Office of the Historian

Mr. Terrell to Mr. Olney.

Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, January 6, 1896.
No. 757.]

Sir: Referring to my No. 756, of January 4, which inclosed the copy of a letter from the vali of Aleppo, who denied all connection of the Turks with the burning at Marash, I now inclose the copy of a letter just received from Rev. L. O. Lee, with his estimate of loss. * * *

I have, etc.,

A. W. Terrell.
[Inclosure in No. 757.]

Mr. Lee to Mr. Terrell.

Marash, Turkey, December 9, 1895.

Dear Sir: I have previously written you of the burning of our theological seminary by soldiers on the afternoon of November 18, when we were left without a guard during three-fourths of the time during which the massacre of 9,000 or 10,000 Christians was in progress. It is true that some officer was seen about noon to enter the seminary grounds and drive off the soldiers who were plundering everything, but the moment his back was turned they proceeded with their work, and in the end fired the building. They also robbed the academy boarding house and then attempted to fire it. Some soldier of their number seems to have opposed the deed, as we observed him throw out burning materials and prevent another soldier from returning to repeat the act. The captain who had been our guard for three weeks says that he found combustibles on fire when he arrived, and extinguished them. I have [Page 1447] in my possession partially burned books from the building and the fire marks in the closet still remain. A summerhouse of ours in Kerhan, three hours distant, is burned, together with the guardhouse near by. There could hardly be a clearer case for reparation all round.

I inclose a careful estimate of all our losses, and reserve a copy. The losses are divided into three classes, numbered 1, 2, and 3, respectively. When the reparation is granted, it will only be necessary to state how much is granted under each head. I can go into much fuller detail, if necessary. I have taken pains to prepare the lists in such a way that if any Turkish commission visits us for investigation we can stand questions.

Hoping that the case will be pushed along at a rapid rate, so that we can rebuild at an early date,

I remain, etc.,

L. O. Lee.

My telegram in answer to your inquiry said that our loss was 2,400 Turkish pounds. It arose from a mistake in addition that I reported too much.

[Subinclosure in No. 757.]

Inventory of American property lost by fire and robbery at the hands of soldiers in Marash, Turkey. November 18. 1895.

Turkish pounds.
Theological Seminary building 600
Lumber belonging to the Girls’ College of Marash, stored in the building. 100
Furniture, tables, library cases, bedsteads, benches, stoves, lamps, blackboards, tableware, kitchen utensils, firewood, charcoal, provisions, and smaller items of this sort belonging to the seminary 57
Maps, 3¾; four pictures, 1; three clocks, 2; panorama of Jerusalem,¼; organ, 5; paint, 5: books of Mr. Lee and Miss Blakeley. 4¾: telescope, 10 31¾
Library of 1,500 books 1,000
Furniture and provisions in the academy boarding house 22
One summerhouse in Kerhan and watchman’s house near by 63
Losses of six students in the Theological Seminary of bedding, clothing, books, and other property 103
Losses of the preacher of the Third Church, rooming in the seminary building, and books there belonging to the Third Church 44
Losses of two academy teachers in American employ and rooming in the building 81
Loss of Mr. Simon Terzian, a teacher of the seminary, books remaining in the building 1
Losses of 12 students rooming in the academy building 36¼
Loss of Prof. Elisha Roobian, teacher of the girls’ college and residing in the academy students there 70
Robberies by soldiers a day or two later from an American house in the same grounds with the seminary and occupied by Mr. Terzian 5½
Total 2,214½
  • L. O. Lee,
    American Citizen.
  • F. W. Macallum,
    British Citizen.