The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-03-09
REV. CRATHERN
WENT THROUGH
Sic EGE OF MARASH
Former Old Bennington Pastor
Tells Story of Tragedy
UNDER FIRE FOR % DAYS
One of the Most Marvellous Tales of
Its Kind Since Celebrated
Siege of Peking

One of the most thrillingly drama
tic stories that has come out Of the
Near East since the suspension of
hostilities has been forwarded by the
Associated Press correspondent at
Adana, Asia Minor, from material
furnished by Rev. c. F. Hill Crath-
ern, former pastor of the Old First
church at Old Bennington, but. who
went overseas some time ago as Y.
NJ. c. A. worker with Boston con-
tingent The story follows:
Since the siege of Peking. foreign
ers have undergone no more nerve
wracking experience than chat of
seventeen workers of the American
Committee of Relief In the Near East,
shut up for twenty-five days without
outside communication in mission
compound at Marash. They were un
der constant rain of lead, while
French troops, aided by Armenians,
battled with Turkish Nationalists for
possession of the city, more than half
of which was burned during the en-
gagement, which brought about ter
rible loss of life.
The story is told in the diary of
Mr. Crathern, who went through the
siege and arrived at Adana on Feb.
Is.
Mr.. Crathern. Paul Snyder, Miss
Helen Schultz of Reading, Pa, a
French Lieutenant and two Armen-
To. att IN oh htr
automobile for Aintab Jan. 20 but
were driven back to Marash by a
fusilade of bullets, notwithstanding
the fact that Mr.. Crathern displayed
the American flag.
The Turks had been showing re-
sentiment of French occupation of
Marash and other cities for many
weeks, Mr.. Crathern reports, and AL
gerian troops were engaged in a skir-
mish with Turkish bandits when an
American automobile appeared and
drew FIRE from the Turks. Mr.. Crath
ern's diary says that on Jan. 21 he
found Marash with its bazaars and
shops closed and the Turks engaged
in talking in small groups throughout
the city.
At noon shots were heard by the re-
lief workers, indicating that the long
threatened clash in the city had start
ed. The French arrested several i'm
portant Turkish officials, which, it
was presumed, brought about disor-
ders at Aros. Shooting soon began
in all parts of the city. A French
sentinel guarding an American hospi-
soJ tytllaJ nA oh,
soldier was wounded.
Shipping continued throughout the
night, and the Americans were waken
ed on the 22d by the sound of guns
and flashes from exploding shells.
An attack was made on the American
hospital. the doctors and nurses hav-
ing a narrow escape.
! Fighting continued on the 23d, and
through his field glasses Mr.. Crathern
said he could see Armenians fleeing
through the streets before the Turks,
who shot them down, while Turkish
snipers on the hills about the city
shot at Armenians attempting to
leave Marash.
On the Gath the Armenians con-
ferred with the French General
Querette and told him stories the
refugees brought of the horrors. He
said he would try to correct the situa-
Ition, but efforts to negotiate a cessa-
tion OF hostilities failed, and heavy
bombardment began in the afternoon.
The French fired upon certain sec
tions from which Turks were sniping.
"At night the city is in total dark
ever we go from one compound to an
other we creep along walls to escape
being hit. Every compound is filed
with frightened refugees, alarmed
over the fate of their relatives. The
American Committee for Relief in the
Near East is feeding 1000 orphans
and refugees with only few days
supply, and the bread problem is
grave,
Jan 25.-Hundreds of Armenians
are trying to reach our compound,
but the light made by fires the Turks
are setting to Armenian quarters
makes their escape impossible.
Jan. 2S-A pitiful case arriving to-
day was that of Mrs. Selattian, wife
of the pastor of the Third Church.
She was bleeding from bullet and
knife wounds. She says her child of
Is months was slain.
Jan. 31-Nine persons were shot
today on the college grounds, some
of them seriously. Fortunately we
have plenty of wheat now. and by
keeping the women grinding from
sunrise to sunset we can feed the
people. Mrs Selattian died today,
FEB. "A shell fell today through
the roof of hospital and into the
attic just above the floor where many
patients were quartered. The Turks
tried to set fire to the Bartell Orphan
age. The French retaliated by burn
ing the house Of the instigator of the
plan to burn the orphanage. There
is no news of endorsements. l fear
other cities and towns are besieged
and help may not reach us.
FEB. 6-This is the eighteenth day
of the Siege Of Marash. We had a