The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-05-22
.ERz|NGAYS HISTORY
IS VERY FASCINATING
According to a Bulletin lust Is
sued by the National Geo.
graphic Society.

WAS1lNGION, May 22-The
desperate resistance with which thu
Russians are meeting in their ad-
vance from Trebizond and Erzerum
upon Erzingan focuses the limelight
OF public attention on one Of the
most fascinating interesting cities Of
Asia Minor. from an historical and
legendary standpoint. according to
the war geography bulletin issued to-
day by the National Geographic Socl-
ETY. from its Washington headQuar-
tiers, which says:
with population variously esti-
mated at from $4,000 to $4,000, half
OF whom are Armenians, the town Of
Erzingan, situated on the right bank
of the Kara Su tblack river. the
western branch OF the upper Eu-
pirates, seems destined soon to wit
ness another momentous struggle for
race supremacy on It's neighborlng
plains. a struggle even more bitter
than that waged here six and half
centuries ago between the Turkish
Seljuks and the Mongols. Two CEN
turtles previously, at about the tiiue
that William the Conqueror was sub
DUNG England. the Seljuks, under
their great leader. Alp Arslan, had
established themselves firmly In Asia
minor by the defeat OF Romanus Do
genes, the Greek emperor whose rise
to power dated from the hour when
he was being led to execution for
treachery. His manly grace awaken
ed the ainorous fancy of his empress,
who committed his death sentence to
that Of royal nnnq0rf
Tranquil Little City.
I'm times OF peace Erzingan Is n
tranquil little city. with one wldo
thoroughfare and many dirty, I'M
paved alleys. 1t is important as a
military post, and has clothing, tan
merry and boot factories in which
modern British machinery Ia used.
Silks. cotton goods and copper uten-
sils were among its manufactures
before the war.
1.-THE fertile, well-watered plains
surrounding the town are threaded
by fairly good roads extending to
four points OF the compass-to Ire
bizond. seventy miles by air line to
the north. to Erzerum. eighty miles
east; to Kharput, seventy miles
south, and to Aflum-Karahissar
sixty miles northwest. the last named
noted for its poppy fields and opium
trade, as its name implies. (Black
Castle Of Opium.
The most pictureque episode in
the history OF Erzingan concerns the
establishment Of the famous Armeni-
IN monastery OF st. Gregory. eleven
miles south of the town. Gregory.
the reputed founder of the Armenian
church. and called the Illu-
minator to distinguish him from the
great fathers Of the Eastern church
OF the same name. was son OF q
uarthlan chieftain who. in the third
century OF the Christian era, was
brtbed to assassinate the Armenian
king. Chosroes. Many years later. IN
order to atone for his fathers treach-
cry, Gregory entered the service Of
Chosroes's son and successor. Tiri.
dates. but when the youth was COM
manded to sacrifice to idols he re-
fused, and his identity wa8 discov-
cred. He was thrown into prison
where he languished for fourteen
years until summoned before tho
king, much Us were some of the
Biblical prophets. Gregory was en-
treated to cure Tiridates, who had
been changed into wild boar and
attacked many OF his subjects.
With a sermon Of sixty days dura-
ton Gregory restored Tiridates's
reason and was proclaimed q saint.
while the ruler became the first
Christian king Of Armenia. One Of
the most interesting features Of the
legend Is that part of 1t which con-
Germs the cause of Tiridates's manian