Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1913 — BOY PLEADS FOR LIFE [ARTICLE]

BOY PLEADS FOR LIFE

In Terror of Turkish Butchers, Child Writes to U. S. Relatives.

Ottomans, Repulsed by Allies, Visit Wrath Upon the Christian Natives, Who Have No Escape—Youth Appeals to Grandmother.

Chicago.—Atrocities more revolting than those practiced upon Christians in the days of Nero are being visited upon Christian natives of Armenia, according to a vivid first-hand description that .has reached Chicago. A pathetic plea for rescue from a terrible death has been sent by a little eleven-year-old Armenian boy whose grandmother and aunt have fled the country and have arrived in Chicago. Supplemented by the knowledge of an aunt, Miss Elizabeth Dombourajian, who is staying at a missionary training school at 4949 Indiana avenue, the boy’s letter indicates that the Balkan war has turned into a frenzied religious conflict. The Turks, who are being driven out. of Europe by the Christians of tbe Balkan states, are wreaking vengeance upon the Armenians. Scores of American citizens who have married Armenians are in as grave danger as the Armenians themselves, Miss Doinbourajian declared. The letter, written by Arsen Megerditchian, and sent from Armenia, is as follows: “My Dear Grandma: - Though I have not seen you I like to write to you. Because you are the mother of my darling mother. We are happy at home, but outside our condition is so bad that I do not know how to tell you. Cholera is one side, the Turks another side, the famine another; where shall we ruh? Thousands are leaving; we like to run away also, but in what way can we get away and how? “Now we warn you if something happened and we died then our sins will be upon your shoulders. “\£a are in constant fear. ‘Tomorrow we will kill you’ (is a common saying). We cannot bear any longer. Do quick and take us there. “Would you like if the heads of your grandsons were pulled off? If you do not, hurry up. Grandma, take ub there quick. “Till this letter reaches there it will be Christmas .to you, so I kiss your hands. “Grandma, don’t you have any friends who would lend_us ten Turkish pounds? I promise to pay back as soon as I come. We cannot stay here any longer. Your grandson. “ARSEN MEGERDITCHIAN." Tbe boy Is the son of Rev. Thomas Megerditchlan, a secretary in the British legation at Dierbekir. As the wages paid to native assistants in the foreign legations of Armenia are extremely small, and little Arsen has many brothers and sisters, the father in spite of his anxiety has been unable to get the money necessary to get bis family out of the country. Rev. Johnston Myers took up the case of the distressed family. He expects to do what he can in assisting to raise S6OO, which would be required to get little Arsen, his brothers, sisters and mother safely to America.