_Evening News_, which is working hand in glove with Miss Clara
Barton and the Red Cross Society for the relief of the Armenians, is
rapidly completing arrangements for extending its work to the
remotest sections of the United States. The permanent organization
of the alliance was perfected in this city a little over a week ago,
when the following officers were elected: President, R.S. Tharin;
vice-presidents, B. Sunderland, D.D., and I.E. Gilbert, D.D.;
secretary, H. L. Sargent; treasurer, F.A. Stier.
Within a few days the broadest promulgation of a pamphlet prepared
by the alliance will begin.
On the title page of the little book will appear these unique
mottoes: "God against Allah, Christ against Mohammed, Bible against
Koran, Heaven against Hell!"
It is proposed to proceed at once with the organization of local
alliances throughout the Union, any person connected with a
Christian Organization or society, regardless of denomination, being
eligible to membership.
* * * * *
The headquarters of the alliance at the National Hotel are open from
ten to twelve o'clock.
It is intended to send out about two million of the pamphlets
explaining the purposes of the alliance, in lots of two hundred
thousand or more. The delegates to the national convention will be
selected by the different local clubs.
Well knowing, however, that investigation would show no trace of
government or other official authority, we decided to lose no time, but
to prepare ourselves for work at the earliest moment; and taking up the
rôle of merchants, went into Stamboul, and purchased from the great
wholesale houses, immense quantities of such material as could not fail
of being useful and needed, to be later taken by caravans into the
interior.
Just at this interval, a request was brought to me by Dr. Washburn, of
Robert College, from Sir Philip Currie, English ambassador, asking if I
could not be "persuaded" to turn my expedition through the
Mediterranean, rather than the Black Sea, in order to reach Marash and
Zeitoun, where the foreign consuls were at the moment convened. They had
gotten word to him that ten thousand people in those two cities were
down with four distinct epidemics--typhoid and typhus fevers, dysentery
and smallpox--that the victims were dying in overwhelming numbers and
that there was not a physician among them, all being either sick or
dead, with no medicines and little food. This was not a case for
"persuasion," but of heartfelt thanks from us all that Sir Philip had
remembered to call us whom he had never met. But here was a hindrance.
The only means of conveyance from Constantinople to Alexandretta were
coasting boats, belonging to different nationalities, and which left
only once in two weeks and irregularly at that. Transport for our goods
was secured on the first boat to leave, the goods taken to the wharf at
Galata, and at the latest moment in order to give time, a request was
made to the government for _teskeres_ or traveling permits for Dr.
Hubbell and assistants. To our surprise they were granted instantly, but
by some delay on the part of the messenger sent for them, they reached a
moment too late; the boat left a little more than promptly, taking with
it our relief goods, and leaving the men on the dock to receive their
permits only when the boat was beyond recall. It was really the fault of
no one. With the least possible delay the doctor secured passage by the
first boat to Smyrna, and a fortunate chance boat from there, took him
to Alexandretta, via Beyrout and Tripoli, Syria. The goods arrived in
safety and two other of our assistants, whom we had called by cable from
America, Messrs. Edward M. Wistar and Charles King Wood, were also
passed over to the same point with more goods. There caravans were
fitted out to leave over the, to them, unknown track to Aintab, as a
first base. From this point the reports of each of these gentlemen made
to me and compiled with this, will be living witnesses. I leave them to
tell their own modest tales of exposure, severe travel, hard work and
hardship, of which no word of complaint has ever passed their lips.
There has been only gratitude and joy that they could do something in a
cause at once so great and so terrible.
These little changes and accidents of travel, of not the slightest
importance or concern to any one but ourselves, were naturally picked up
and cabled to America as "news." The naming of the mere facts, with
neither explanations nor reasons assigned, could not be understood and
only created confusion in the minds of the readers. They must,
nevertheless, be accepted by our reporters, circulated and discussed by
our anxious people and perplexed committees.
The transcript of a paragraph from a letter received from America, March
25, will serve to recall, at this late date, something of the state of
feeling at the moment prevailing in America:
Great doubt and dissatisfaction is felt here at the changeable
course you seem to pursue--why you should propose to go first to the
Black Sea, then to the Mediterranean, then not at all. Why to
Smyrna, then to Alexandretta, points where nothing is the matter and
no help needed? They feel that you do not understand your own
course, or are being deceived--will never get into the country--a
fact which, it is said, is clearly seen here.
To further elucidate the intense feeling in our sympathetic country we
give a few sentences from other letters received at that time:
What are those folks doing over there? First we hear they are going
to Harpoot by the Black Sea, next they have gone to Smyrna; there is
nothing the matter at Smyrna; next to Alexandretta; what have they
gone there for? that is no place to go; any one can go to
Alexandretta. They don't seem to know what they _are_ about. They
will never get into the country; we said so when they went; they
ought to have known better themselves; we knew the Sultan would
forbid them, as he has; they are only being duped.
Unpleasant and somewhat ludicrous as these criticisms were they served a
purpose in coming back to us, as by them we were able to understand more
fully the cables which had preceded them. "Give us news in full of your
doings, it is important that we know." Every cable was answered with all
the news we could send by that costly method.
I had asked permission and escort for two caravans from Alexandretta,
but had learned later from them that they would unite and go together to
Aintab, in company with the Rev. Dr. Fuller, of that city, who requires
no introduction to the missionary or religious world. At this junction
Mr. Gargiulo, of the legation, came to me in great haste (he having been
sent for by the Sublime Porte) to know where our expeditions were. They
had provided for two and could only get trace of one; where was the
other? Please get definite information and let them know at once. I had
served on too many battlefields not to understand what this meant. I
knew our men were in danger somewhere and some one was trying to protect
them, and sent back the fullest information that there was but one
expedition out, and waited. Two days later came the news of the massacre
at Killis by the Circassians. Killis lay directly in their track,
unknown to them, and the Turkish troops had unexpectedly come up and
taken them on. I can perhaps, at this distant date, give no more correct
note of this, and the condition of things as found, than by an extract
from a letter written by me at the time to our world's friend and mine,
Frances Willard. We were at this moment securing the medical expedition
for Marash and Zeitoun:
Dear Frances Willard: ... May I also send a message by you to our
people, to your people and my people; in the name of your God and my
God, ask them not to be discouraged in the good work they have
undertaken. My heart would grow faint and words fail, were I to
attempt to tell them the woes and the needs of these Christian
martyrs. But what need to tell? They already know what words can
say--alone, bereft, forsaken, sick and heartbroken, without food,
raiment or shelter, on the snow-piled mountain sides and along the
smoking valleys they wander and linger and perish. What more should
I say to our people, but to show them the picture of what they
themselves have already done.
The scores of holy men and women sustained by them, with prayers in
their hearts, tears in their voices, hovering like angels and
toiling like slaves, along all these borders of misery and woe,
counting peril as gain and death as naught, so it is in His Name.
But here another picture rises; as if common woe were not enough,
the angel of disease flaps his black wings like a pall, and in once
bright Zeitoun and Marash contagion reigns. By scores, by hundreds,
they die; no help, no medicine, no skill, little food, and the last
yard of cotton gone to cover the sick and dying. To whom came the
cry, "Help or we perish! Send us physicians!" The contributed gifts
of America open the doors of classic Beyrout, and Ira Harris, with
his band of doctors, speeds his way. In Eskandaroon sleep the
waiting caravans. The order comes, "Arise and go! henceforth your
way is clear." Camels heavy laden, not with ivory and jewels, gold
in the ingot and silk in the bales, but food and raiment for the
starving, the sick, and the dying. Onward they sweep toward dread
Killis--the wild tribe's knives before, the Moslem troops
behind--"go on! we protect;" till at length the spires of Aintab
rise in view. Weary the camels and weary the men--Hubbell, Fuller,
Wistar, Wood, Mason--names that should live in story for the brave
deeds of that march but just begun. The quick, glad cry of welcome
of a city that had known but terror, sorrow and neglect for
months--a little rest, help given, and over the mountains deep in
snow, weary and worn their caravans go, toiling on toward fever and
death. Let us leave them to their task. This is the work of
America's people abroad. My message, through you, to her people at
home--not to her small and poor, but to her rich and powerful
people, is, remember this picture and be not weary in well doing.
CLARA BARTON.
While the first and second expeditions were fitting out from
Alexandretta, the terrible state of things at Zeitoun and Marash was
confirmed by the leading missionaries there, and we were asked to assume
the expense of physicians, druggists, medicines and medical relief in
general. This we were only too glad to do. Negotiations had already been
opened by them with Dr. George E. Post, of Beyrout, the glorious outcome
of which was the going out of Dr. Ira Harris, of Tripoli, Syria, with
his corps of local physicians, and the marvelous results achieved. For
some cause the doctor took the route via Adana, rather than by
Alexandretta, and found himself in the midst of an unsafe country with
insufficient escort. After a delay of two or three days, he got a
dispatch to us at Constantinople. This dispatch was immediately sent
through our legation to the Porte, and directly returned to me with the
written assurance that the proper steps had been instantly taken. On the
same day Dr. Harris left Adana with a military escort that took his
expedition through, leaving it only when safe in Marash.
Dr. Hubbell had arrived some days previous, but following instructions
left immediately on the arrival of Dr. Harris, to pursue his
investigations in the villages, and supply the general need of the
people wherever found. This formed really the fourth expedition in the
field at that early date, as the separate charges later so efficiently
assumed by Messrs. Wistar and Wood, who were on the ground previous to
the medical expedition, became known as the second and third
expeditions.
It will be inferred that the assignment, furnishing and direction of
these several expeditions, nearly a thousand miles distant, four weeks
by personal travel, six weeks to write a letter and get reply, from two
days to almost any time by telegraph, according to the condition of the
wires, and in any language from Turkish and Greek to Arabic, with all
other duties immediately surrounding, could not leave large leisure for
home correspondence. While conscious of a restlessness on this score, we
began to be mystified by the nature and text of dispatches from
committees at home: "Contributors object to Turkish distribution." What
could it mean? We could only reply: "Do not understand your dispatch.
Please explain." These were followed by others of a similar character
from other sources; finally letters expressing great regret at the means
to which I had been compelled to resort in order to accomplish my
distribution, and the disastrous effect it could not fail to have upon
the raising of funds. "Well, it was probably the only way to do, they
had expected it, in fact, foretold it all the time."--What had I done?
The mystery deepened. Finally, through the waste of waters and the lapse
of time it got to me.--A little four-line cablegram from Constantinople
as follows:
The council of ministers has decided that Miss Clara Barton can work
only in conjunction with the Turkish Commission in the distribution
of relief, and can only use their lists of destitute Armenians. An
Irade to that effect is expected.
No one had thought to inquire if this statement were _true_, no one had
referred it to me, and as well as I ought to be known by our people, the
question if I would be _likely_ to take such a step, seems not to have
been raised. It had been taken for granted through all America, England,
and even the Missionary Boards of Turkey, that I had pledged myself and
signed papers, to distribute the funds entrusted to me, under Turkish
inspection and from lists furnished by Turkish officials. Myself and my
officers appeared to be the only persons who had never heard of it.
Astonished and pained beyond measure it was plainly and emphatically
denied.
Our press books of that date are marvels of denial. Sir Philip Currie
and the Turkish Government itself, came to the rescue, declaring that no
such course was ever intended. Secretary Olney was cabled to try "to
make the people of America understand that the Turkish Government did
not interfere with their distribution." In spite of all this, it went on
until people and committees were discouraged; the latter cabling that in
the present state of feeling little or nothing more could be expected,
and gently suggesting the propriety of sending the balance in hand to
other parties for distribution. My own National Red Cross officers in
America, hurt and disgusted at the unjust form affairs were taking, in
sympathy, advised the leaving of the field and returning home.
Here was a singular condition of affairs. A great international work of
relief, every department of which was succeeding beyond all expectation,
wherein no mistakes had been made, letters of gratitude and blessing
pouring in from every field of labor, finances carefully handled and no
pressure for funds. On the other hand a whole nation in a panic, strong
committees going to pieces, and brave faithful officers driven through
pity to despair and contempt, and the cause about to be abandoned and
given up to the lasting harm of all humanity. So desperate a case called
for quick and heroic measures. Realizing the position of the committees
from their own sad reports, I at once cabled relieving them from further
contributions: "_We will finish the field without further aid._" To my
Red Cross officers I dictated the following letter, which I believe was
used somewhat by the harassed committees in struggling on to their feet
again:
AYAZ-PACHA, TAXIM, CONSTANTINOPLE, _April 18, 1896_.
P.V. DEGRAW, ESQ., _Corresponding Secretary_,
_American National Red Cross, Washington, D.C., U.S.A._:
DEAR. MR. DEGRAW: I received both your and Stephen E. Barton's
heavy-hearted and friendly letters, and they fell on soil about as
heavy. I could not understand how it could be, for I knew we had
done our best, and I _believed_ the best that could have been done
under the circumstances and conditions. I knew we held a great, well
organized relief that would be needed as nothing else could be.
That, besides us, there was no one to handle the terrible scourge
that was settling down--no one here, no one to come, who could touch
it. I knew I was _not_ interfered with; that no "restrictions" nor
propositions had been imposed or even offered; that the government
was considerate and accorded all I asked.
But what had stirred America up and set it, apparently, against us?
The relief societies going to pieces, and turning sad glances here?
We could not understand it. I did not wonder that you thought we
"had best come home," still I knew we would not; indeed, we could
not. I have a body of relief on these fields, hundreds of miles away
in the mountains, a thousand miles from me, that I could not draw
off in six weeks, and if we were to, it would be to abandon
thousands of poor, sick, suffering wretches to a fate that ought to
shock the entire world. Sick, foodless, naked, and not one doctor
and no medicine among them; whole cities scourged and left to their
fate, to die without a hand raised to help excepting the three or
four resolute missionaries, tired, worn, God-serving, at their posts
until they drop. The civilized world running over with skilful
physicians, and not one there; no one to arrange to get them there;
to pay expenses, take special charge and thus make it possible for
them to go. And we, seeing that state of things, holding in our
grasp the relief we had been weeks preparing and organizing in
anticipation of this, to turn back, draw off our helpers, send back
the doctors already started, give all up because somebody had said
something, the press had circulated it, the world had believed it,
our disappointed committees had lost heart and grown sore struggling
with an occupation rather new to them, and the people had taken
alarm and failed to sustain them.
Was this all there was of us? No purpose of our own? "On Change,"
like the price of wheat on the market? In the name of God and
humanity this field must be carried, these people must be rescued;
skill, care, medicines and food for the sick must reach them. And it
is a glad sight to my soul to think of Turkish troops taking these
bands of doctors on to Marash. They have done it, and are at this
very hour marching on with them to their field of labor. What does
one care for criticism, disapproval or approval, under circumstances
like these. Don't be troubled--we can carry it. We are fair
financiers, not dismayed, and God helping, can save our hospitals.
It remains to be said that the remedy was effective. The panic settled
away and it is to be hoped that there are few people in any country
to-day who do not understand that America's fund was distributed by its
own agents, without molestation or advices from the Turkish or any other
government.
I have named this incident, not so much as a direct feature of the work
of distribution, nor to elicit sympathy, as to point a characteristic of
our people and the customs of the times in which we are living, in the
hope that reflection may draw from it some lessons for the future. One
cannot fail to see how nearly a misguided enthusiasm, desire for
sensational news, vital action without thought or reflection, came to
the overthrowing of their entire object, the destruction of all that had
been or has since been accomplished for humanity, and the burial of
their grand work and hopes in a defeated and disgraceful grave, which,
in their confusion, they would never have realized that they had dug for
themselves. They are to-day justly proud of their work and the world is
proud of them.
[Illustration: CHIEF OF THE DERSIN KOURDS AND HIS THREE SUB-CHIEFS.
(NORTH OF HARPOOT.)]
[Illustration: CHIEF OF THE DERSIN KOURDS.]
Our very limited number of assistants made it necessary that each take a
separate charge as soon as possible; and the division at Aintab and the
hastening of the first division, under Dr. Hubbell, northeastward to
Marash, left the northwestern route through Oorfa and Diarbekir, to
Messrs. Wistar and Wood; the objective point for all being Harpoot,
where they planned to meet at a certain date. Nothing gave me greater
joy than to know they would meet our brave and world-honored
countrywoman, Miss Shattuck, isolated, surrounded by want and misery,
holding her fort alone, and that something from our hands could go to
strengthen hers, emptied by the needs of thousands every day. If they
might have still gone to Van, and reached our other heroic, capable and
accomplished countrywoman, Dr. Grace Kimball, it would have been an
added joy. But the way was long, almost to Ararat; the mountains high
and the snows deep; and more than all it seemed that the superb
management of her own grand work made help there less needed than at
many other less fortunate points. It seemed remarkable that the two
expeditions separating at Aintab, on the sixth day of April, with no
trace of each other between, should have met at Harpoot on April 29,
within three hours of each other; and that when the city turned out _en
masse_, with its missionaries in the lead, to meet and welcome Dr.
Hubbell and the Red Cross, that far away in the rear, through masses of
people from housetop to street, modestly waited the expedition from
Oorfa.
This expedition containing as it did two leading men, again divided,
taking between them, as their separate reports show, charges of the
relief of two hundred villages of the Harpoot vilayet, and later on
Diarbekir, and that by their active provision and distribution of
farming implements and cattle and the raising of the hopes and courage
of the people, they succeeded in securing the harvest and saving the
grain crops of those magnificent valleys.
While this was in progress, a dispatch came to me at Constantinople,
from Dr. Shepard, of Aintab, whose tireless hands had done the work of a
score of men, saying that fevers, both typhoid and typhus, of a most
virulent nature, had broken out in Arabkir, two or three days north of
Harpoot; could I send doctors and help? Passing the word on to Dr.
Hubbell, at Harpoot, the prompt and courageous action was taken by him
which his report will name, but never fully show. It is something to say
that from a rising pestilence with a score of deaths daily, in five
weeks, himself and his assistants left the city in a normally healthful
condition, in which it remained at last accounts, the mortality ceasing
at once under their care and treatment.