The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-11-19
Missionary Who Was Stationed
At Adautfazar, Turkey, Relates
Experiences

From Fridays OauY.
Miss Sophie S. Holt. who spent Ave
years as missionary among the Ar
menians, arrived in this city today,
and when seen at the Thomas home,
T12 South Broad street this after
noon by a Free Press reporter told
Of some interesting experiences dur
ing her work abroad. Miss Holt was
stationed al Adabazar. Turkey, and
was a teacher I'm the girls high school.
which was operated by an Armenian
board OF trustees and the American
missions. There were about 200 pu-
pills enrolled. all girls, from little tots
up to young laties. The teaching
faculty was composed OF three Amer
lean teachers, and about ten Armen-
ian teachers, who were graduates of
the school or had studied abroad. The
Bible was taught in the school, I'm con-
nection with regular course OF study.
The Armenians are all Christians"
said Miss Holt. @They were. the first
nation 10 accept Christianity, and al
though they worship in a crude way.
they have continued 10 be Christians.
The Turks are all Mohammedans. Ad-
abazar is a city OF about 10000 in
habitants. or this number one third
are Armenians, one-third Greek, and
third Turks. We found the Ar
inenian pupils quick ut memorizing,
and fond Of study.
When the news OF the war first
came all banks were Immediately
closed down. and mobilization of the
army began at once although IL was
three months before war was actual
" declared by Turkey All those Ar
menians who could afford 10 do so i'm
mediately started sending their chill
dren out OF the country. This was the
first war I'm which Armenians had TAX
en- part. and as they had no military
training they were put to work In the
roads, and in other positions where
they would not be called upon for
service in battle. Haryests were left
ungathered. and the entire. country
was in a pitiable state.
The Central Turkish government
shortly afterward ordered all Armen-
ians expelled from the country. Their
property and lands were confiscated.
and they were forced from their
homes. with no money and scarcely
any food. and shipped out OF the city
by train loads They were eXiled to
Mousoul. MesOpOtamia, a barren cOun-
try north OF Arabia, and were COM
PEELED TO make the latter part OF the
Journey on foot and in carriages. many
OF the men being slain by the way,
and the women stolen by Turks. Aft
er months OF hardship they came TO
a. l,a. 10 hn ttrlr
gave as their reason for this action
that they we're afraid the Armenians
would join the Russians. But the real
reason was that the Turks wished to
exterminate Christianity, and force
the Armenians TO either accept Mo-
hammedanism or death. American mis-
sionaries were also deprived OF their
property. and many died OF hardship"
Miss Holt went from Constantin-
ople TO De Agath by train. and after
waiting for ten days secured passage
In boat for Naples. She had with
her four Armenian girls whom she
was bringing TO their relatives and
friends in America. and when the par
~ reached Naples they were detained
as prisoners. and only secured their
release through the intervention OF
the American consul. French boats
were afraid to give them passage TO
America. but they finally embarked
I'm an Italian boat, and reached Amer
lea after a thrilling journey, last Sep
TENDER. Miss Holt spent some time
with her parents I'm Duluth after see
ing TO the safe disposal of her Ar
menian charges. She will deliver an
address at the Christian Endeavor in
stitute tonight and win leave tomor-
row for The College of Missions at In
tifanapoIia. and take a course Of study.
After the war Is over may go back
TO resun,e my work among the Ar
menians." stated Miss Holt. That IL
II there are any Armeniahs left. II
there are none | do not care tn 60"