The Washington times., 1922-11-03
4 COLD TEETH
SAVED WOMAN
FROM MBAY0NET
Superstitious Turks Believe
Her Under Protection
of Allah.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 3.-HoN

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 3.--How
the possession of four prominent
gold teeth saved her and her young
son from massacre by the Turks
is the almost incredible story told
by Mrs. Yevcniegh Yacoubian, an
Armenian refugee, who recently
arrived in this city.
MANY times have | thanked God
for the gold teeth. They may not
be what you Americans term good
style but they have meant life
and happiness to me-" said Mrs.
Yacoubian.
"A Woman OF Mystery"
The Turks called her the woman
of mystery"
She had the courage to defy a
Turkish official--a thing unheard OF
in the Turk. ridden sections of the
Near East, where women have been
taught for centuries to be submissive
TO their "SuperiOrs men.
The fact that she is an Armenian
Christian made this defiance all the
more amazing. since il created won
der among Turks that she had not
been Immediately shot TO death or
bayoneted.
She had four gold teeth, set prom
inently in her mouth, "a sure sign OF
wealth in Armenian. Turkish sup
erstition Immediately associated the
defiance with the gold teeth and
agreed it was Allah's will she escape
death. And they admitted readily,
"The woman Of mystery" was under
divine protection.
1t was this belief in a supernatural
protection that ultimately gave her
an opportunity to reach America In
safety.
The gold teeth acted as n charm
against the rapacity Of the Turks hu
the troublesome days following a
scene in the market place Of
Cacsaroa. when she saw a Turkish
officer kill her husband and then hold
a gun to the head of one of her chill
drcn. He threatened 10 blow the
child to pieces" II the mother did
not agree to become his wife.
Teeth Saved Her.
The teeth saved her from death in
a long march of 1900 miles with other
Armenian women of high caste and
enabled her to reach Constantinople
She is now reunited with her four
children after having undergone
treatment at the hands of the Turks
so atrocious that even those ac-
Customcd to witnessing narrowing
scenes of Turkish cruelty hardly
credit the tale.
Mrs. Yacoubian comes from a
wealthy Armenian family. Her hus-
band was what is termed in this
country "A lay preacher,
The family lived for years in daily
fear of the arrival Of the Turks. DC.
Casionally. rowing band of Turkish
soldiers would come into Cacsarta
aud demand tribute from the Ar
mcnian Christians. This meant that
the men in that town would gather
the required sum under threats of
death if the tribute was not forth.
coming.
Then came the day when group
of Turkish soldiers besiegcd Caesa.
rca and again demanded tribute.
The townsfok were helpless They
had already given all they had. Sew.
eral of the leading Armenians OF
Cacsarca. among them the husband
of Mrs Iacouhian, sought audience
with the Turkish officer with final
plea for more time. The Turks
denied their pleas.
Men Shot 10 Death.
The officer ordered the men into
the market place. where they were
lined up in row and In the pres
cncc of their families forced TO come
TO the market place, were shot to
death.
The soldiers were then ordered to
bring every ablebodied man to tn"
market place. where. in sight Of all
ih,l were bayoneted. Mrs Ia"ou.
bian vas in the throng Of panic.