The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-01-31
AMERICAN GIRLS
SAW STRANGE SIGHTS
In Kars, Armenia, When the Turkish
Troops Captured That
City.

New York, Jan, 3l.---Dramatic an
humorous experiences are described j
the stories Just received here iron
three American girls who protecte
the Armenian orphanages in kars, Ar
menia, when the Turkish troops cap
tured that city in October last.
The American young women no
only had TO calm the panic-stricken or
phans, but to fight off Armenian refu
gees who wanted to hide i'm the or
phanages and Turkish soldiers bent OF
looting the buildings. One of thu
girls, Miss Elsie NJ, Kimball, Of Mt
| Vernon, N Y, put to rout a group o
about 20 Turks who were attempting
to steal the blankets from the chill
dren's beds She attacked them witt
vhip and being unarmed they fled
| Her two companions were Miss Cora /
Beach OF Ogdensburg, n. y, and Miss
| Frances Anderson of New Canaan
Conn All three are workers for the
Near East Relief which conducts the
| orphanages,
Miss kimball tells in her letter Of
the panicky situation which existed in
kars when the Armenian defense col
)apsed and word was received that the
Turks were coming in Gust mag
ne" she writes, "a great mass of 1000
women and children huddled together
n uncomfortable fear, momentarily ex-
pected to be massacred by conquer.
ing army and with absolutely no pos,
sibility of escape from what they had
every reason to believe would be GER
tain death"
Miss Kimball had lust managed to
quiet them when TIT Turks arrived
at the door of the orphanage-threc
vicious looking soldiers.
Il ran to them and explained through
the interpreter that I was an Anleri-
can woman and this was an American
orphanage. Two of the fellows who
were evidently bent on mischief start.
ed toward the building where the chill
dren were gathered snatched the
arm of the other fellow and begged
him to protect the children. Immedi-
7telv he ran after the two soldiers and
dealt them ferocious blows with his
heavy whip and his gun, cursing them
all the way to the gate. They were
loath to go, hut he whipped them
clear out of sight and thanked him
for his help. Then came more soldiers
and | repeated my speech until | was
about worn out when along came
ne-looking Turkish officer ! explained
the situation to him and asked that
Turkish guards be placed at our gates
and he put two of his men on guard to
police the place.
"The guards drove back all would
he invaders vigorously and mercilessly
with the butts of their guns, their fists
and the toes of their shoes. Many of
the fellows who came through our
grounds from the open field in the back
we're the widest looking individuals |
this country could possibly produce,
md believe me, it produces some |
mighty evil specimens of humanity and |
n generous qualities. The most
.reacherous Of all are the Kurds, the
Doldest and most blood thirsty and |
most ruthless tribe in the Near East.
The Turkish guards had their hands
ull in pushing them back They re-
yarded me with great curiosity, never
laving seen an American and my Cog
lies interested them exceedingly.
"The shooting went on all day, but
not over 300 people were
Tiled altogether in the city and the
alley. Once when 7 was standing near
he gate a shot struck within a few
eet Of me- II was the closest shave I
ad that day though other shots were
wing all around.
I'm making my rounds Of the four
found a Turk riding one
I the rooms of blankets. I yelled at
i'm to get out of here quick Heidyi
nd TO my surprise, he jumned through
he window like a shot, leaving his
BOT behind. had not expected such
uick action for I was alone and he
'As big burly man"
A little later another Turkish sol
Ter held up Miss Kimhall at the point
his rife and compelled her 10 give
i'm a blanket
Miss Kimball was hastily summoned
, the orphanage on one occasion by |.
he announcement that a lot Of Turks
ere trying to drag out through the
,indows the blankets from the beds
+ the orphans" ! grabbed NV whip
nd started out for more trouble" she :
rites. "Sure enough there was gang :
about 20 Turks, one at each win
DIV, reaching through for blankets. /
as alone. 7 yelled mlself hoarse with
eidys' and other things and made a
'smstie dash al them with my whip
Durishing in the air. Who would
ave thought they would have paid
Ie least bit Of attention 90 me All
Il one Of them made a getaway. some
'eedily. some reluctantly. hut the one
pit pulling away at the blanket while
le Of the personnel chung TO the 9th
end Of f. The Turk was getting |
II upper hand when ] gave him the /
N right where he ought 20 be dashed
"a he gave UP the struggle and joined
s fellows over the fence That Incl /
MT was the most amusing Of any /
at occurred Just to see those loot
n run aWav from a woman
Cora had the nerve 10 refuse 10
W up her diamond ring 10 a looter
io came 70 her oTphsnage the first
rht She lust walked around his
IN a. oaol a. you please and still has |
r ring