Naomi Ouzounian's struggles in Syria and Turkey during World War I, p. 4

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Title Naomi Ouzounian's struggles in Syria and Turkey during World War I, p. 4

Description An account of Naomi Ouzounian's struggles in Syria and Turkey during World War I and Hovhaness Eskijian's aid to her and her family. Typewritten (12 pages) in English. "There was a time in my life when I did not hope to live to become eighteen." -- first line.

Tags OAI-PMH Harvest

Type texts

Format 1 page (extent)

Language English

Source 20230913-dadrian-eskijian (batch), Hovhannes Eskijian Archival Materials (subcollection), University of Southern California (contributing entity), Vahakn Dadrian Papers (collection)

Repository Email specol@lib.usc.edu (digital); eskijian@ararat-eskijian-museum.com (original)

Repository Name USC Libraries Special Collections (digital); Ararat-Eskijian Museum (physical)

Repository Location Doheny Memorial Library, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0189 (digital); 15105 Mission Hills Road, Mission Hills, CA 91345 (physical)

Access Conditions The copyright and related rights status of this Item has been reviewed by USC Libraries, but we are unable to make a conclusive determination as to the copyright status of the Item. Please refer to USC Special Collections for more information. USC does not own or control any copyright rights with respect to this item. However, responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item.

Identifier dadrian-eskijian-082-lg-005.jpg (filename)

IIIF ID [Document.IIIFV3ID]

Unique identifier UC113375406

Legacy Identifier dadrian-eskijian-082-lg-005

Type Image

Internet Media Type image/jpeg

Resolution 17.0 in × 21.8 in at 300dpi
43.2 cm × 55.3 cm at 300dpi

Transcript (If available)

Content the city. People, mostly the camp guardg4nd military personel. used
that path coming from or going towards the city. I followed one of
them from a distance one day, hoping not to be noticed, hoping my
mother wouldn*t notice, But 1 was discovered. A guard hollered,
“mouhajir katchyor", an exile is escaping, and two husky arabs started
to run after me. If they caught me they would probably be rewardéd
for a patriotic deed. These were men not animals. I'l] never know
how I ran so fast with my bleeding bare feet and my heart threatening
to burst out of my chest any second. I'1l never know for how long
either. But they couldn't catch me before I reached a busy city
thoroufare and just as they were putting their hands on me to grab me
a carriage stopped and an imam ( a moslem priest) stepped out of it.
He spoke some harsh words to my pursuers in Arabic and turning to me
he said in Turkish, “ Where are you going, my child? Whom do you seek?
My coachman will take you wherever you want to go." After a few
minutes of uncontrolled sobbing I told him that in the camp they are
talking about a Christian pastor who has devoted his life to saving

as many orphans and helpless sick old people as he can. I want to
. find him and help him to save my family from being taken to Der-El-Zor.
His name is Rev. Eskijian. “Oh, yes," he said, “I have heard of the
saintly man myself. I happen to know where he lives." He helped

me into his carriage, gave the driver some instructions and he started
to walk. He is a moslem. How come he tries to help me? He must

have kindness and charity in his heart towards a frightened helpless
child. He must be a godly man. My home town, Hadjin, was an isolated
town on a hill, enclosed by snow capped mountains. It's population

almost entirely christian Armenians. I haf had no occasion to learn

Inherited Values

Title Naomi Ouzounian's struggles in Syria and Turkey during World War I, p. 1

Alternative Title To be included in the bio (supplied title)

Subject Eskijian, Hovhannes, 1882-1916 (personal name), Ouzounian, Naomi (personal name)