Mr. Terrell to Mr.
Olney.
Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, January 2, 1896.
(Received Jan. 17.)
No. 755.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose for your
information copies of two letters just received from Rev. C. S. Sanders,
a British subject, who is doing missionary work at Aintab and other
places in the province of Aleppo.
His letter of the 12th ultimo reveals his belief that all our people at
Aintab would at once be sacrificed by the populace if the Turkish
soldiers who guard them were withdrawn. He also announces that
notwithstanding this it is thought best not to place the women and
children in a place of safety.
I heartily indorse the desire of Mr. Sanders that some recognition of the
services of Mr. Poche be tendered to him, in view of the faithful
service rendered by him in protecting the interests of Americans, fie is
an Austrian subject and has been for many years indefatigable in the
discharge of his duty as our consular agent at Aleppo.
Mr. Sanders’s letter of the 18th gives me uneasiness, for if the troops
there prove false our people will be butchered. I will at once have
stringent orders renewed, and if possible have regular troops stationed
at Aintab.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
755.]
Mr. Sanders to
Mr. Terrell.
Aintab, December 12,
1895.
Dear Sir: You will wish to hear from us by
each mail. Last week I repeated my letter of the week previous. We
find our letters to Mr. Poche are delivered all right, and hope our
letters to you are delivered likewise.
This past week has been uneventful. An investigating committee has
come, but so far seems to have done nothing. We are also protected
by the military so far; our faithful Baridjik troops are doing
finely by us, but on the other hand their numbers are rapidly
decreasing, and most of the poor fellows left are half dead with the
exposure incident to standing guard in the open space between our
college and our other buildings. Our kaimakam is a good fellow, and
our Moslem neighbor Haji Hasseyn Agha continues his kindness. So far
we are all right, but were the military withdrawn to day I doubt if
one of us would survive twenty-four hours. It is extremely likely an
effort will be made to mix our college up in so-called rebellion.
The reason, however, why the Hunchagian Society had so little
success in it is the determined opposition it encountered from the
college crowd. We would all welcome an impartial investigation.
There was a little coquetting at first, but finally it became very
strong opposition.
As far as our ladies and children going to the coast is concerned, we
have decided that it is not best, just now at least. We wish Miss
Shattuck to come in from Ourfa, and she wishes to come in. We wired
Mr. Poche, but so far without response. She can not honorably leave
her three native teachers, and I presume that this may be the
trouble. She also does not wish to leave her servant and his family.
Mr. Poche is as watchful and careful of us as ever. Is it utterly
impossible to
[Page 1443]
get the
United States Government to do something handsome for this man, who
has served her so faithfully for so long a period?
We can not sufficiently express to you our thanks for the firm stand
you have taken for us, which probably has saved our lives, as well
as the lives of scores of other Americans.
A year ago we were absolutely safe among the Moslems; now the rise of
fanaticism and hate on one side and of Hunchagism and hate on the
other has made a pretty mess of everything.
Yours, in haste,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
755.]
Mr. Sanders to
Mr. Terrell.
Aintab, Turkey, December 18, 1895.
Dear Sir: I believe a telegram was received
from you since the last I wrote you, informing us of renewed
assurances of protection from the Government, etc. For all these
assurances we thank you very much. We are so much hated now that
were it not for the protection which the pressure you bring to bear
causes to be afforded us we would have been finished up long ago. As
it is, we are entirely safe through your efforts.
The Beridjik regiment continues to be the one to guard our part of
the city, and we are entirely safe with them, but the Aintab
regiment is not at all good. Aintab would be much safer were they
sent away or even disbanded. While they defended us well the day of
the first outbreak, Saturday, November 16, their rifles helped on
the infernal work in the city, with no effort whatever to stop it.
They seem also to have done considerable looting on their own
account. The past week there has been considerable tendency on the
part of the people to rise again against the Christians. The
vigilance of the military has averted it. They did rise once but
were scattered before they could get to the Christian quarter.
Eleven boys, including an assistant teacher and a cook, ran away from
the college in two bands. Mr. Fuller gave the Government notice, and
since then one has been captured; the others were at last accounts
unaccounted for. The Government seem to take no special notice of
it—at least have no special spite against the Americans so long as
they gave notice of the affair to the Government—but it will
probably go hard with the boys if caught. Otherwise the week has
been without in cident. The number of slain seems to be just about
400. The money loss is very, very heavy. I am trying to get some
trustworthy estimate. Probably it will go above 100,000 Turkish
pounds. When you think that in Aintab a single Turkish pound
represents at least twenty-five days of labor, you can realize how
crushing is the disaster which has befallen our city.
Yours, truly,
