Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-19
MRS. SAYAD WRITES OF
CONDITIONS IN PERSIA
Her Husband, Who Died During Siege,
Was Graduate OF Union ThcO-
logical Seminary I: TIL. city.

Was Graduate Of Union ThcO-
logical Seminary 81 TIL. city.
One of the members of the Grace
Covenant Presbyterian Church. whose
Sunday school class has been paying
the expense of educating Virginia
Sayad in Persia. has received pa =
thetic letter from VirSr;as mother
telling Of the child's death.
Mr.. Sayad was educated at Union
Theological Seminary. Richmond. and
was member OF Grace Street Pres
bytcrian Church lie was n Christian
atinS store to pay his expenses. His
widow Is a native OF Persia. who pic
lures her distress graphically in
broken English. Her letter follows:
July 20. 1915. Tabriz. Persia.
Dear Friend:
Long ago was in my mind to writc
you letter as ! feel that you could
expect n letter from your friends after
they had fallen in numerous troubles
For last six months we were detained
In American mission buildings. We
were cut from any kind of communi-
cations, even the city itself If any
person would stick his head outside
OF mission house he would risk his
life. To tell you our conditions pen
cannot write, but l will try TO make
II short and clear. On December %,
1914, while In our town we heard that
russians were ordered to leave the
city. To leave the city means danger
for the life Of all Christians, as Mo-
hammcdans and Kurds was in one
mind massacre all the Christians. On
Sunday morning when we hear surely
that Russians left we planned to take
some OF our household. go TO the city.
we hired wagon, n few Yards for
ward "e were backed home at the
point az the gun. Then We saw it
Impossible save our lives. In hundreds
Invited TO 20 to his Savior AT the
city-nothinE but few rags on our
oody, Ihat was the only clothes we
saved from al! we had
on account of so many pcooles in
yards there was no doubt to raise dis
case. So God visit Mr.. Sayad's mother.
ihen our two sweet daughters-one
kaiarinc Wildert OF I'VE years, also
Mary Of four years This added our
troubles more, as we los, both OF them
IN eleven days. Although We lost o,,r
TWO daughters. we were thankful from
Cod that none Of our family was taken
captive or murdered
Next disease was typhus. Our older
daughter Virginia. was first 10 fan.
Next was Mr.. Sayad then mvsc1< in
long period Of trouble. which was -
handle those sick persons in a small
room consisting OF ninety-five persons
we were afraid 10 death not to get I'm
sale. as was a common sight to soc
from NIFTY TO e!ghty-fve passing from
sn,s wor!a 70 next at every day. God
saved my daughter. also myself. but
| our head of family, Mr.. Sayad. he was
I invited to SO 10 his Savior AT the
''hc OF ms death | was not wc!l-his
death put me In terrible condition. 7
/ nave no help from anybody only nv
God. don't feel to write Won o,,-
present confederation PLENTY OF food
and clothes are left TO nothing. An
other sorrow was added TO my wretch
ed soul in death of my beloved
mother Also Mr.. Sayad's two sisters.
also their children. which makes II
eleven persons from our family. After
six months were released from our
cages in coming OF Russians. It
didn't help us much. because still there
WAS rumor OF leaving city With many
families We hardly managed TO leave
Cru!n!a for Tabriz. Al present am in
Tabriz. With my six head OF family
nave nothing To help me from any
source-thcre is only one who can
hclp-God.
The real cause Of the death Of Mr..
Sayad was frightening which he re-
ceived III his store. AT the time the
Turks were here he was ordered TO
in dryGoods. While waiting for them
kurd went in his store to buy pair OF
shoes. In asking the price he was told
he would be killed in short time.
These thoughts weakened his body SO
he passed away in eighteen days of
sickness. After seven days from the
date OF his death his store was sealed
and p!undered. This was the only hope
we had to live on-but 1t seem to me
we had to go through the furnace en-
tirely.
Now we are cleared down from ev-
eryth!ng but our souls. We have lost
our last helper. my beloved husband
Also have relatives or friends in lone
Illness left.