Mr. Terrell to Mr.
Gresham.
Legation of
the United States,
Constantinople, July 20, 1893.
(Received August 7.)
No. 10.]Sir: On July 11 was shown by a resident missionary
a telegram which stated in effect that a Miss Melton, an American teacher at
the Mosul school, had been assaulted by unknown parties at Daree, a mountain
village which is near Amadia in Koordistan. Amadia is four days’ ride from
Mosul, where Dr. E. W. McDowell resides with his family. The village of
Daree is located in a wild, mountain district of Koordistan, many hundred
miles from here, near the extreme limit of the Ottoman Empire.
I immediately communicated to Mr. Gates the fact that the grand vizier had
directed prompt measures to be taken for the protection of Miss Melton and
for the punishment of her assailants.
On the 14th of July I received from Mr. Peat, of the missionary publishing
house here, a letter from the Rev. E. W. McDowell, dated Amadia, Koordistan,
June 21, 1893, a copy of which is inclosed and with it a paper marked “Facts
bearing on the attack on Miss Melton,” which I also inclose a copy of.
The letter and “statement of facts,” considered in connection with a letter
to Mr. Peat shown me, give information: (1) That Dr. McDowell and family
went with Miss Melton to Amadia from Mosul for “a change of air.” (2) That
Miss Melton after her arrival at Amadia, left her companions, and with her
nurse and a preacher spent the night at Daree, a mountain village. (3) That
her tent was stretched on the top of a flat-roofed house in the village and
in it she passed the night, neglecting the very necessary precaution of
having near her an efficient protection. (1) In the night she was assaulted
by two men with clubs, while accomplices near fired off their guns to
frighten the villagers. (5) No protector was at hand, and after seriously
bruising Miss Melton the robbers (if such they were) left without stopping
to plunder. (6) The place in which the outrage occurred is notorious for its
robberies.
It seems singular that two men armed with clubs, and having a frail woman in
their power, did not inflict more serious injury, if to beat her was their
only object.
[Page 643]
The “statement of facts” I had translated, and delivered it to the grand
vizier, and was again assured that energetic measures were in progress to
arrest and punish the wrongdoers, which fact I communicated to Dr. McDowell
by mail.
Yesterday the inclosed letter (inclosure 3), the original of which was mailed
at Mardin, Turkey, and is dated July 3, was delivered to me by Mr. Peat, and
I received by mail at the same time a copy of a letter from Dr. E. W.
McDowell to Dr. Thorn, who lives at Mardin. This letter appears to have been
written at Amadia in Koordistan, June 21, 1893.
The letters contain the substance of a letter formerly shown me by Mr. Peat,
and give a more detailed statement of the circumstances attending the
outrage. Apprehensions of danger are reiterated, and the letter written at
Koordistan only a few days after the assault on Miss Melton shows that Mr.
McDowell immediately wrote to the board to secure action by cable.
Again, I visited the grand vizier, and requested a more particular statement
of the steps taken by him to secure the safety of Miss Melton and her
friends, and for the punishment of the wrongdoers.
He had his order interpreted to me sentence by sentence, as also the
communication from the seat of trouble to him, and at my request promised
that a written translation into French of both should be sent to my legation
for the information of my Government, in the form of a note verbale. The
translation of the papers received from the grand vizier is given in
inclosure 5. In answer to my request for a vizirial letter to the local
authority at Amadia and Mosul directing them to secure protection for my
countrymen there (as our Government has no consul near), and which will make
the local chief responsible for their safety, it was readily promised.
Unless it is promptly forwarded I will advise you. Permit me to suggest that
the missionary board in the United States, who are in communication with
your Department, be informed that the missionaries in Asia, remote from a
consular office of the United States, may each on writing to me procure such
an order for themselves and families; for a vizirial letter compels the
protection of the local chief, and is the most efficient means of protection
in remote districts.
A cable dispatch from the United States two days ago, making inquiry about
Miss Melton’s safety, induced me to cable you. I refrained from informing
you of the assault on Miss Melton, after being satisfied that this
Government was doing all that was possible to secure her protection,
especially as it could only tend to increase the excitement so recently
started by religious propagandists at home over Armenian troubles. I am
confident that the Government of the Sultan is at present sincerely desirous
to secure full protection to all American citizens, and I am equally
confident that the grand vizier and minister of foreign affairs are
satisfied that the two Marsovan teachers were guilty of a treasonable
conspiracy against their Government when under a pressure from England and
America they spared their lives and banished them.
My cable dispatch referred to was as follows:
Grand vizier has done his full duty to protect teachers in
Koordistan, and to punish for assault on Miss Melton.
I have, etc.,
[Page 644]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 10.]
Mr. McDowell to Mr.
Terrell.
Amadia,
Koordistan, June 21,
1893.
Dear Sir: Yesterday by special messenger I sent
letter to Mosul to be forwarded by post to you, informing you of an
attack made by Koords upon Miss Melton, an American missionary, in which
she was seriously, but not fatally injured. There are many desperate men
here; the local government shows no disposition to give us redress or to
arrest the perpetrators of the outrage. In consequence our lives are put
in jeopardy and the situation seems to be more serious day by day.
Unless prompt action is taken bringing an order from the General
Government to bear upon the local government insuring our protection
until the case can be investigated, I fear there may be very serious
consequences.
I gave the particulars in the letter referred to, and asked you to,
secure such action if possible by telegraph to Mosul, our nearest mail
and telegraph point, and which is four days away. I send this by
different messenger, in view of possibility of my other man’s being
intercepted. I have also made provision to telegraph you in a certain
contingency. There are 6 of us. Miss Melton, my wife, 3 little ones, and
myself.
I earnestly hope you may be able to afford us relief, for which we shall
all be deeply grateful.
Believe me, etc.,
Address: Mosul, Turkey in Asia.
P. S.—We brought a letter with us from the vali of Mosul to the
kaimakam of this place, so that we are here by the knowledge and
consent of the government.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 10.]
Facts bearing upon the attack made upon Miss
Melton.
We have been in this country for several years, have made repeated visits
to this district, and only last year spent some days in Daree, the
village in which the affair occurred. We have not thought there was any
special risk in staying in these villages.
We have adherents to our church in these villages and so are clearly
within treaty rights in visiting them to give religious instruction.
We have in no way given offence to any one, nor have we met with any
opposition in the village in question. We were invited and cordially
received by the entire village.
Other single ladies in Koordistan have visited villages, spending weeks
and months in an unsettled region without other protection than their
servants, and have not been molested.
Every precaution possible was taken to insure her safety, except that of
taking a soldier. She did not take a soldier (1) because it did not seem
necessary; (2) judging from experience a soldier would not have been
given; (3) a soldier is no protection; (4) the low character of the
soldiers.
It may be said that the Government can not protect us in this region. In
answer to this I beg leave to submit the following:
Two years ago in an adjoining district there was a powerful Koordish agha
who oppressed the Christian villages. The local government, in answer to
petitions, said they were not able to deal with him. An order came from
the General Government, a small detachment of soldiers was sent up to
his village, he was arrested in his own castle and carried off from the
midst of his own men, all for taxes.
This Government recently arrested two powerful chiefs in the mountains
above here, taking them out of their stronghold, and held them here for
months, the one of them against the attempts of his friends to release
him.
This last summer the Sultan sent a special agent to Mosul to make certain
reforms in government. He came without soldiers, had only the means at
his command which were possessed by his predecessors, yet in two weeks,
by energetic and indiscriminate application of justice of the power of
the Government upon rich and poor, great and small, he inspired such a
terror among evil doers, even in the recesses in the mountains, that
lawlessness for the time practically ceased. The local government does
not protect, but it is not because it can not, as the above incidents
demonstrate.
[Page 645]
A single
application of justice to our case would afford us more protection than
a soldier at our elbow every place we go.
I submit the following evidence as going to show that the perpetrators of
this particular outrage are men of this city and probably soldiers.
The men stationed to fire off their guns to frighten the village in case
of an outcry from the tent, their knowledge of the situation of the
tent, their disregard of the villagers, would indicate an attack
planned, and planned in reference to Miss Melton. The Koords from a
distance could not have learned yet of her presence there.
The servant girl testifies that their clothing was that of Amadia.
Miss Melton’s assailant, as did the rest, spoke in Koordish, bat in
swearing he used not “Ya Kludai,” oh! God, as the mountain Koords would,
but “Ya Allah,” the Arabic term, which would be used by the soldiers or
other Amadians who have been down upon the plain among the
Arabic-speaking people.
The first impulse of a mountain Koord, when angry, is to use his dagger.
There was no dagger used and none seen. A soldier habitually uses a
stick on the villagers. The stick used upon Miss Melton was of the kind
especially common to this place.
A mountain Koord, having made such an attack upon a woman, would not have
left her alive. They also, in firing upon the village, would have done
more than frighten the people.
At the place from which the guns were fired were found two cartridge
shells and two cartridges which had missed fire and been thrown from the
guns. Three of these were of the Martini rifle, which is the Government
rifle, the fourth was also for a Government rifle, but of different
pattern, one which has been recently introduced, and not one of which is
to be found among the Koords.
To show the strength of this proof, in my first interview with the
kaimakam and the judge I showed them these cartridges, whereupon they
both exclaimed: “Why, this was done by men of this place!” and looked at
each other. Instantly, seeing how it would involve them, they endeavored
to weaken the proof by statements absurd on their face, and grew quite
angry as I held to that position.
There are certain men here who are notorious for their robberies. They
act as contrivers and receivers of the pi under. One of them is in the
Government and has soldiers under him. Some of these men were opposed to
our coming here as interfering with their business. There was talk among
them about putting us out. Supposing the attack was made to intimidate
us, this would explain the repeated beatings without killing, the sudden
disappearance of the men after that had been accomplished without
stopping to plunder, as they might easily have done, and as Koords would
surely have done.
The one of these parties referred to as being in the Government
manifested friendliness to me before the event, he knew of it
surprisingly soon the next morning, happened in at all my interviews
with the kaimakam, called when the officer came to take Miss Melton’s
testimony, asked strange questions from one of my men; all of which are
not likely to have occurred under ordinary circumstances.
It is the opinion of other men here that it was done by men of this city
and probably at the instigation of the one referred to.
In all probability the men are in this city. The governor himself thinks
so. It ought not to be difficult to apprehend them. That the Government
is doing nothing to do so ought to render very weak their statement to
our Government that they can not protect us here. The strong probability
that soldiers were implicated in it ought to be remembered when they say
that we ought to take soldiers with us in going to the villages.
[Inclosure 3 in No.10.]
Mr. Gates to Mr.
Terrell.
American Mission,
Mardin Turkey
in Asia, July 3,
1893.
Dear Sir: A few days since I sent you a
telegram informing you of the brutal assault made upon Miss Melton, an
American missionary of the Presbyterian board in the neighborhood of
Amadia. I now inclose to you a copy of the letter of Rev. E. W.
McDowell, of the same mission, regarding this outrage. Mosul was
formerly a station of our mission and the relations between that mission
and our own are very close and friendly, hence they wrote to us at once;
and we are so impressed with the gravity of the situation that we feel
constrained to entreat that you will use every effort to obtain redress
in order that the lives of missionaries may be rendered safe in that
region. It is only a few years since two missionaries of that same
mission were attacked and robbed there, and we can not but fear that Mr.
McDowell
[Page 646]
and his family are in
peril now unless stringent measures are taken to insure their
protection.
Moreover, we are anxious concerning Miss Melton. She is a delicate little
woman, although very brave. The shock of such an attack by night, the
desertion of all her attendants, who were in terror for their own lives,
together with the brutal beating she received, are quite enough to
produce serious and lasting results of a character to mar her whole
life; hence we wait for news of her condition with much solicitude.
I have written to Mr. Peat also concerning this matter, and I trust he
will see you in regard to it.
Very sincerely, etc.,
[Inclosure 4 in No. 10.]
Mr. McDowell to Dr.
Thom.
Amadia,
Koordistan,
June 21,
1893.
Dear Dr. Thom: We left Mosul June 1, reaching
Amadia the 5th. I have now to tell you of an occurrence that will shock
you. Miss Melton, a few nights since, was beaten quite badly by some
Koords. The blows inflicted might well have killed her, but thanks be to
God she was saved from any serious injury so far as we know. There were
several scalp wounds which bled profusely, and bruises upon her body,
especially upon her abdomen, one of them being the print of the entire
head of the cane used. This was on the lower part of the abdomen. This
is now the seventh day and she has apparently not suffered greatly from
the shock, although weak. To-day she is not up, but her trouble may have
no connection with the beating, sickness at the stomach and diarrhea.
Later: Dr. Daniel says her trouble to-day is prostration from reaction.
For several days her pulse was very strong, but to-day it is very faint.
You will wish to know the particulars. Briefly they are as follows:
We reached Amadia Monday, June 5. On the following Friday she went to
Daree, one of our villages less than an hour away, to work among the
women. We thought it was perfectly safe, i. e., for this country. She
had one of our best pastors with her, who has worked in the mountains
for years amid dangers of various kinds, as her protector. Several other
men slept about her tent, which was pitched upon a roof. On the
following Wednesday, after midnight, she was awakened by a man in her
tent. On seeing she was awake he began to beat her with his cane. The
frame about her bed at first protected her. This angered him. He tore it
away, and again beat her with one of the sticks of the frame (over an
inch square). She was at first entangled in the net (for mosquitoes),
but soon freeing herself, she got up, wrested the stick from his hands,
and seized him by the hands, holding him for a moment. He threw her off
with an oath, and again began to beat her. His accomplice came in at
this moment, and taking him to be the pastor, Zecheria, on whom she had
been crying for help, she ran to him, but was pushed aside. The two now
began to gather up her things, and she ran outside, to find that
everybody but her servant girl had deserted her, and she had been choked
into silence. People had heard her cries, but they had accomplices
stationed a few rods away among the rocks, who, when they saw everybody
was out, fired off their guns to intimidate them, calling upon them not
to come near and not to run.
They did run, however, all of them, including the pastor. The Koord
seeing her outside the tent, again attacked her, this time giving her
that terrible blow on the abdomen. In doing it he lost his balance and
fell off the roof, unfortunately on the low side. Very unaccountably
they now disappeared suddenly, taking only a few things from among the
things under their hands, and those of little value. After they left,
some of the people came back. She got the girl to pour water on her
head, she was covered with blood, and then dressed it herself as best
she could with tannic acid. They could not be induced to bring me a
letter until daylight, at which time I got it as nicely and carefully
witten as for a school examination. I went at once to the kaimakam; he
was not up; I awakened him, but as he was slow in coming, I went on and
left Dr. D. to bring the necessary officers. I had the villagers with
me, but an officer seeing me go, thought he ought to send some one with
me, so of his own accord ordered out 3 men. They reached the village
some time after I did. I found Miss Melton quite self-composed. We
waited awhile, but the officers not coming we went into the city. On the
way we found another subordinate sitting by the road. He had been sent
by the kaimakam. The kaimakam at first refused to do anything, and
affected to be angry because I took those first soldiers without
consulting him. I neglected to say that I sent a message to him which
brought out the fellow sitting by the road.
[Page 647]
As soon as Miss Melton’s wounds were dressed I went to the kaimakam. He
at first was on his high horse. I talked plainly to him, and he soon
promised to do all in his power to find the parties. This is now the
seventh day and he has clone nothing hut take testimony. It is evident
he does not intend to do anything. I have sufficient evidence to show
that it was done by men of this place (Amadia), probably soldiers. The
brother of the kaimakam has a reputation which would point him out as
the contriver of the outrage; he has soldiers under him who would do the
work. A Koord would have used his dagger when he got angry; a soldier is
accustomed to beating people with a stick. The thing was planned by
those who knew the situation. There are no Koords who could have known
of her being there and have planned it. Her assailant said, not “Ya
Khudai,” as a Koord, in the mountains invariably does, but “Ya Allah,”
as a soldier or city Koord does. We found some cartridges and shells of
the Martini rifle, and another pattern lately introduced, not one of
which is in the hands of the Koords. When I showed them to the kaimakam
and the kadi, they both exclaimed involuntarily, “Why, it was done by
men of this place!” They at once saw the force of their words and tried
to draw out of it, and grew quite angry when Dr. Daniel held to that
position, Koords would have taken everything after they had terrorized
the village, not only Miss Melton’s things, but would have plundered the
village as well. The fellows took only a few things; those doing the
firing did not come down to the village at all.
They seemed to have business only with Miss Melton; when that was done
they left. Their calling to the villagers “Don’t come near, and don’t
run off,” has that appearance. The Koords would have cleaned out the
village. It is not like a Koord to beat a woman. It looks as though it
was instigated here by some one to intimidate us. The situation looks
serious; the more so as our presence here is unwelcome to the kaimakam,
who has been plundering the people and threatening to burn our house in
Dihi; also to other gentlemen who don’t care to have too much light on
their deeds. Others are put out because we brought no medicine. Dr. D.,
you know, was not going to stop, and, anyhow, he has no diploma. We have
heard that there was talk of putting us out, which I don’t think they
will attempt. I have already sent off letters to our board asking them
to secure action by cable, and telegraph to Mosul to secure our
protection. If such action does not come we can not tell what will
happen. Even the villagers are saying to us, “Your Government can not do
anything for you. You have no king,” etc. With this idea prevalent, and
an indifferent and insolent kaimakam, it would not be surprising that
there should something happen.
To retreat does not seem practicable or wise; the journey is a hard one,
and it is very hot. Both the ladies are weak, and Philip not well. The
road itself is just now very unsafe, and for us now especially, fleeing,
as it were, from the Government. The effect on the work would be bad for
the future. I have hopes that I can keep on good relations with the best
of the big men, and so prevent any serious trouble until word conies
from the United States. This is not certain, however. The strongest men
here are notoriously wicked, and let them feel that we have no power at
home and serious trouble does not seem impossible. The presence of the
two ladies and the little ones adds to my dread of such a thing. There
is undoubtedly danger, and possibility of a horrible catastrophe, which
might have the most serious influence upon our work. If we telegraph and
secure a prompt reply, securing our protection, it would have the most
salutary effect upon the people and afford us protection for years to
come. They would realize that we have a Government which can act, and
act quickly. One common word is that our Government is so far away that
it can not reach us. The kaimakam demands that we do not move from the
city without asking him. If we wish a soldier we must put our request in
writing and have it acted on by Migliss.
As ever, etc.,
[Inclosure 5 in No.
10.—Telegram.]
[Translation.]
Vilayet of Mosul to the
Grand Vizier.
Telegram of June 16 received; though the American Missionaries did not
address themselves with regard of the matter therein to the commissary,
and the local authorities have made no communication to me, the
so-called semasalima, who serves as dragoman to the missionaries, and
who is here, having been called and interrogated, declared that some
vagrants having threatened, under their tents,
[Page 648]
the missionaries as well as the lady teacher, who
had previously been with them at Amadia, the eve of the day when she
addressed advices in a village at one hour distance from Amadia, to
women who gathered there, the kaimakam of the place has started an
inquest on this subject, and that the news of this incident was
transmitted to Constantinople from the telegraphic bureau of Mardin,
because the man the missionaries sent to Mosul to advise the vilayet,
has, without calling on the imperial authorities, informed the French
consul.
Then a capable Benluk Aghassi of the gendarmery accompanied by a
sufficient number of policemen, has immediately been sent yesterday to
the spot to effect an inquiry, arrest the culprits, and assure the
perfect security of the missionaries.
As, according to appearances, this incident may have been provoked by
Armenians of this region, I invited the kaimakam to investigate this
affair and to take the proper measures.
Under the auspices of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, it is certain that
the culprits will be arrested and will receive the punishment they
deserve. I reserve myself to communicate to your highness the result of
the measures taken. Taking into consideration the animosity which at all
times has existed between the Nestorian Christians and the Taiyaris of
Hakkiary in the vilayet of Van and the Koords of Amadia, a battalion of
imperial troops will be on an authorization obtained in consequence of a
correspondence exchanged on the subject, forwarded this year, like the
preceding years, on the spot for the maintenance of good order during
the summer season.
[Inclosure 6 in No.
10.—Telegram.]
[Translation.]
The grand vizier to the
governor-general of the vilayet of
Mosul.
Telegram of the 18th–30th of June received.
It is claimed that the missionary girl has been beaten and that the
aggressors are inhabitants of the village where the missionaries are to
be found.
In view of the deplorable impression that assault and beating a woman are
apt to produce in America, and as we have received no notice with regard
to the arrest of the culprit, though fifteen days have clasped since, I
invite you to let me know without delay what has been done up to this
time, if the culprits are really of the said village, and why they have
not yet been arrested. You will immediately devise the measures proper
to secure at any cost and as soon as possible their arrest, if it has
not as vet taken place.
[Inclosure 7 in No
10.—Telegram.]
Governor-general of the vilayet
of Mosul to the grand vizier,
July 4–16, 1893.
Telegram of July 3 (old style, or 15th July) received.
Conformably to previous orders of your highness concerning the menace at
Amadia to the American missionaries, a capable captain has been sent
with ten or twelve zaptiehs, and peremptory directions have been at once
sent to the kaimakam of the place for the discovery and the immediate
punishment of the culprits.
While they were proceeding to the hearing of some of the prisoners
arrested in the village where the missionaries are and the inhabitants
are Nestorian and Jacobite Christians, the missionaries in their letters
demanded the freedom of the men arrested, declaring that they had no
suspicion of them, and that the real culprits are from Amadia itself. In
consequence of these letters I have requested the kaimakam, as well as
the said captain, to set at liberty the prisoners, to proceed with the
arrest of those of the inhabitants of Amadia on whom the missionaries
had suspicions, to let me know the result of the thorough investigation
which will be conducted on their behalf, and send without delay and
under escort to the headquarters of the vilayet the accused and those
who may be implicated in the matter.
I recommended them at the same time to have the missionaries protected by
a sufficient number of zaptiehs.
In reserving to myself to submit in a short time to your highness the
result which will be obtained, I have the honor to inform you, as
advised by the local authority, that under the happy auspices of His
Imperial Majesty the Sultan steps have been taken for the safety of the
American missionaries.
