Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-20
AMERICANS HEROES
|NBURN|NG SMYRNA
Women Teachers Defied Flames
and Hunger, Consul Gen.
eraI Horton Says
ENGAGED IN RELIEF WORK
~ Associated Press

Athens. Sept 2O.--'During my
.consulship at Snlonil:i was bombed
by Bulgnrs and Germans and during
my official career ! have had many
rough experiences with submarines and
fire. but never in my life have J seen
anything like the Smyrna catastrophe, F"
is the manner in which George Horton,
the American consul general at Smyrna.
summed IN TO the Associated Press his
experiences in Asia Minor.
IIhc spoke of the splendid herosm
and self sacrifice Of the American col =
ony in Smyrna. and told of Rufus w.
Lane. Francis w. Blakcley and Stanley
W. Smith. Americans. helping in the
relief work. The consul general. with
Captain Arthur J. Hepburn. chief of
stan TO Admiral Bristol. arranged for
tho safety Of the American colony. taxi
ing over theatre in Smyrna and hav-
ing it guarded by marines.
''Thousands of refugees in the dcs-
pairing city were absolutely hungry and
destitute Mr.. Horton said. We started
tie work of relief Immediately. The
American firms contributed the use of
their automobiles and TRUCKS. They
never saw them again because they were
burned up. Representative Americans,
members of tho Y. NJ. c. A.. and pro =
fcssors of the American College, or
ganiand a central committee.
Within an hour. while the automo =
bilcs were still in their possession. and
with the Stars and Stripes flying on
their machines. they were all over the
city administering relief. Their first
effort was. made among Americans.
Their conduct was generous and heroic.
I'VE urged the American women
teachers in the girls school Of the Y.
W. G. a. TO leave Smyrna. but they
refused until driven by the flames
These brave women laborcd uncea singly
without food and sleep. Some are
still there"
Mrs. Horton remained with her hus-
band nj tho consulate until II was
finally burned. Tho consul general an,
his wife embarked on tho nitcd S,afc'
destroyer Simpson with siyty-ivc othcs
Americans. and came TO Athens Vie,
Consul Maynard u. Barnes rcmanc,
in tho devastated city with twelve othc
Americans. who were chiefly engaged il
relief work Mr. Horton now is suffer
ing II mental strain.
American observers say 'hnr ,h
Turks fired ON refugees who tried (,
swim to safety. Thrilling experience
were related by other American rcfu
gees who arrived here. Among then
worc Mr.. and Mrs. W. II. Boyd. o
New York: Mr.. and Mrs. j. T.. Arrhi
bald, of Washington. y. c.. and Mr.
and Mrs. Rogers, Of Memphis. Tenn
. Mr.. Archibald and Mrs. Boyd pro
cured Il launch in the Smyrna harbo
and saved fifty refugees by taking then
to tho American steamer Winona
Washington. Sept. ~. Ity \. -.
ALL American ctiHrns known 10 bc i
or about Smyrna except Consul Barn"
aud two women nnmpd Iilarklor har
been taken aboard American ,lcStroycr4
according t" message from the dc
stroycr EdSalI.
smyrna. Sept. 20. ,Ey \. r.
, Order has boon restored here after ih
horrors of the c"ntiagrntiou aud cal,
now prevails, Col"u"I Madjc Bcy ha
been appointed civil Governor. Th
, Turks have begun clearing the ruin
Of the dead loft by the fire and gather
! inG up those tina, have been lying in I'll
streets.