Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-10-29

AFTER many months, Lne ldCIS nave
at last got out of Turkey concerning
the deportation" of DIR. and Mrs.
Floyd /. Smith and their baby, mis-
sionaries of the American Board at
Diarbekir; and the story is one that
in normal times would arouse the
American nation to a fighting pitch.
Hard on it's heels comes the news
of the sudden and mysterious death
of another American board mission
ary, Mr.. Knapp, at the same place.
There are intimations that he was
foully dealt with by the Turkish Off
cials, but no proof has as yet reach
ed America. So far as the facts
are known, Mr.. Knapp reached Diar-
bekir one night apparently in good
health, under military escort en- route
to Harpoot. The next morning the
officials announced that he was "seri-
oiusly ill' and, shortly after, that he
had died.
The sensational experiences of DR..
Smith at Diarbekir give color to the
fear that Mr.. Knapp has been muir
dered. What American missionaries
think of conditions in Turkey at pres
ent is clear from the simple fact that
all of them who could do so have sent
their wives and children out of the
country; and American diplomatic
and consular officials have done the
America are to be called upon to
face another Boxer madness, this time
in Turkey, remains to be seen. The
opinion of missionaries is that If, by
the sacrifice of few American lives,
the Irresistible Indignation of the
civilized world may be aroused over
the Armenian atrocities and an end
put to these, the price paid would
be small.
More than one person in this coun-
try is now in possession of the we'll
nigh incredible story of how an
American citizen was robbed of his
passport and denied his mail and all
right of appeal to his government,
and driven from his home, carried
across the desert under arrest and
put into a foul hole called prison,
and, after further removal, imprisoned
again and tried by Turkish court mar
tial. Staggering as in the story, this
is it's first publication, although read
ers of this column were informed
months ago that the Smiths had been,
for reasons unknown, deported from
Diarbekir.
The scene of the first of the out
RACES upon DR.. Smith is the ancient
Roman city of Amida, now called
Diarbekir. AS this city stands on a
great precipice overlooking the Tigris
river, and fronting toward the noun
tains of Persia, it has been strategic
center for all the conflicts that have
ragged over this classic region since the
days of Sargon the Great, of Assyria.
BABYLON, Persia, Greece, Rome, Islam
ard the Crusader, have fought Tor
Diarbekir: and its "big mosque" was
originally one of the most beautiful
churches of antiquity
Kurd, Armenian and Arab con-
verge in Diarbekir. There is also a
Jewish settlement in the city. I'M
portant as the walled city is, the
American board has for years had
only one representative in it, mis-
sionary physician and his famlly:
There are no other missionaries or
any name, and no consular representa-
tive. except a British vice-consul, VINO
had to leave When turkey anu bFildiii
declared war.
The archives of the consulate were
turned over to the American mis-
sionary, but as the Turks tried to get
them. a British missionary woman
who was passing through took the
responsibility for burning them' 10
keep them out of Turkish hanos.
American Representative Slain
Recause II Is so remote a spot, the
turkish officials seem to have felt free
70 60 to lengths of high-handedness
that are never dreamed of in the rela-
tions between nations.
British subject, named Albert
Atkinson, was sent to Diarbekir and
Imprisoned. He carried a paper from
the American Consul General at Con-
stantinople, Hon. G. Bic Pavndl, say
ing that he was under American pro-
lection. He implored the missionary S
help, but the latter could do nothing.
Atkinson was kept in prison for long
time and then killed.
The local agent of the Singer Sew
ing Machine Company, an Armenian,
was tortured and slain. Matossian,
the representative of the Standard OIL
Company, was reported dying in
prison, and when the American mis-
sionary called on him he was refused
admission, as were also members of
the mans family. Let him die like a
dog" said the guardS and he did die,
that same afternoon.
The Gregorian bishop was terribly
and fatally tortured. At first his
beard was burned off, as an insult.
Then later his fingers were pulled off,
his teeth knocked out, two holes
knocked in his skull. kerosene poured
on the body and the match applied.
Even members of parliament were