Armenian News Network / Groong
United States Consul Leslie Ammerton
Davis Assumes Duties at Harput, Turkey on 31 May 1914
A Rare Photograph of Him and his Predecessor Consul
William Wesley Masterson Together in the Garden of the American Consulate in Mezereh
Armenian News
Network / Groong
April 21, 2017
Special to Groong by and Abraham D. Krikorian and Eugene L.
Taylor
Long Island, NY
One of our objectives
over the years has been to track down photographs of individuals who are
connected in one way or another with the Armenian Genocide. These include American Consuls who
served in Asiatic Turkey during those fateful years.
Since a few of our
recent posts deal with United States Consul at Harput Leslie Ammerton Davis (1876-1960) we think it appropriate now,
especially at this time of year, that we present a rare glimpse of Consul Davis
on location as it were in Mezireh.
The photograph below shows him with his predecessor Consul William Masterson
(1861- 1922). Masterson is on the
left and Davis on the right in the garden of the spacious rental property which
constituted the American Consulate in Harput.
(For additional details
on the Consular site see Achieving
Ever-Greater Precision in Attestation and Attribution of Genocide Photographs
by Abraham D. Krikorian and Eugene L. Taylor pp. 389-434 in ÒThe Genocide of the Ottoman Greeks. Studies on the
state-sponsored campaign of extermination of the Christians of Asia Minor,
1912-1922 and its aftermath: history, law, memoryÓ edited by Tessa Hofmann,
Matthias Bj¿rnland and Vasileios Meichanetsidis, Aristide
D. Caratzas, New York and Athens, 2011.
Also see Filling
in the Picture: Postscript to a Description of the Well-Known 1915 Photograph
of Armenian Men of Kharpert Being Led Away under Armed Guard by A.D. Krikorian and E.L. Taylor on June 13, 2011,
especially the references there cited.
We plan to elaborate further on the Consulate at a later date.) http://www.groong.org/orig/ak-20110613.html
The photograph is not dated but may be placed some time
between 31 May and 23 July 1914. It
was more than likely taken by Mrs. Masterson.
The
reason for the dating follows [dates derive from documents in our files]:-
1. 24
April 1914 Davis appointed to Harput with promotion via communication to Batum,
Russia. His response:- A ÒCIPHER Telegram Received From Batum undated, RecÕd
April 30, 1914, 2:30 A.M. Secretary
of State, Washington, Thanks promotion.
Will proceed Harput as soon as possible. DAVISÓ
2. Consul
Davis left Batum for Harput on May 8, 1914.
3. Arrived
Harput via Samsun on the Black Sea coast May 31 and assumed charge of the
Consular Office.
4. Left
Harput July 23 on leave of absence to go home to America to visit his ailing
parents. Consul Davis traveled to
Beirut with the Mastersons - specifically Consul William Wesley Masterson, his
wife Louise Carroll Masterson and their month-old baby daughter Mary Carroll
Masterson (born in Mezereh at the American Hospital). Consul Masterson was leaving the post in
Harput to assume Consular duties in Durban, South Africa.
5. Consul
Davis arrived in Alexandria, Egypt August 13, received an urgent message that
he should return to Harput due to existing war conditions. Davis took an Italian steamer for Beirut
on August 15, 1914.
6. Davis
returned to Harput and was back on duty September 4, 1914.
Although the photograph shows its age, we believe it is
especially fitting since it shows him at the Consulate premises.
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