History

The history of the family departing Sivas, Armenia was provided to me (Richard Kirishian) through diaries and oral communications from my father (Onnig Kirishian) and my uncle (Aroot Kirishian). My grandfather (Sarkis Kirishian) owned a successful Oriental rug weaving business in Armenia who employed several Turkish girls.

Picture of rug weaving artists in Sivas, Armenia circa 1910. Sarkis Kirsihian (grandfather) is sitting, front row, third from left.  

Picture of a typical loom and women weaving.

The genocide is considered to have started on April 24, 1915 during WWI, when hundreds of Armenian intellectuals and community leaders were arrested and later killed in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). This marked the beginning of mass executions, death marches through the Syrian desert, starvation, and forced deportations. Over 1.5 million Christian Armenians perished. My family witnessed this genocide first-hand which continued with persecutions into early 1920s. Had it not been for their gift of rug weaving for the Governor of Malatya, they would have perished. Below is a summary of their journey.

Background of Leaving Sivas
In June 1915, two Turkish officers knocked on my grandfather Sarkis’s door and ordered the family to vacate their home. An Army colonel wanted to take possession of the house, the Oriental rugs, and antiques. Sarkis believed the family was going to be sent to their deaths. The family had about 8 hours to decide what clothing and bedding could be packed on two oxcarts. While they packed, one of the Turkish employees hid three small silk rugs into a pillow cushion – an act that ultimately saved their lives.
The family left in the morning. It included my grandparents (in their 40s), father (16), Uncle Aroot (14), Aunt Nazik (12) and Uncle Mihran (6). As they crossed the river, they saw human bodies as far as the eyes could see. Those people had been driven out a month earlier. About a month after living Sivas, Sarkis had to accept the Mohammedan religion which spared their lives. They were given a Turkish last name “Moughleesh” and learned to speak Turkish.

Journey through Desert
Uncle Pilos, a mason, somehow heard they had been herded out of Sivas. He knew a man, Ajam Hussein, who might be able to help them. Every day people were getting massacred. They walked over corpses, had nothing to eat, and lived in constant fear for their lives. In the mountains, Kurdish tribes battled with Turks over who would rob
and kill the Armenians. Turkish officers were instructed to drive Armenians into the desert to starve them. Sarkis collected ransom money daily to bribe the officers for safe passage. Some Armenians swallowed gold; when Turks found out, they were butchered. Sarkis gathered collections to bribe officers – better to pay than be tortured or killed.

Everyday brought more death and starvation. After two weeks, even their oxcarts were taken from them. They reached a small inn called Turkenkeim with only bedding left. Sarkis remembered that his brother Pilos had a friend, Ajam Hussein, who might help. Sarkis inquired about him, and eventually Ajam appeared in Turkenkeim, planning the family’s escape. Everyone lay in Ajam’’s wagon under a black tarp with a Turkish flag disguised as a mail coach. These coaches were waved through cities, with officers clearing the way. One officer got suspicious, stopped the cart, lifted the tarp and found the family. Ajam Hussein said: “This is my idea. They had nothing to do with this. I’ll take them right back”. That escape attempt failed. They tried again and moved closer to the desert. Sarkis thought something had to be done. They found the saddle bag with three silk rugs made by my grandmother. Knowing the Governor of
Malatya loved Oriental rugs, Sarkis hoped to use them to save the family. He sent the first rug to the governor.
Later while traveling, they met a Turkish priest. Sarkis asked him to check whether the rug had reached the governor and gave him the second rug to deliver. The priest agreed to help – but with one condition: he wanted Onnig (my father) in return. After a month with the priest, Onnig ran away and never saw him again.

The family eventually arrived at Malatya and camped. A Turkish man approached, asking for the Kirishian family. They learned that the priest had delivered the rug to the governor. Confused and fearful – they didn’t know if the governor would help or if they’d be killed. The family had nothing left of value. Once again, Ajam Hussien, appeared and dropped the Kirishian family at a vacant house with earth walls, roof and floor.

After several weeks of scarce water and food, Grandfather Sarkis became very ill. With no medical help available, he died before he could speak to the governor about the rug. Saving their Lives by Weaving Rugs

Onnig and Aroot became heads of the household. They went to see the governor, explained their father had died, and apologized for not delivering the rug sooner. The governor brought them to his home and showed them a beautiful 9x12 foot carpet. He asked Kirishian family to make another one like it. A loom and wool were delivered to the home where the family was staying. Onnig, Aroot, their sister and grandmother started weaving the rug 9x12 foot rug. They made squares copied to
perfection.

They lived in a one room house with a porch where the loom was placed. Completion of the rug took approximately 2 years. Once done, Onnig and Aroot carried it on their backs and delivered it to the governor’s home. They were never paid a single cent for the rug.

Picture of silk rug that was reweaved for the governor into a 9x12 rug.   This rug remains in the Kirishian family.

Return to Sivas
After completing the rug, the family returned to Sivas by wagon, donkey and horseback. It was another difficult journey with stops in various cities seeking shelter and peace. Stories of massacres, firings, and famine were common. They were told that 80% of the Armenians were gone. Their hometown of Sivas, only three families remained – Kirishians, Uncle Pilas’ family and another man. Journey to America Onnig and Aroot returned to Sivas. They found their old house and sold it to a wealthy man for 10 gold dollars. They used that money to get to Athens, Greece, and apply for passports. Their Uncle Dikran and brother Megr were already in United States and helped coordinate their immigration.

In 1920, the Kirishian family took a ship from Athens to Ellis Island, New York. Cartozian cousins met them at Ellis Island and brought them to Portland. For years they spoke of the overwhelming joy of stepping onto American soil, tasting freedom, and beginning a new life.

From Portland, the brothers (Onnig and Aroot) went to Spokane to start a business selling rugs.

Picture of Onnig Kirishian next to vehicle used by Kirishian Brothers to pick up and deliver rugs in 1922.

And that’s how it all started!

Richard Kirishian
Kirishian Imported Rugs & RugSpa®
Spokane, WA