_____________________________________________________________________________________

MATHIES GENEALOGY

_____________________________________________________________________________________

REMEMBERANCES OUT OF RUSSIA

FROM JOHANN J MATHIES, VINELAND, ONTARIO, 1965

[Johann - brother of A. J. Mathies]

[Interviewed by Annie Krause]

Return

[1915]

As we drove by Eriwan and Nachietschewan at Mt. Ararat, 16,946 feet high, we were reminded of Noah, since he had lived here with his sons. We visited Noah's grave at Nachietschewan, 30 werst from Ararat which was surrounded by a stone tower. Two doors were open and in the centre was an alter which indicated signs that pilgrims still came to make smoke and pray. On the Easter morning of 1915 we were standing with 209 sanitaeter in that Sunday morning in Erivan, waiting for orders. The sun had just risen and Mt. Ararat stood clearly before our eyes with its snow white cap. It was perhaps 60 werst away but yet so near. Some of our comrades were already outside on the siding, appreciating the lovely morning air and those inside watched through the windows.

Dietrich Sawatsky (who at this time is living here in Vineland) was outside with the rest when we were surprised with the Easter greeting of (Christos Woskress--WoIstino Woskresse) Christ has arisen, and received three kisses. Yes He has risen indeed, and so it went on down the row. The Governors Generals from Eriwan who were interested were also visiting the Sanitaeter. On this Easter morning there were many more such greetings from the Personal as they walked through the train as well as Sisters and Bretheren. We had a good relationship with the Personal and respected them. 

As I mentioned earlier we had a J. Koslowsky a Romorad from Asower  as foreman. However he left us from train 209 and got a job in a laundry in Tiflis. In his place we again had our dear Gerhard Wiens (now in Winnipeg) who had for two years been our [Gefreiter?] in Asow at the [Baum?] school.

The mainbureau A. S. V. was in Tiflis from where our orders came that we waited for. We were at the Persian border in Dshulfa. It was a beautiful large train station. Not many trees to be seen, just a few large ones at the station. Very hot. In the distance to the south over the Araks [Persian Gebiet?]  huge mountains in sight.

To the north of Dshulfa on the Russian side, large mountains covered with herds of goats who must have found something to eat. Two sanitaeter were needed to go to Tiflis in order to get leather jackets and boots. D. Boldt and I were chosen.

As we were waiting at the mail train, we saw a young couple. The young man was a railway worker in uniform with the insignia, and his wife, who, as was the custom of a Mohammedan was completely veiled except for the eyes. The father stood beside in his turban like the Arabs wear, and a small boy probably her brother. They bade farewells with the farther blessing them with Allah-Allah. The young couple got on the train and we had the honour to observe the happy pair. As the mail train started to roll, the veil fell from the young lady. It reminded me of the story of Moses as he came through the desert to Middian and married the Priest's daughter Zippora. When we left the train at Tiflis, we wished them luck and hoped we'd be as lucky as they some day. The young man wanted to show her the world where she hadn't been before - his home at Armavir. 

Here in the Tiflis area were Lutheran, Evangelical and German villages, where later D. Boldt found his sweetheart who I later visited in Neakirch, Molotschna, and stayed for diner. I think they were happy and we were happy to return again to our 209 sanitaeter to a restful sleep. We then went for a swim in the cold foamy Araks. We were warmed not to go too deep, since some soldiers and horses had drowned here. It didn't seem dangerous to me, so I went, not realizing that the stream was carrying me out. I had not grown up at the Dnjeper river. I began to envision my comrades. The river was ever widening. If this If this continued I'd find myself in the Caspian Sea.

I wanted to lie on my back and rest, but there was no rest. Several times I'd been choking. Then I became aware that to the left on the Rusdsian side there was a little something - an island. I was lucky not to see one soul, so swimming against the current, I saved my self. My chest and sides were bleeding from the stones and embankment. I still had a thirty foot climb up the rocky incline. The stones burned like fire. I thanked God I was safe. The river had carried me over one werst. Nobody thought I'd still be alive.

The journey from Tiflis in the west through the city Mzchety Ksanka, Gori to Batum on the Black Sea was also nice. The Borshomi region is like Switzerland. The Grossfuerst? Nikolai-Nikolayewitsch possessed at that time 75000 Desjatinen? land. Many Adels peoples from North Russia were in Kaukasus. As well as Mischlinge and many other kinds like Tataren, Armenian, Grusiner, Osetiner, Kruden with Tuerken usev. Their skin was dark brown and they were too tall in stature. It often amazed me how they ran around on the roads in their light leather boots like on socks, hardly audible and fast. Malaria was rampant here. Many of our sanitaeter were ill. We carried our dear comrade J. N. Goerzin from Waldheim into Alexandropol hospital where he died. Also a  Schöenfelder Jak. P. Thiessen got sick and is thought to have died at Sarikamis [now Turkey].

In November of 1915 we were stationed at Ksanka by the Kura. It is joined to the Araks. It's a beautiful place. It's supposed to be where Noah and his sons lived in the City of  Mschett. 

This is where I became sick with Typhoid and malaria. I was carried away from my comrades on a stretcher to the box car for the sick which was hitched to the mail car and delivered to the hospital in Tiflis where I lay for some time. I got over the typhoid but not the malaria. 

Our doctor, a Jew Mark Naumowietsch, was himself sick. He lay in [Nebenfluegel?] where I sometimes visited my "Chalat". He expressed himself usually in these words: "Oh dear God how is it though so hard!" This good Jew later came several times to 202 nd gave me extra furlough since I had given my leave to my brother David Mathies who was married and needed it more than I.

I had to have  change of climate and was allowed back near Moscow with the use of a [wheelchair or helpers] because I could barely walk. In Baku we transferred to a waiting room at the stationhouse. It wasn't long before I had visitors. They were two ladies who went the same route to Rostow at Don. They immediately knew that I had malaria and wanted to cure me. I accepted thankfully and they went to the nearest druggist and got a bitter root called Goritschawka, cooked it and gave me a large bottle to drink, as much as I could stand. In Rostow as we said goodbye, I was well enough that I didn't need my [helpers or wheelchair?] any more. We took our taxi and arriving at Moscow we stayed from summer until winter till it snowed.

Grednij-Tischinskij Pereulock was where I was taken in and the following day into the work-hospital which is familiar to many sanitaeter. Here I met J Schroeder now in B.C. who was also transferred out of Kaukas from 208 sanitaeter train, where he had been a work overseer [wirstschafter]. At Asow he had been a Forest-overseer. He had his own riding horse and cook - D. Balzer. They were both laid off and lived with more freedom.

In this work-hospital in December of 1915 I also got the smallpox and was taken along with others, fifteen werst to the Sock Colony in the City hospital, where only  Pox victims stayed and many died. I came to lie beside a Mennonite, a Derksen from Kuban who lives now in Leamington. My stay here was for another month and given furlough for another month.

When I was so sick in the Tiflis Hospital and had given my life over into God's hands, I awakened. A lady-doctor and two nurses were rubbing me with vinegar water and calling to me not to go to sleep  or it would be the end for me. Then I learned that there were also people with dark skins who had warm hearts. 

In Moscow in the City hospital were on those sick with smallpox came, we were also cared for in the same way, nevertheless many still died. There were two large roomy wings with huge open doors for men, women and children. Many had just one large Pox but many were covered. In the morning men came and carried the dead out in a trough. 

Throughout all of this the sick didn't lose heart and sat around playing cards waiting to be discharged. We were not to wash ourselves if at all possible, since it caused scars.  tied my hands together at night with a towel, so I wouldn't scratch my face, and so was left without scars. Not everyone could control themselves and so carry the results with them.