The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-03-06
On the Scene Of the Recent Massacres
In New Turkey-EVen the Men
Who In Cold Blood Slew Americans
Are Permitted TO Walk at Liberty.
Ey WILLIAM :. ELLIS.

ing Chinese, in the great famine Of
four years ago. But no experience
l have ever undergone has been so
depressing as a visit to Adana, the
center of the Armenian massacres Of
a year and a half ago. Throughout
these Investigations in Turkey, Adana
has kept arising as a specter
Now / have seen what remains to
be seen of that holocaust of blood and
fire and pillage The heart of the
city is still in ruins. People are only
beginning to rebuild. Widows and
orphans bulk largely in the popula-
ton. A measure of self support is
coming through the picking of the
cotton crop, at which family may
earn as much as % cents a day. IL
seemed to me, as l walked about the
streets of the city, and had pointed
out to me individuals as we'll as
neighborhoods which had been re-
sponsible for a share Of the five thou
sand deaths, as if there were a Gym
ical leer upon the faces Of the Turks
who watched the stranger pass.
A Pail Upon the Country.
I came down through Asia Minor to
Adana and two days back in the
Taurus mountains I was told that
Here the massacres began" The
Christians were harried through
many villages and into Adana and
Tarsus. The whole region ran blood.
One cannot enter into conversation
with a group of people without quick
ly hearing echoes of those awful days.
I chanced to meet six prisoners just
out OF Jail, where they had been i'm
prisoned since the massacres, because
they had defended their village
against the Turks who assaulted II.
Some of the stories Of the defense
of individual homes and village COM
munities are thrilling to the last de-
gree. One English speaking young
man told me quietly when / ques-
toned him that he had not been in
Adana at the time, but In nearby
village which had successfully resist
ed the attacks of the Moslems. At
the last attack, when the Turkish
soldiers and the fanatics came upon
them, the men of the village moved
In a body outside the walls, to make
there last stand for their homes
and loved ones; for they knew II the
butchers got within the gates, all
would be over.
The massacre swept like forest
fire over all this beautiful region. 1t
gives a visitor a creepy feeling to
have resident point out to him, here
and there, an individual who led In
the attacks upon the Christians. The
real leaders in the massacre were
never punished. To the credit OF
the yourg Turks, be 1t said, they
hanged ffty-six unimportant persons
whom they held responsible. On the
spot find an ominous questioning as
to whether the party in power has not
been obliged to make terms with the
reactionaries.
Unavenoed Americans.
It comes as a surprise to learn that
nobody has been punished for the
cold-blooded murders OF Rogers and
Maurer, the two Americans who were
shot down while engaged In carrying
water to extinguish fire. The very
names of the murderers are men
toned here. 1t would seem as II the
simplest kind Of detective work on
the part of the government could find
the culprits. l saw the exact place
CT the tragedy. The men were shot
from a window that was pointed out
to me, while they were engaged In a
work Of mercy. 1t was not random
balls from a distance-the nature OF
the street precludes that-but we'll
aimed shots from the home OF well
known citizen. occupied at the time
by Turkish neighbors. Trowbridge.
the third American. escaped only by
falling on his face.
Here arises an important question.
The safety of all other Americans In
i uIhty Is w ehO
nifty of the murderers Of Rogers and
Maurer. The fanatics have not been
slow to spread the news that two for
eigners had been killed ard nobody
punished. If this may be done with
impunity once. why not again? Amer
leans in this part of the world are
quite perturbed over the situation.
and they point to the well-known
rsage of Great Britain in following to
the bitter end whosoever sheds Brit
III blood. The deepest instinct OF
nationality calls for the protection or
citizens abroad The department of
State has filed a caveat with the
turkish government. so that the way
Is yet open to demand the punishment
of the offenders and indemnity to the
FAMILIES or the slain. II - true THar
a few persons Of no consequence were
punished for the murders Of fifteen
thousand Christians; but nobody has
been punished specifically for tie
death of the murdered Americans.