WITH THE TURKS IN ERZEROUM.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1308, 29 May 1878, Page 3

WITH THE TURKS IN ERZEROUM.

The following short but interesting letter from Dr. Charles Ryan gives a graphic description of the state of things in the besieged city"of Brzeroum; — Erzoroum, February 11. I expect it is about as long since you received a letter from me as I from you, for I have had no letter for three months, owing to the bad postal arrangements of this country, and to the fact that two of our posts were destroyed by Cossacks. Since writing I have had a very severe attack of typhus fever, from which I nearly died. I was given up by all who saw me, and was delirious for many days. I had my head shaved, and now I look like an escaped convict. I was taken ill on the Ist of January, and the Russians surrounded us on the 2nd. Dr. Pinkerton was taken ill a week before me, as also Captain Morisot. Poor Pinkerton died on the seventh day. Captain M. is now convalescent, and takes this letter to Constantinople to-morrow. The Stafford House Committee was very kind, and as soon as they heard of our illness sent up two very old friends of mine, Doctors Stoker and Stiven, to bring us back to P.era. They had a fearful journey, as the road was almost impassable, but they managed to get and arrived in time to find n. 5 nearly all right. They had to pass through the. Russian lines, itnd remained a day at Ibdja, a small village occupied by the Russians on the Trehdt3on.de road. They were treated with great courtesy and kindness. We were astonished and delight v d to sea them. Dr. Stiven leaves tomorrow, and takes this letter ; Dr. Stoker remains on, and will help me in my hospital. I am quite strong now, and have resumed work in my hospital, which is full of fearful cases ; out of 300, 2(10 are suffering from frost bites, and I have twenty-seven who have lost bo.U feet. I have cut them off with' a pair of scissors. The mortality has been something fearful; out of 30,000 soldiers or tin reabouts, 9500 have died in the various hos-

pifcala during the last three months. Typhus is greatly on the decrease ; we have none at present in our hospital. I may add that the mortal among 'lie I'ivil population lias been very great, and I believe I am not far wrong in saying that 18,000 soldiers and civilians have been buried here within three months. You would never fancy, to walk in the streets, that wo were in a state of siege. Everything looks just as usual. The streets are full of people, dressed in twenty different costumes ; the shops are all open, and apparently seem to do a fair business. I was in the bazaar to-day, and it was so full I could scarcely move about. The old Turks here are many of them most picturesque in their appearance, generally dressed in long blue robes, lined with fur, and a white thing like a puggaree wound round the face. You find here the genuine Turk, and a fine old fellow ho is. We have not had a shot fired during the whole month past. Until a week ago wo were in daily expectation of being bombarded, when news reached here that an armistice had been concluded. We get no letters, and consequently no news. Even if peace were made to-morrow, I could not reach England under two months, and probably it would be longer, as I expect I should have to remain on until most of ray soldiers were well. The Turks have sent off 8000 men during the three days over the mountains to Erzinghan ; I don’t know what they mean by it. There is a way of escaping the Russians by taking an exceedingly dangerous route over the mountains. Just a month ago 800 men were sent, the lieutenant colonel taking with him his wife; and, just fancy, out of 800, only 300 arrived at their destination, all the others having perished in a snowstorm, or being killed by an avalanche, I am not sure which, but I believe they perished in the snowstorm, women and children included. We hear here that an armistice has been made, and that peace negotiations are progressing, but we know very little. I am sure I hope that peace will soon be made. I’ve had about enough of Turkey, and my experiences have been varied enough. The weather is cold but fine. The streets are nearly blocked up with snow, there being only small paths —in many places it is 12ft. and 14ft. high. In the plain there must be several feet, and the Euphrates must be quite frozen over. Of all the Englishmen who have come up here only one has not been laid up, viz., Dr. Denniston, who very fortunately had had typhus before he came. Two English doctors have died, and four have left invalided. No less than eleven doctors out of thirty-three have died during the last six weeks, and nearly all have been ill, I believe we have about 8000 sick and wounded in the town. Fancy how dear wood is here, when I tell you that during the past three months the wood we have burnt in our house has cost something like £6O. Fortunately wo have not to pay for it, otherwise we should be ruined.