The Bitola (Monastir) Girls' School circa 1890
Mary L. Matthews (1864-1950)
During this time she kept a diary recording many events and also she personally took many valuable photos with her own camera.
In this post, short notes are presented, giving us valuable information about Bitola at the beginning of Second Balkan War.
1913
May 1. Celebration at the Girls’ Boarding School of the approaching 25th
Anniversary of the coming of Miss Matthews to the Mission.
“ 30. Peace preliminaries signed in London.
“ 31. Dr. Nalis died early in the morning and the funeral was in the afternoon. He was the physician we called for the School. The word did not reach us, as the teachers, the Mircheffs, Miss MacQueen and Miss Hodges went to Bukovo Monastery for the day. A perfect day, clear and warm.
June 4. We heard that two of the three surgeons in the city had died – in all, four doctors and two druggists – of malignant typhus.
“ 6. Miss MacQueen and Miss Hodges left by train for London, after finishing their relief work here.
“ 9. Miss Matthews transferred to Mrs. Clarke LT.11 for industrial relief work, for looms, etc.
“10. Mahmoud Shevket Pasha assassinated in Constantinople.
” 13. Closing Exhibition of the American School, 3.30 to 6 P.M. About 350 in the audience. Windows full. Some stood. The U.S. and Serbian flags hung over the platform. Graduates: Victoria Mircheva, Victoria Traikova, Menka Noneva, Tsvetta Yosheva, Maritza Sperova, Luba Kimova, Rachel Tufekdjieva. The Prefect (Governor) was present. V-Consul Greig (British) sat by him to explain; the commandant of the Army (sic); the Mayor of Monastir; (all these were Serbians); the Greek bishop, Chrisostom; Russian Consul Kokomansky; Austrian Consul Halla; Austrian V-Consul Zitskovsky; Mrs. Zitskovsky; Roumanian V-Consul and his wife, etc.
“ 21. Miss Davis and Miss Pavlova left on a trip to Athens.
“ 23. Our cavass, Mahlik, returned from Albania, where he had been in the Turkish Army. We were glad to have him again. Difficulty in finding ways for girls to get home. Telegram from Miss Davis at Salonica: “Send girls at once; only hand-baggage. Way open to Sofia.”
“24. Miss Stamenova and nine girls left for Strumitza. Byram returned and told Mahlik war would be declared soon, and the Austrians would take Salonica.
“ 25. A priest from Kitchevo village came to see one of the pupils but she had gone home. He said that war had begun at Salonica, Gevgheli and Velis and that Gevgheli was burned by Bulgarians last night.
“ 28. Heard of two Bulgarian villagers who had been beaten by Serbians and Serb committajis.
“ 30. It was reported that war had begun between Serbia, Roumania, Greece and Montenegro against Bulgarians near Gevgheli.
July 1. Fighting began yesterday between Bulgarians and Greeks and Serbs. Many Bulgarians arrested in Monastir.
“ 2. Mr. George Robeff arrested, but released later on appeal of his wife and Baba Santa Mircheff. The Austrian cavass came from Salonica and reported a battle east of Salonica. War was declared, against Bulgaria, by Serbs and Greeks.
“ 4. Our “Fourth” celebrated by the Station members by a picnic on the lawn of the School.
“ 5. Salonica-Monastir R.R. ceased carrying passengers.
“ 7. Our cavass, Mahlik, heard there would be autonomy in Macedonia, under C.R. Crane, of Chicago, as king!
“8. The Bulgarian bishop and his household were taken away on a train at 3 A.M.
“10. Miss Davis and Miss Pavlova returned from their trip to Salonica and Athens, in spite of the war! At 9 P.M.
“ 12. Saint Peter’s Day. A great holiday, for it is the day of the Serbian King Peter. Service in Greek at 8 A.M. and in Serbian at 9 A.M., in the Greek Church. Illumination in the evening. Reports of trouble in Castoria region.
“ 14. Letters from Boston and Constantinople were censored.
“15. The Greek Prime Minister, Mr. Venezelos, arrived and left for Prelep.
“ 16. Mr. Venezelos returned from Prelep. Evidently he could not reach Scople from here. Teachers worked on new U.S. flag.
“17. Mr. Venezelos left for Salonica.
“ 19. Some 25 Bulgarian teachers and others, all Bulgarians, were sent off today, 2-4 A.M. via Prelep.
“ 20. We heard of forcing Bulgarian priests to become Serbs. All leaders in Yeni ward were forced to sign.
“ 21. Last day for Bulgarians to sign as Serbs.
“ 23. “Constitution Day” of the Young Turk Party. Five years.
“26. Early in A.M. the Bulgarian teachers in the city who did not sign to become Serbians were taken away toward Prelep in 15 carriages.
“ 30. Miss Matthews left for Salonica on her way to the U.S. for a furlough.
Aug. 9. Treaty of Peace of Bucharest, between Bulgaria and her former allies, Greece and Serbia.
“13. Word received that Kortcha is to be in Albania.
“ 24, 31 and Sept. 7. A policeman at gate of Protestant church kept non-regular attendants from attending our services.
Petrush Boyadjieff was made to sign a paper stating that if he once again steps inside our church his property will be confiscated. In speaking to the British V-Consul, Mr. Grieg, the Prefect (Governor) told him, and asked him to tell Mr. Clarke, that after the annexation of Monastir to Serbia, every one would be free to attend wherever he wished.
Sept. 9. Serbia annexed her new territories acquired by the Second Balkan War.
“10. Celebration today of the “Annexation” yesterday.
“ 15. Word came today of the death of Rev. Geo. D. Marsh, at Philippolis, Bulgaria, on Sept. 1st.
“ 22. Mr. Clarke left to go with Miss Ethel House from Salonica to Sofia.
Oct. 18. Mr. Clarke returned today.
Nov. 18. Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia and Prime Minister Pashitch came today to celebrate tomorrow the anniversary of the entry of the Serbians into Monastir, in 1912.
The full diaries and letters of Miss Mary L. Matthews will be available online after the opening on September 15 of an exhibition at Mount Holyoke College, where she was in the class of 1885. https://ascdc.mtholyoke.edu/exhibits/show/marymatthews
References
1. Peggy Hanson Website - grand niece of Mary L. Matthews
2. Mary L. Matthews Papers, 1863-1950 - Mount Holyoke College Archives and Special Collections
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