The Washington times., 1919-02-25
TELLS Of SAVING
GIRLS FROM HAREM

NEW YORK, Feb. 25.-How Ameri-
can women were rescued from vio-
Ience and death during the reign Of
terror in Persia, is told in the journal
Of the Rev. F. N. Jessup, which has
just been received by the Presbyterian
Board OF Foreign Missions. Mr..
JesSup was stationed at TabritEr Per-
sia. His journal was sent to Mrs.
Jessup in Teheran and by her trans
mitted by means Of returning mem
bers Of the Persian relief commission
Mr.. Jessup tells how he and other
Americans were made prisoners by
the Turkish authorities. together with
doctors, dentists, and other foreigners.
For six weeks they were subjected 10
many indignities, confined in q room
remote from the street. Reading was
their only solace. They read the Bible
half through, all Of Gibbons Rome"
various evangelical works, and q large
number of novels. While they were
still IN prison they learned that much
damage had been done to their prop
erty and acts Of vandalism had been.
committed At their houses, schools,
and other missionary possessions.
While they were still prisoners
they learned that the Urumia mis-
sionaries, who had been in flight from
massacre. had arrived at their station.
Gave Life for Them.
This party was part Of the band
for whose sake DR.. Shedd, a Presby-
terian missionary, sacrificed his life.
They were a portion of the $4,000
Christians who ned from Urumia.
Among the women Of the party were
Miss Bridges and Mrs. Rflaumer, Pres
byterian missionary workers. These
two women had been in charge at the
Presbyterian orphansge.
A party Of riotinE Kurds and Turks
tried to carry off Miss Bridges. Mr..
and Mrs. Pflaumer clung to her and
held her back until a Turkish Of
ficer interfered. The officer was told
that the American Government would
hold Turkey accountable. At last the
officer fired several shots At the men
attacking Miss Bridges, when the Of
ficer fell dead, his blood drenehtng
her clothes.
The women were later carried to
the gate Of the city and were being
put on horseback to be taken as
eaptives into the wilds, when other
Turkish officers arrived and saved
them. They were taken to the COM
mandeT's headquarters and sent 10
the college. where some other mis-
sionaries were.
Here IL seemed for a time as
though they would be the victims Of
a tragedy. A plot was in progress
to kill Mr.. Richards and DR.. Dodd
and carry off Mrs. Richards and the
other women. A party Of Rurds en-
tered the place where the women
were, snRtched their rings from their
fingers, carried the men out, and
started to kidnap the women. They
were prevented by a body OF Kurdish
refugees who had been fed and well
treated by the Americans Later the
officers restored order and gave the
Americans protection.
Massacred By MOSIemA.
At the Catholic mission Persian
Moslems shot down the bishop and
another priest and massacred all the
Christians and refugees by clubbing
and stoning.
The city property at Urumia was
looted. All the missionaries prop
erty was taken and the missionaries
themselves were so mistreated that
they all became fl and one OF them,
Miss Schoebel, died. John Mooshie, !
one of the Serbian workers, was muir |
dered in his bed. DR.. Israel was
hanged.