Today probably one of the most twisted and congested suburbs, it was upcoming as an alternative away from the city
Into Sept. six, 1919, “Hay Dzayn” (The latest Armenian Sound), written in Adana, noted: “The great Wilderness Guy, the amazing Ruben Heryan…it’s been already six months that neglecting about all else, they have thrown themselves that have selfless passion towards slaughterhouse in order to gather the remaining Armenian fragments. The new management regarding Ashirs [Kurdish tribes] already know him as Mufettish este-Ermen [this new Investigator of Armenians]; it is impossible in place of bribery, you will find nothing currency, but the guy seizes any possible opportunity to save yourself the Armenian captives.” sixteen
Brand new collaboration from Heryan with the most remarkable activist of the conserve objective, Misak Melconyan, the newest implemented son out-of Karen Jeppe, the brand new affiliate of one’s Category out-of Countries regarding Close East, is actually of utmost importance
On the same day, Heryan wrote a letter 17 so you’re able to their relative and you may friend Metaks 18 off Adana describing his poor health, but meanwhile noting their energy and you ilove profile will warmth so you can keep providing those people he rescued each day, and people who appealed to help you him to obtain the family unit members.
It is such as fascinating to read through his letter, old July 19, 1919, of Der Zor, in order to Metaks. Brand new letter indicates the problems he experienced if you find yourself moving the first caravan regarding 320 men and women to Aleppo and you may, later on, with the help of keleks (rafts) moving 350 orphans so you can Baghdad; planning go back to villages and you can taking the orphans right back that have him, together with to shop for of several Armenian ladies from their captors and you may searching for people abducted; and you can, most importantly, on account of threats created by new Arabs, convincing the thriving Armenians to get rescued. The guy also wrote regarding the chief financial trouble he’d, and regarding the their own offers, he had depleted to pay for his operate. “My cardiovascular system bleeds when i think of my personal economic wreck; You will find grown very old; and i never reach my objective,” he published. “Not only can there be no cash, however, there are no anyone often.” In the same letter, the guy penned on those people federal activists having who this new liberation away from the brand new orphans and you can ladies was not a major question, and just how these were thus active along with other works. The guy even described the members of this new “Armenian Federal Delegation” which participated in the fresh Paris peace meeting due to the fact “patriots for the phrase.” Based on Heryan, more immediate issue of your day are brand new conserve purpose. “Is it you to I am dumb, or is they one ‘the latest patriots of your word’ is actually brilliant? In any event, I cannot work up against my own principles. Brand new orphans becomes new seed products out of tomorrow’s Armenia; for each and every more rescued Armenian is an increase; they are the fragments out of my personal center. Whenever drifting through the deserts, truth be told there, in the sun, the light sparkling skulls and you will bones are crying out loud, ‘Place our very own orphans free’; and who will getting indifferent just after seeing all that? … I could functions up until We perish.” 19
Melconyan spent some time working each other that have Armenian and Arab couples, and this greatly triggerred the new rescue procedures. The guy shaped groups of horsemen, which below their command desired and rescued Armenian orphans and you may females in the camping tents of Bedouins on desert. Sometimes, such teams crossed along side edging on the Turkish front side and you will place totally free the women and children abducted from the Turks and you may Kurds. 20 The fresh new survivors was stationed for the Aleppo, on gardens named Sheik Daha, located in the north the main urban area, for the financial of Queiq Lake. Brand new camping tents was shelters toward orphans, refugees, and widows who had escaped Chicken or escaped on Bedouins. All the survivors was indeed available with eating, medical care, and attire; their identities had been featured, as well as their brands were provided for push, places of worship, and you will Armenian organizations, in an effort to to acquire the members of the family. There were a lot of people regarding urban area just who found see the siblings one of the novices or perhaps to find details about the brand new fate of their family relations. 21