davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1918-10-27
The Only Christian Armenian Girl to Escape at La
Turks and Kurds and the Wicked Harems Of the s
Officials Reveals, for the First Time Details of the
and Seizure of Thousands of Young Women, WI

ON these pages ten weeks ago began the story Aurora
Mardganan, the only Christian Armenian girl to escape
" the Turkish massacres Of the Christians in Asia Minor
which began in her city TchemeshGed Harpout three
years ago Easter Sunday
Little Aurora father and elder brother their death
the hands Of the Turks Aurora although only fourteen
wedeveloped and very pretty girl The Turkish governor had
already marked her for bis harem he promised to spare her
mother and brothers and sisters she would Join his slaves
but her devoted priest and her mother refused the
sacrifice The Pacha summoned all the Christian and
sacred them The Turks carried OF to their Of
prettest girls
Then the 1000 Christian women and children of her
city Aurora taken into the desert where she stolen by
Musa Bey the notorious Kurd Chfan Musa Bsy sold
Kennel Efend She escaped BY jumping into the Euphrae
She has told Of the fate Of the young Of Keban Maiden
and Of the Butcher Shop at arO how she stolen the
second time from her mother; of the cruefxon Of sixteen
beautiful Christian girls Maaa Of the fate Of the school
girls Of Kirk Coz Of the cruel in the "Chanel City,
Of her being sold into the house Of Had Ghaour of the raid
monastery the plains; Of the German officers at Dyarbe
and their beautiful victims To-day she tells Of the
Devils Gorge"
With the permission Of the American Committee for Armenian
and Syrian Relief Of New York City the diary Of her terrible sxpe
rnces win Be continued from Sunday to Sunday these pages
until she tells Of her arTivel IN New York
The Washington times., 1918-10-27
fOOntinEed from Last Sunday
CHAPTER Xi

DON'T know now II was G0d spoke TO me When j
prayed to Him in the crevice of the rocks outside
- Diyarbekir, as told last Sunday but am sure He
heard my prayer and did not want to take my life
with the knife had carried from the house of Captain
Walsenburg.
It seemed as If He answered me, 'Not yet Aurora
not yet" So threw the knife away and stood up. The
Zapteths who had seen they from somewhere
beyond the pass between the rocks found
resigned for whatever to happen, and did not
from them.
They asked me where had come from, and told
them had out from the city; that wanted to join
some of my peoples that if they would not harm me
would not give them any trouble still had the three
lra three pounds which the good Turkish lady had
given but knew if gave it to them then they would
only search for more and then perhaps kill So
told them would get money for them from
of my people if they would let join company that
was not to be killed
"Maybe all will be killed; maybe not ALL We do not
know. Come with Get money and we will let you
i've This one of them said to me.
walked with them little ways, until coming
toward us long line of refugees Then the Zaptiehs
halted and from what they said to each other knew they
had been sent from village little ways behind to
join the guards escorting this party.
Soon the party drew near The Zapteths said must
stay the front of the ne and that they would
after while and hunt for me- and that must have
money they would take off and kill me. They
to few hours later and gave them the three
again.
The party of refugees had joined was from Erzerom
and the little cities in that district My heart eaped with
joy when saw among them few Armenian men. 1t was
the first time had of people for long, and
happy for the whose husbands and fathers
could still be with them. When l led up to this
party by the Zaptieths the first see me- held
out their to They thought 1 one. of the
girls of their party who had been stolen the night
before When told them had escaped from the house
of the German officers in Dyarbekr they glad for
me- and lady who had lost her sixteen daugh
ter the Turks said might take this daughters place
and march with her. Another little daughter six years
old still with her.
There two thousand, or little more Armenians
in this party. They all that left of 10000 Ar
menan families who had been deported from Erzeroum
and nearby villages Erzeroum $50 miles directly north
of Dyarbekr but the Armenans there had been
Dyarbekir in two directions. Some had come by way
of Erzndjan and Maata. These had walked almost 300
miles Others had come by way of Khmyss and Bitlis,
and these had walked $50 miles The survivors of both
parties reached Diyarbekr at almost the time
those who by way of Bs had been kept for many
days at towns along the route
The only friend the Armenans at Erzeroum had when
they being assembled for deportation the good
badveG pastor) Robert Stapleton the American vice
CONSUL whose home is in New York City Dr. Stapleton
took all the Armenian girls he cOnd crowd into his house
The Washington times., 1918-10-27

So the villagers paid money to the Zapeths and then
swooped down upon and took away our animals and
carts. They would not allow to take what few be-
ongngs the carts and the pieces of bread saying
they had bought everything the carts contained from the
Zaptieths.
In one of the carts two little girl twins nine
years DID, whose mother had died at Diyarbekr. They
being taken of by their aunt, who had three
times brbed soldiers to let them Alone until she had moth
ing more to bribe with She had hidden them in her
ARABIA thinking she could them and spare them the
weary walking The villagers who took her cart refused
let her take them out He said they went with the cart
The Washington times., 1918-10-27

have hindered the Turk from stealing the little girls
At the next village came to the Zapteths de-
cided they would have to have more help if they
were to ENJOY the license customary among them
along the road AT this village they stopped us and
held long conversation with the mudir or Village
chief. Soon after the mudir approached, followed
by twenty thirty of the most evil looking Turks
ever saw. They looked as if they might have been
convicts In the prison which was IN the village
Each one Of them carried gun and wore on his
sleeve strip of red woollen cloth, the badge of po
lice authority.
When we went along these Turks were dis.
The Washington times., 1918-10-27

told they might keep
these until they reached
0urfa. In the arabas
they had hidden many
small pieces of bread
which they had saved
from their occasional
rations at Diyarbekir,
hoping thus to provide
against the sufferings Of
starvation along the
road. But when they
reached the rocks the
pass was so narrow that
there was great trouble
getting the ara ba s
through.
Some Turkish vii
layers from the other
side had come to the
rocks, and when they
saw the trouble the ref
ugees were having with
their donkeys and ara.
bas they asked the Zap
tieths guarding US why
they could not have the
donkeys and the carts
instead of us. The Zap
tieths told them if they
would give some money
to be divided among
the guards they could
The Washington times., 1918-10-27

The woman was erazed, and screamed
loudly. She attacked the villagers with
her hands. An Armenian man was near,
and he and many women rushed at the
Turk, who was alone. Three Zaptieths
rushed up. but the women and the man
were determined, and the Zsptieths were
afraid to help the villagers. They told
him to let the aunt have the two little
girls.
Although there were about 1000 ref.
ugees in this party, / could count only
eleven Zaptieths sent along as guards.
As many men as could be spared by the
Turks at Diyarbekir had been sent north
to the army. and the supply of guards
for refugees was very short Had there
been more ZaptIeths they would not
The Washington times., 1918-10-27

Desert Kurds.
These
Tribesmen
Were Armed
by the Turks
and
Given Full
Permission to
Do as They
Pleased to the
Armenians.
This was the
SuItan's Bribe
for Their Help
in the
Campaign
Against the
Russians.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-10
THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY.

France and the other allca have gust
kept mcmorably the American national
holiday On JULY ii. the French national
holiday will bc rs memorahiy observed
throughout the lnitcd States and IN All
the Entente countries Tho anniversary
Of the fall az the old roval castle Of tho
Rastic recalls the downfall Of French
icuda!iSrn with its privileges and upprps
SONS. the rise of common men 10 political
power. the elevation ~ the disprivlrgrd.
the spread OF liberty over Europe Through
whatever Weaknesses and reactions France
since 1880 has hcrn q leader in democracy
rs IN civilization ON her SOIL the final
hight for democracy and liberty is vet t. bc
decided. with the rest of the tree world as
her ardent wcl-uishcr or her fellow sol
dicrs Her sufcrInCs, her energy. her
valor. her brilliant NJ hilary skill. her
steady endurance, have endCared her Ia
All free nations and Won ncw respect
for her even from her brutal enemy
Nothing IN her long history. renowned
in arts and III arms. can compare even
fcchly with her history n tins var
Her Fourteenth OF July * become,
like the Fourth. international a festival
al sympathy. 81 remembrance, of gratl-
tudc and hope t. al her allies 10 Latin
and "AnElo-Saxon civilization Ter
HOLIDAY has taken on new sco,ie and
symbolism 1t Is become, Ike the Fourth.
Democracy DAY a memorial end prom
isc of the triumph OF freedom The dc
struct on of the mighty fcudal desrot SIN of
Germany Is the common purpose Of the
peoples that are 10 keep the fourteenth
OF July.-New DIRK Times
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-10
U-BOAT DIFFERENCES

lis Premier Lloyd George right when
ne says the submarine has ceased TO be q
menace and remains but a nuisance? Is
the French | nder Secretary. quoted by
Vice Admiral Won Capcllc, German min
Istcr of the navy. right when he says that
two-thirds OF the submarines have been
sunk? Is the American Admiral Sims
right when he says that the curve of de
,tructIou and that Of the building Of new
submarines is now against the latter
process? Or is the German Vice Admiral
right III his assurance to the Reichstag
that these assertions are all gross exag-
gerations. and that the variation In the
number Of slnkIngs by the submarines and
OF the submarines themselves are OCCASION
al and not determinativc? Is he right when
he says that there is still an average Of five
big vessels sunk a day?
Internal evidence might be on the
side of the vice admiral if there was
equal probity and responsibility for
statements with the German officials
as with American But there is not !;
the military feel warranted in any as
surances to quiet the people But this
does not answer the question AS a matter
OF fact The declaration that more subma-
rines are being built, and Of better type
should arrest the attention Of the Allies.
and particularly this country. Not to
underrate the enemy is a maxim of unim-
peachable worth. And the United States
would do well to strengthen in all respects
its measures and instruments against the
submarines. Baltimore American.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-10
HARVESTING TIE RIVERS.

Slowly the United States IL making
Roadway IN the movement 10 put IT'S
inland WATERWAYS Ia better Use
The enlarged Erie Canal was opened
for service on MAY -. The same agency
ot the Federal government that rs IN con
troll of the railroads IS "a operate boats on
the Erie Canal Such old harges as were
available about 400 IN number were
Communicated, and the construction of
new harges has been undertaken
few days ago Charles \ Pruuty.
of the DIVISION Of Public Service Of the
National Railroad Administration, made
a report to the director general OF rail
roads. Mr. McAdoo, IN which he RECON-
meudrd the construction Ut harges for
Misslssippi River use and their operation
by he government as n part al tho trans
portation system directed by Air Me
Adon Presumably the hargcs would also
I've operated on connecting canals
The work Of harncssInr the rivers
Of tho nation already has been DELAYED
too long II IS well that the government Il
moving ri last to utilize its inland water
WAYS rs 4 means Of relieving traffic CON
gcation on the railroads Tho develop
mcntq in thus important field should 10 Of
permanent benefit Chicago News
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-10
PRESS COMMENT.


The plan TO relieve freight congestion
in New York tv organizing n drayage
system under Federal control, is one oil
the most interesting forward steps whIch
the Director of Railways has yet sane
toned Most Of what has been done
hitherto IN tho way OF bringing order
out of the railway chaos has been, after
ALL pretty well IN line with accustomed
principles Of railway operation, or elsc,
as in the case of ,oInt Use OF terminals
and other facilities, has aimed to get rid
of admitted cv Ii OF competition. FEEDER
nj control, however. has stopped Mt the
terminals. The new drayagc director
and his staff now propose to push the
freight along on its final stage, and de
liver IL tn The conslgncc.
This means of course. n virtual taking
over oi local drayagc companies, with
their equipment and men, and IN wolves
new Federal relations with labor and
private business. In principle, however
there seems to be as good reason why the
government. now that II - operating the
railways should assume the delivery of
freight Ia the warehouse or stor. of n con
slgncc. as that IT should deliver parcel
post matter In any event, the new tie
parture will make II easier Ia determine
how far freight congestion is chargeable to
tho inability OF the railways 10 move what
Is offered. and how far TAI the dilatory
methods of consignees IT, MS is hoped.
government tlrnYagc makes possible mn
increase of from 80 To 50 per cent in the
volume Of freight which moves in and out
nj the port of New York, we may expect
Ia see the plan adopted elsewhere New
ork Evening Post
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-10
Community Sing" Beucdiction

II would he real pleasure were II
possible, 10 translate into words the
cheer and uplift that find their way into
ones consciousness through Community
Sings such as last evenings The
establishing Of these weekly occasions ot
melody and praise was ht,lc short Of An
inspiration To people living under such
tension MS Is imposed by the Worlds War
these Tuesday evening sings come as an
oasis IN a desert Of apprehension, The
old-tlmc, familiar melodies. too. arc the
foes Of sorrow or fear. Those who have
son or husband or brother who have gone
into the battle zone in PARKWAY France
find comfort and assurance IN these
songs Of praise and glortication which
a,ssuage their dread, and lift their thoughts
coniidingly above
Onc can almost imagine that tho
echoes 81 thus chorus must he scnScd to
our friends and loved oncs overseas, and
that they carry there the prayers and
bencdictIon nf o whole community
Concrctcly. these sings illustrate IN
their personnel how closely this modern
Armsgcddon has welded people to-
gcthcr. and how still morc closely arc
they bound by these vibrant chords OF
song and thanksgiving
Only some great cause could form the
background for such gatherings IS last
nights when thousands afoot stood
three short hours listening eagerly to the
splendid message that camc from threats
but ht1le trained in the art Of vocal
expression
The community sing not forgetting
lis most capable leader-is playing q
great pant in this great crisis. for not a
soul Of the thousands who crowded the
plaza, last night, but went away with q
song IN bis hart and his sorrow or anxiety
transformed INTO Joy and trust, with indeed
an increasing sense OF his nearncss 70 the
Infinite
These sings increase our love of country
and those who fight with us in the great
war against organized evil they bring
renewed and frmer conviction that We
and our Allies are on the side of night and
truth, and that right and truth must win
and end wars for all time
Wonderful is the Language and power
OF song
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-10
Concrete Ships.

While the Federal authorities havr
not yet expressed favor for concrete
ships for war purposes, the demands OF
private transportation have encouraged
their building And from reports received
they arc proving a success. IL may bc
they will be continued permanently.
Most of the concrete vessels thus far
built have been of small size, from motor
boats and bargcs TO 5oO-ton cargo carriers.
But in March last there was launched at n
Pacific coast port the concrete steamship
Faith. of 5000 tons, which only recently
completed her maiden voyage from San
Francisco TO Vancouver, with a cargo Of
1900 tons Of salt and copper ore Her
voyage was most successful. although she
encountered gales of from 40 10 so miles
an hour ut times. She weathered them
all, just rs any other good ship would
have done.
Although interest IN the subject has
been aroused To greater extent than
ever during the past year, concrete
vessels are out OF recent origin The
first one was a concrete ruwboat, built m
1s4Q. Nothing further in this line was
attempted, however, until 1887, when n
concrete barge was constructed in Holland
There was another lapse until 1897
when concrete scows and harges were
constructed in Italy, and afterwards the
construction was regular. especially in
France. Norway and other foreign coun-
tries. But the Faith rs The frEt ocean
going carrier cargo steamer To he con-
str1ictcd of concrete.
II looks, therefore, as though the
construction of concrete vessels OF various
kinds will hc continued II the Faith
proves a success as an ocean boat. others
Of like character viii follow And after
All. vessel should bc like bowl in
that It will float. no matter what material
may bc employed in it's construction,
So long as II has tho requisite strength.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-10
THE EVENING SMILE.
THE DENTISTS TROUBLES.

Tho dentist has hs troubles
After working ON woman who hmt an
cxtravagnnt couture 10 impede hls pro
gress and handicap ls manipulattons,
DIR Pullem right name withheld 10y adj
vcrtsinp Department.. sighed his reiief
and motioned for her 10 arise
The woman pulled herself together
looked into n mirror aud then again seat
cd herself IN the chair
Il an all through with your teeth, the
dentist told her.
Il know the woman answered. hut
aren't Won going To- fix up my hair
youngstown Telegram.
Traffic Cop Come on What the
matter with YOU Truck Driver I'm
well. thanks. but me engines deadf
Buffalo Express.
'yon wish 10 remain entirely nm
known" As # u for charity yes. Just
hll me "a Americas greatest actor, and
let il go ~ that Life
Colonel Didn't Won hear me give The
command to fix bavoneta2 Private
YES. colonel tut my hayonet Is all
right there's nothing wrong about u ~ IL.
iiSei ionkers Statesman
First German statesman 4apprehehFtve
~ do Won thlnk there il ntihlng N
this reported American tnyaMon' Sec
ond ditto gloomllyl There re millions
IN Il baltimore American
Prospective tenant 81 like The rooms
hut tho view from the front windows Is
rather monotnuotie Ipnitpr Well, of
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-10
JUST FOLKS
THE SONG or THE YANK.
by Edgar A. Guest

Sixty pounds upon my back.
Heavy the good Lord knows
Yet Belgium carries a greater pack
And France has n million woes
So tighten the straps and hike al one
And | pray TO God that III finish strong
Twenty miles through the mud and slime,
Lord. but the way seeine far
Yet refugees from the Pr,lsssian crime
Have never jaunting car.
So | march by them tn the days attack
And ! say. Old mother, we'll ride YOU
back
Sixteen hours nj listening post.
Lord. but the minutes drag
Vet Britain sticks where she's needed
most
And hasn't vet dropped her flag
So | saw, Well show 'em before we re-
through
That the Yanks are fine little stickers
Ion
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-10

Of the British army in France and sspt b.
Italy by rail lie also was successful
AT the same time IN obtaining the lrnme-
iIato diversion TO italy of number ~
grain sbips on their way 10 England
During the month ~ Docember, 1917.
an increase Of Italy's tonnage of 10000
tons was secured for that month. Thus
IN various ways has tho Italian Food
Ministry been able 10 prevent actual
famine
Those who understand Italian pey-
chology declare that the Italian people,
difficult % restrain NJ they are, md loath
10 ohcy rules and regulations, would be
far moro seriously affected M lar ne
moralo ~ concerned than any ofhcr
allied nation. should the food situation
ever become more acute,
The ItallaBR are today eating loss
than ever before n ~ nm interesting
fact to note TINT Italians require less
food per person per dny than any other
If tho fighting nations Experta state
that 2, 200 caIories are required ~ noursh
an Englshman. 1900 cRlOrIes 10 noulsh
- Frenchman. 400 Galleries for m
Italian and 2. 800 for japanese
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-10

The proposition Of a German army
marching to Moscow is another basis Of
interesting comparison with the past
Napoleon went TO Moscow. when be had
no business there, and the results were
disastrous They led to Leipsic, capture
OF Paris, abdication, Punishment to
EIba, and finally TO Waterloo and St
Helena. In the light Of this ominous
history, one would think the Kaiser
would hesitate long before attempting a
move on Moscow
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-10
UNDESIRABLE GIFT.

Spain attributes the scourge Of in
aucnza from which 4 hes been suffering
to germs CARED 10 he ar from the battle
fields of France Now Germany is suffer
ing from the same maladv The SPANISH
explanation may or may not be correct,
but II seems probable
MsurIs Jokai the Hungarian novelist
says in lis Story '1imar's Two Wor' DIS p
From China we received scarlet fever,
from the Saracens smallpox, from Russia
Influenza from South America. yellow
ever and from tie Hindus cholera But
the plague comes from Turkey Accept
ing these statements Is correct, there is at
least 3 pocucal Just &c IN Germany now
RECEIVING among other TIA ngs from Russ
her latest gift, influenza New York
World
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1918-07-10
A HERO EVERY DAY.
Brave Deeds Of Men in Americas Fight
ing Service.

All honors for bravery and daring st
the front are not going TO the youngsters.
Sergeant Alfred G. Slykr who served two
cnllstments in tho cavalry and is nov on
his second cruise" in the Marine Corps.
and is thus regarded rs an @old-timer
has been mentioned in general orders for
bravery and spirit Of seif-sacrihce during
bombardmcnt of lis position by the
enemy
Sergeant ~lyhc Is = member Of Marine
Corps machine gun battalion. He VA
pinned down by fallen timber and debris.
and was unable 10 move. hut continued
to command his gun IN action until
assistance arrived He first enlisted IN
the Marine Corps Al Troy. New York.
on December Il 1910 His father
William Slykc lives at l22 North Terrace
Schenectady. New York