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
These were well enough behaved. There were credibly reported instances
of minor Turkish officers interfering with the looters and evil-doers,
and even of instances of kindness being shown to non-Mussulman natives. I
saw no such kindness, however. If I had, I should be eager to report it,
but I am willing to accept the testimony of others. The panic among the
native Christians was now increasing to an alarming extent.
As the looting spread and the killing increased the American institutions
were filled with frightened people. These institutions in Smyrna were the
Intercollegiate Institute, a seminary for young girls; the Y. W. C. A.,
housed in a large building and surrounded by a garden and tennis court,
and the Y. M. C. A.
The night of the tenth the shooting could still be heard in the Christian
quarters and frightened people were besieging the doors of these
institutions and screaming and begging in God’s name to be let in. A
number of bluejackets were stationed in both the girls’ school and the Y.
W. C. A., and if any of them chance to read these lines they will confirm
the statement that the conduct of the American women teachers connected
with the American institutions in and about Smyrna was without exception,
above praise. There was not one who showed the least indication of fear
or nervousness under the most trying circumstances; not one who flinched
or wabbled for an instant throughout a situation which had scarcely a
parallel in the history of the world for hideousness and danger. They
endured fatigue almost beyond human endurance, that they might do all
in their power to save their charges and give comfort and courage to
the frightened hunted creatures who had thrown themselves on their
protection. Such women as these throw imperishable luster on the name
of American womanhood. Since none of them gave up or showed the white
feather, we may conclude that they were worthy representatives of a
worthy sisterhood—the American Woman. For the men nothing need be said,
for American men are expected to come up to the mark. I was proud of my
whole colony at Smyrna.
Mention should be made of Jacobs, director of the Y. M. C. A. He was and
is still, doubtless, famous for a genial smile which he himself calls the
“Y. M. C. A. smile.” Proceeding along the quay on an errand of mercy in
connection with the refugees, he was stopped by several Turkish soldiers,
searched and robbed of a sum of money. Continuing his route, he hailed a
Turkish officer to whom he complained. The officer asked him:
“Did they take it all?”
“Fortunately, no,” replied Jacobs.
“Well then,” said the officer, “hand over what you have left,” which
Jacobs was compelled to do. As he left he was shot at, but fortunately
not hit. This incident I did not see, but it was related to me by other
Americans.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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