDE or ne
way that the progress Of the fire could be stayed
MIR ROGERS DIES IN SCHOOL
Abqgt ] tas tine We ers noTTed t n 10 lean n+ that
seemed that they had been 7ghIinE the fire and
were not with the other men cutting down the
sheds, They were brought into our dining room
lived a, few minutes. The Rev. stephen! Van =,
escaped, a!thoush bullet took of his hat
man disappeared. Things looked pretty dark. [
came, TO my room. where the girls Fere seated; ted;
happened would only cause a panic. So / said;
h1Fe doa5 ei 80 We an, , Ho@ ~ ~ u bi n, tho
consuls guard and the Turkish officials with whom
fortGnatefr he coSid not spare guard for US but
promised 10 send one inmsdIateiy IL vas was a te7
in the building: murderous: bloodthirstE mob out
the torch for their homes. To add 10 the miseTE,
there were the dead on the 439T eel0" ON ana Ts tE. m
The flames We had been lighting finally died out;
but fires could in all parts Of the city and
the sound OF shooting was constant Ihe 81 BTlusa i
Consul had promised US guard but he Afternoon @
Major Doughty-Wylie had been shot in the arm
ARmENIANs PROTECT BUILDINGS.
That night young men from the Gregorian and
Protestant communities patroIled the streets
% around Lo55 our 6C4S om.ed S of sdder Es6e bash
bazouks and rabble. bent on pundering had gath
[,nii,r krnenians A steadv ire was kept up on
both sides; that the part OF our Young men
was intended only 10 frighten the crowd and. u
psiIed - nose belov-: we are brothers: don't
IRE and asked them 70 send one man 10 confer
This was agreed to. out in place Of one man
hundreds started to come Ihry demanded that ne We
meant certain DEATH Finally Nj Trow6ridge
talked with them from a window This, 100 ialled-
The greatest danger. OF course We lor tne slIIS,
and decided 20 take them TO Mr. CharnoerSs
order, two and two across the street TO the house
of Miss Wallace, the English nurse; then through
hole in the wall which had been opened Tor
emergency. and through the yard out into the
street again, where they reached the ChaInoeTs 5
gate
fusion in this house and yard Refugees covered
everywhere. Both house and court apparently nad
been oveTfowing with refugees before our ARRIVAL:
but we added TO the number more than a huIdIto f
from house and about eighty girls and teach
ers Our girls and teachers were calTnest OF all.
MAN SHOT IN MR.. CIIAMBERSS ARMS.
Mr.. Trowbridge returned from the school TO say
that the only hope for SAFETY To any Americans
seemed 10 be to tho school, staying there
alone separated from the Armenans He declared
that we were poweTless to save the Armenians II
seens that after left the school Miss Wallace
tempted the street from Miss Wdilac%S 10
the school Just at this time mob rushed around
the corner The infuriated Turks recognized the
preacher Armenian, and although MI Cham
hers threw his about him and did all IN ms
mower to save the mans life, they shot him dead
Not a single Armenian would they leave alive tilo
assassins shouted. Mr. Chambers dragged the
nodv of the murdered preacher into the building
You can see how powerless we were.
Miss Webb relates how Mr.. Trowbridge persuaded
4o,,r zabties TO go with him the government
bo,,se 20 demand protection Two Of them deserted
hin, on the way, saying that they were afraid OF
y,eiDg killed by Armenans Everything was in con-
fusion at the government house. and after long
DELAY a detachment Of 10 troops sent to their
-e1ief In concluding her narrative Miss Webb
says:
7 ,orqot 20 say that the British Consul sent
,oassage 10 the governor Friday that II this thing
-rsr Tof stopped he would demand of the govern
met and Of the commander of the troops satls-
factorv explanation. Whether or not theg W.
.1oueriess TO stop the dreadful work before thls
- 80 Lnow but, any way. then II stopped
We bear and II seems quite possible, that because
f tfa disturbance in ConstantiEople. the ofhciaS "a
ala know which side to join. so they