REMEMBERING THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE; MASSACHUSETTS NEWSPAPER CHRONICLES ONE FAMILY’S JOURNEY TO SAFETY IN U.S.
By Bill Millhomme
Special to Huntington News Network
HNN Huntingtonnews.net, WV
April 23 2007
On April 24, 1915, the Turkish government issued an order for the
extermination of the Armenian people in their own land, where they had
lived for centuries. On that date, writers, composers, intellectuals
and priests were rounded up and killed.
Their death presaged the murder of an ancient civilization. April
24 is therefore commemorated as the date of the unfolding of the
Armenian Genocide.
Between the years 1895 and 1923 the Armenian people was subjected
to deportation, expropriation, abduction, torture, massacre, and
starvation. The great bulk of the Armenian population was forcibly
removed from Armenia and Anatolia to Syria, where the vast majority
was sent into the desert to die of thirst and hunger.
Large numbers of Armenians were methodically massacred throughout the
Ottoman Empire. Women and children were abducted and horribly abused.
The entire wealth of the Armenian people was expropriated. As a result
some 600,000 Armenians were killed or died of starvation.
These events may seem to be far removed from local residents, but they
are not. Throughout greater Boston and southeastern Massachusetts,
the children of first generation Armenians who survived the genocide
live among us. This is the story of one of the surviving families
and the town that embraced them.
* * *
In 1889, at the age of 24, Samuel Sakaian, an Armenian, left his
young wife and children and emigrated to the United States. Several
months later, responding to the need for skilled tradesmen in the
local manufacturing industries, Sakaian relocated to Foxboro.
During the ensuing three decades he would travel back to Armenia
several times in search of his family members who remained in his
native land. The archives of the Foxboro Reporter is a window to the
past of the heartfelt love and concern of the residents of the town
for the adopted son as he journeyed into to danger. His final journey
was celebrated by the return of his niece who was captured by Arab
slave traders and sold into domestic servitude.
In 1894 when word of the fighting between the Turks and Armenians
reached Samuel Sakaian, the Foxboro Reporter began recording the
unfolding events.
On August 24, 1894 in an article titled Off for the Holy Land, it
was reported that "Samuel H. K. Sakaian left Foxboro on Tuesday
of this week for Worcester, from whence he will go to New York,
and from there he sails on Wednesday, August 29th, for London. From
London, England he goes to Paris, France, from Paris to Marseilles,
France, and from Marseilles he boards a ship, which will carry him
to Antioch, in the Holy Land. At Antioch, he will buy a horse at
an expense of about $25, on which he will be obliged to ride for 15
long days before he reaches his home in Central Armenia, near Mount
Ararat. At Antioch he will also hire an ass and its owner. On the
back of the animal will be carried his carpenter tools, which weigh
several hundred pounds. These will be divided and packed in two boxes,
each holding about an equal number of pound in order that they may
be carried to better advantage. All along the route are located inns,
at which travelers purchase necessities for man and beast.
"Samuel has resided in Foxboro for 4 years and it is 4 ½ years since
he left his native land. During his absence a daughter 6 ½ years of
age has died. He has three brothers and one sister, all married and
all residing in the same house with his family. He was 55 days on
his journey to this country, but expects to return in 40 days, under
increased facilities, and with less delay along the route. During his
residence here he has been nearly or quite all the time in the employ
of Deacon Thomas B. Bourne, and engaged as a carpenter. He has gained
many friends and carries back to his country the best wishes of all who
know him. He also carries back a knowledge of various things as done
in this country, which will be of great value and lasting benefit to
him. He wishes to extend his thanks to Deacon T. B. Bourne, Robert
S. Carpenter and their families, and to the many people here who
have befriended him either by word or deed. It is a long and tedious
journey, which he starts upon, and one beset by more or less danger."
Unfortunately, Sakaian’s journey ended in Marseilles, France , for
according to the Foxboro Reporter in September 1895, Sakaian started
a second time for Armenia.
The article recorded that, "Samuel leaves many friends in Foxboro,
who have learned to respect him; the prayers and best wishes of many
people here accompany him on his long journey, and will be with him
after he reaches his home. He has been absent from wife and children
5 years and 7 months, a daughter having died during his absence.
"Once before he started on this journey but met with misfortune
before sailing from Europe, and returned to America. He will carry
his carpenter tools with him, which he has purchased since his return
to America, his first chest of these necessaries having been stolen
from him during his previous journey. Samuel wishes us to say that
his heart is filled with thankfulness to the people of Foxboro for
their many and great kindnesses to him during his stay among us,
and we realized that his heart was filled with tender thoughts for
our people who had befriended him, which could not be expressed."
Three months later, in December 1895 the Foxboro Reporter informed
residents of the town that a letter had been received by Sakaian’s
former employer, Thomas B. Bourne. In the article Bourne stated that
Sakaian was in Marseilles, France, "in company with quite a body of
his countrymen, all being detained there on account of the terrible
ravages, which are taking place in Armenia, in which over 18,000 of
his people, have been massacred. It is impossible for any of them
to get passports to proceed. Samuel does not know whether his family
are alive or dead, as no word of any kind has been received from them.
The nearest post-office has been visited by marauders, and their
fearful work of murder has been going on there. He still retains his
chest of carpenter tools, and will probably be able to find something
to do in this line to pay for his expenses."
The article went on to mention that Sakaian "was followed from
Foxboro by many prayers, and kind wishes, and it would be a comfort
for him to know that he has still a warm place in the hearts of many
in this town."
Soon after, in February 1896, the Foxboro Reporter recorded that a
"meeting in town hall Monday evening to raise money for suffering
Armenia was fairly attended. Rev. J. W. Flagg presided. The speaker
of the evening was Rev. E. P. Allen of Portland, Maine, who was a
missionary at Harpoot, Turkey. His lecture was intensely interesting,
and a generous collection was taken."
Several weeks later, on March 14, 1896, the Foxboro Reporter mentioned
that Sakaian had safely arrived again in Foxboro from Marseilles,
France. The article went on to state that Sakaian’s arrival "was
closely followed by a registered letter, from his home in Armenia,
receiving it on Saturday. It was the fourth, which has been received
by him, out of seven letters written to him by his people. The others
have probably been intercepted. He wrote fifteen letters from France
to his home and o those acquainted with his people in other parts
of Turkey. Nearly all of these have doubtless failed to reach their
destination.
"The letter received Saturday was, as stated, forwarded to him from
France, where he left his address upon leaving for his last journey
back to the United States. It was written on Wednesday, January
15th and stated that his wife and son, his three brothers and their
families, 15 persons in all, were alive. This was cheering news to
Samuel although the letter received was written nearly two months ago."
Sakaian remained in town for several more years , but in 1900 he left
Foxboro for his native Armenia. But ten years later, on June 25,
1910 the Foxboro Reporter recorded that "Samuel Sakaian, who again
arrived in this country from Armenia a week ago and who has once
again settled in Foxboro, will bring his wife and other members of
his family here as soon as he secures the necessary funds for them
to make the long journey. Samuel has been absent ten years. He has
four children living of the ten children born to them. One of these
is a soldier in the army of his country. He with his wife also desire
o come to America, but considerable money is required to secure his
release from the army. Samuel has had varied and sad experiences since
he left Foxboro, and at times has been in imminent danger of losing
his life at the hands of the treacherous and wily Turks. He says he
never desires to return to his native land, and life will seem worth
living when his family are again here."
Apparently Sakaian’s family never arrived in Foxboro for almost
a decade later on July 19, 1919 the Foxboro Reporter recorded that
Sakaian had received his passport and that he was traveling to Armenia
"to locate if possible his wife and family, not a word from whom has
he heard for years."
The article also mentioned that, "…He had a large number of relatives
and has always held the opinion that many of them were victims during
the Armenian massacre. He is undecided as to his future labors,
but may devote his remaining year to the interests of his Armenian
country and people."
On November 29, 1919, Foxboro Reporter recorded that "The many
friends of Samuel K. H. Sakaian will be pleased to learn that he
has reached his native land in safety. We present our readers with a
letter received from him by Thomas B. Bourne, dated Constantinople,
October 20th, which is as follows: ‘I am in Constantinople. New York
to Constantinople twenty-one days on the water. We had a nice journey,
nice food, nice bed; everything was good. My fare from New York was
$305. My health is good. By and by I will go to the English Consul
to show my passport. Went to the American Consul, but he told me to
go to the English Consul, because everything is in English powers
hands. I think I will stay here this winter, but sometime I will see
the English Consul to get advice to go to Aleppo. I found my brother’s
daughter. All the Armenian people have been without any clothing:
all women, girls and boys, have been undressed: nothing to cover
themselves. I do not want to write all the things, and I am not able
to write. Thousands die of hunger and thirst, and many of them throw
themselves into the river and kill themselves. I am sorry I am not
able to write long letters, but I hope you will be satisfied.
Best regards to you all. You cannot send any letters to me now.’"
Apparently Foxboro residents were unaware of Sakaian’s whereabouts
for the next three year and a half years. It was not until May,
1923 that he returned to Foxboro and told his incredible story. As
recorded in the May 12, 1923 Foxboro Reporter, "Mr. Samuel Sakaian,
a former resident of Foxboro, returned Wednesday after a sojourn of
almost four years in Turkey. Mr. Sakaian left here in June 1919. The
‘Black Arrow’, on which he sailed, left New York on September 26,
1919 and was 22 days on the way to Constantinople.
"He experienced numerous difficulties in securing passports for passage
both ways, notwithstanding, the fact that he was an American Citizen,
the trouble Armenians and Turks since the war has made it practically
impossible for an Armenian to live in Turkey."
"His plan was to go to Harpoot in Asia Minor to locate his family.
When he arrived, he learned that all members of his family, numbering
25 in all,which included his four brothers and their families, had been
"sent down South"; in other words, massacred by the Turks. Mr.
Sakaian does not want us to think, however, that all Turks are cruel
as he tells us that some are humane.
In a small village, called Kuckuk Chekmeja, which is just outside of
Constantinople, he found a few remaining relatives, who used to live
there years and years ago.
One of his cousins had been shipped South to Aleppo by the Turks and
there met one of his nieces, who had been claimed in the desert by an
Arab. The procedure was to ship all Armenians to the desert where the
Arabs overtook them and seized the girls and young women, all others
being massacred or left to die of starvation and thirst. To quote Mr.
Sakaian, ‘My niece, who comes from Harpoot, was shipped with the
others to the desert by the Turks. There a crowd of Arabs came
and took the girls. My niece, at that time only fifteen years old,
was taken with two other girls by an Arabian and kept by him for
three years. Fortunately, he was very kind, gave them work in the
kitchen and did not trouble them. When the Armistice was signed,
and everything was under English control, the Arab asked the girls
whether they wanted to stay in his house or go into English hands.
The girls wanted to go, so he took them over to the English. There,
the refugees were in one large building, under English hands. There
my niece met her uncle (above mentioned) who did not recognize
her at first, as she was a little girl the last time they had
met. She remembered him and told him of her experiences and thus
were reunited. They were both sent to Constantinople by the English
representatives and there I found her, the only one I have left. She
was penniless and had only on robe which an Arab had given her to
wear. I left her passage money and expect her to reach Foxboro some
time next month where she will make her home with me.
The girl was shipped by the Turks South together with thousands and
thousands of women and children from the villages, cities and towns.
On their march thru the desert, they passed the dead bodies of
hundreds of fellow countrymen who had been massacred. The Turks did
not give them a chance to take their own children with them. Women,
who had their babies with them, stopped to rest by the road and were
killed as they sat there, for they stopped the progress of the march.
Many children and women died of thirst, when they were driven into
the desert. The girl’s mother had no water for days and when they
came at last to water, she drank too much of it and died. The same
fate befell thousands of other women.’
Mr. Sakaian stayed in Constantinople for three years, waiting for a
chance to go to Harpoot. After the Greeks had driven the Turks back and
Smyrna was burned, the Turks got power enough to drive all foreigners
of every nationality out of Constantinople. Many Americans, English,
Italian and French were rushed out of Constantinople by train and boat.
After the foreigners were driven out of Constantinople, there was
very little disturbance, so Mr. Sakaian was told by the American
Consul that he could stay longer if he wished but that it would be
better to come back to America. He experienced many difficulties
in securing the passport as it was taken from him by the Turkish
government on the grounds that it ‘was against International Law’
for Mr. Sakaian to become an American citizen without notifying the
Turkish consul in this country.
In order that Mr. Sakaian might get safely aboard the steamer for
New York, he was referred to the American Ambassador, who, when the
appointed time came, had his ‘qavas’ or military orderly escort him
to his ship. Mr. Sakaian states that he is glad to be back in Foxboro
again, and that he proposes to stay this time.
Samuel’s niece, Alma Sakaian’s, her voyage to America was beset with
the immigration complications that were common in the post-World War I
era. On October 6, 1923 , the Foxboro Reporter, in an article titled,
Mr. Sakaian Misses Ship Diverted From New York To Providence: Armenian
Immigrant is Finally Admitted, the newspaper recorded the odyssey
for the local residents. "Samuel Sakaian, a resident of this town for
over 30 years but a native of Armenia, visited several months in his
native land where he learned that all his family had been massacred
except a niece, Alma Sakaian. He returned last Spring leaving money
with the American Consul in Constantinople for the passage later of
his niece. She arrived at Ellis Island on June 30, only to find that
the quota from her country had already arrived. She was sent back to
Europe and her money refunded.
Ex-Representative Ellis and Congressman Frothingham took up the
matter and she was allowed an entrance. She took passage again on the
steamship Canada due to arrive in New York last Monday. This vessel
was diverted to Providence where it docked on Sunday. Samuel Sakaian
went to New York on Monday to meet his niece. She landed in Providence
on Sunday and came to Attleboro where she was taken care of on Monday
night by the Y.W.C.A. and finally arrived here safely on Tuesday."
Alma Sakaian, was 21 years old when she arrived in Foxboro in 1923.
She was born in Arghan, Turkey in 1902. Several months after arriving
in Foxboro, she married Archie Shahabian, an Armenian who also was
born in the village of Arghan in 1885.
Like Sakaian, Shahabian emigrated to the United States and moved to
Foxboro in 1904. Archie and Alma married in 1924 and lived in Foxboro
for the rest of their lives. Archie died in 1975 and Alma passed away
in 1982.
Several years after the death of her husband, Alma agreed to be
interviewed by a local reporter, George Patisteas. For the first time,
Alma recalled publicly her recollections of the events that transpired
sixty years earlier. On November 9, 1978 the Foxboro Reporter recorded
her story.
"…Alma Sakaian was born in the town of Arghan, the youngest in a
family of eight children, it was not the best of times. On the verge
of the First World War, nationalism was running at a fever pitch.
Instigated by years of fighting that resulted in about 200,000 Armenian
deaths, the Turks were once again growing resentful of their country’s
sizable minority.
What followed as a result were a number of purges of small hamlets
and towns throughout the country that began in Alma’s hometown when
she was eight. At that time, out-of-town Turkish soldiers, prodded
by the Germans, blindfolded and shot all the male members of her
church over the age of 16. The group included Alma’s two brothers,
father and an uncle…. After the Arghan massacre took place, Turkish
harassment of the Armenians continued until a more organized purge
began one month later. The Armenian members of the community, Alma
recalls, were uprooted from their homes and told to take only what
could be carried on their backs and donkeys or horses. Herded from
their homes, the refugees were soon stripped of their animals as well,
as they headed into the deserts of Mesopotamia.
The reason for the hostility between the two groups of people was
singular: religion. The Turks believed in the word of Muhammed. The
Armenians followed the teachings of Christ.
Lagging behind the caravan of refugees because she was attending
to her younger brother, Alma was beaten by a Turkish soldier with a
ball and chain, as was her brother. The beating was so severe that
the two were left for dead, even though she was still alive.
What Alma witnessed next, however, was worse than the beating:
10,000-15,000 Armenian refugees, including her mother and brother
were being burned in their shelters while soldiers stood guard ready
to shoot any person trying to escape. All remaining members of her
family were killed in the blaze save for her two older sisters,
who had married and moved to Russia before the purges began."
Alone in the deserts of Arabia, where the Armenians had been
herded, Alma was picked up by Arab slave traders and deposited
in the household of a rich sultan and his wife, where she became
personal maid to the lady of the house. Her name and origin was then
placed in area newspapers, including the Boston Globe. It was in
that paper that Samuel Sakaian, visiting a friend in Watertown, was
told of Alma. Sakaian stayed with his niece for four years, married,
then decided to return to Foxboro. Because of his marital status,
immigration officials recommended he leave his niece and then send
for her a few months afterward.
Alma’s attempts at emigrating, however, were a bona-fide disaster.
Aboard a Greek ship that docked in Ellis island in New York, she and
about 50 other Armenians were denied entry because of filled quotas.
The boat returned across the Atlantic, not to her home but to the
home of the ship.
In Greece for a month with little money, Alma managed to scrape by
until it was time for another try. However, when custom officials
looked at her passport, taken early in Alma’s life, they balked,
thinking it was a forgery. They were convinced that the woman they
saw was not the child of the picture, even though only a couple of
years had elapsed. ‘If you were in my place, you’d look older, too,’
Alma recalls telling them. Allowed to proceed, she this time landed
in Providence…Unable to speak a word of English except "Foxboro"
and "Sam", Alma found her way to town with the assistance of helpful
attendants and train conductors."
After residing in Foxboro for a few months she met Archie Shahabian
and they were married soon after in 1924. Archie, like Alma, was a
former resident of Arghan…Archie came to this country as a stowaway
to escape what he correctly predicted would be bloodshed in his
native land." Alma and Archie Shahabian raised two sons in Foxboro,
John and George. The former resides in California and George still
lives in his hometown of Foxboro with his wife, Rose.
The Sakaian/Shahabian story, as recorded in the Foxboro Reporter
archives, makes very personal an international story of remembrance
that may seem at times to be far removed from our local events and
memories.
* * *
Bill Millhomme, 56, is a resident of Foxboro, MA. from 1985-2005 he
was employed by the Massachusetts State Archives as the field achivist
and deputy historical records coordinator. His responsibility was
simply to promote awareness of historical documentation, secure grant
funds, encourage historical record preservation and make the records
accessible to the public. He is presently the Director of Volunteer
Services for the Massachusetts Department of Correction.
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