The writer is well acquainted with this city, as he was the pastor
at Talas, only three miles away, for years. It has about 50,000
population, one-third being Christians; a few hundred Greeks only,
but more than 15,000 Armenians. The richest and ablest Armenians
live in that city, or in Constantinople, and came from there; its
people are the leaders of the Armenian nation, both in business
and intellect. For the story of its foundation, see "The Haigazian
Dynasty," under King Aram. It is a typical Armenian city; and has
several great Armenian churches, with flourishing schools. There is
a beautiful evangelical church also, and it is a great missionary
station, with several American missionaries, and several missionary
schools, both for boys and for girls.
The Rev. Dr. Avedis Yeretzian, one of the greatest of scholars,
teachers, and preachers, and my personal friend, was martyred in
that city during the recent atrocities. He was shot dead in his own
house by a Mohammedan mob, then his wife was shot, then his son,
and the remainder of his children were captured by the mob. About
3,000 Armenians were killed and wounded there, besides the loss of
property. The Mohammedan population of the city is very savage;
side by side in the same city, the Christians are rich, refined,
intelligent, and the Mohammedans poor, lazy, sensual, and cruel. I
give here two letters from Cesarea.
A Private Letter from a Girl.
Cesarea, Turkey, Dec. 31, 1895.