The blight of Asia : $b An account of the systematic extermination of Christian populations by Mohammedans and of the culpability of certain great powers; with the true story of the burning of SmyrnaHorton, George
History
The blight of Asia : $b An account of the systematic extermination of Christian populations by Mohammedans and of the culpability of certain great powers; with the true story of the burning of Smyrna
Horton, George
Christians -- Turkey; Fires -- Turkey -- İzmir; Greeks -- Turkey; Turkey; İzmir (Turkey) -- History
“Very sincerely yours,
(Signed) “Ernest W. Biggs.”
The letter referred to as “enclosed” was as follows:
“Athens, Greece, October 12, 1922.
“Reverend James L. Barton, D. D., Secretary of the American
Board, 14 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass.
“Dear Doctor Barton:
“At a recent station meeting of the Smyrna missionaries now
refugees in the city of Athens (numbering fourteen adults),
a vote was passed recognizing the exceedingly helpful and
sympathetic services of our Consul-General, Doctor Horton,
during the days of the late Smyrna tragedy. The vote also
expressed the desire that a copy of this letter be sent to the
State Department, Washington, D. C., and one also to Doctor
Horton himself.
“During those days of Turkish fire, pillage and massacre,
which laid the beautiful city of Smyrna in ashes and rendered
homeless her Christian population of not less than 500,000
people, including the refugees from the surrounding towns and
villages, Doctor Horton passed through more trying, exacting
and dangerous experiences than I could imagine any official of
the United States Government, doing service abroad, has ever
been called upon to undergo.
“Under such circumstances, when our American Consulate was
crowded with helpless human beings, all looking to the consul
for help and advice, Consul Horton kept cool but never cold.
His warm sympathetic heart went out to each sufferer, and aid
was extended wherever possible.
“The missionaries are especially grateful for the assistance
rendered by Doctor Horton in helping to rescue teachers and
pupils from the schools, with the result that not one teacher
from the American Girls’ Institute, at Smyrna, is missing; and
most of the girls, who were in the burning building, have been
saved.
“Since the flight to Athens, Doctor Horton has been most
energetic in helping to feed, clothe and house the needy
refugees.
“We wish to put on record our appreciation of Doctor Horton’s
brave and sympathetic efforts for ourselves, as well as the
natives of the city.
“On behalf of the missionaries of Smyrna Station, I remain,
“Very sincerely yours,
(Signed) “Dana K. Getchell.”
The third and following letter was received by me in Washington, August
20, 1923, in the Turkish language. Among the signers are Ilimdar Zade
Edhem, President of the Islamic Emigration Committee and Hali Zeki,
proprietor of the well-known _Shark Gazette_.
My constant policy during the long time that I was in the Near East, was
to befriend, in so far as my official position permitted, all who might
be in need of help, irrespective of race or religion.
“30 July, 1339 (Turkish date)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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