From: Emmental, Bessarabia
20 April 1922

Worthy Editorship!

See original report for explanation. – Translator.

(*Editor: They are always dispatched from here on time. If the readers over there protest at the post office and then write to us about what the postmaster had to say about the irregular arrival of the newspaper, then we here in this land can be of more help through our main post office. If need be then the complaints over there should be taken all the way to the ministry for postal services in Bukarest. The Staats-Anzeiger leaves from here on time.)

During the winter one assumed that the newspapers were being used some place for heating an oven, but now the temperature is warm and yet only once in awhile single editions will arrive here. The same holds true with Canadian newspapers like the Courier. It started arriving here sporadically, but now it has stopped coming. We have not seen any editions of the Courier for months.

Unfortunately, I have to report a death now. On 17 April, which was the second day of Easter, around 4 o’clock in the afternoon the reverend priest Andreas Keller died with God’s grace at the age of 56 years. He originated from Selz, South Russia. His parents are still alive. Eight days before his death, he had received a letter from them in which they had written that they were out of bread and had to live naked. That news broke the deceased’s already weakened heart. He had been in Odessa during recent times. In January 1920 he together with Bishop Kessler had fled to save their lives. They had arrived here in Krasna. The Bishop had assigned him to Bendery and also assigned Balmas to him, so as to prolong his life. Father Keller faithfully performed his apostolic duties for 30 years until his death in Bendery. He was suddenly overcome by an undetermined illness. He died without comfort, left alone by his parents, without his parishioners in the Odessa County where he was known so well. Yes, even left alone by his traveling partner the reverend bishop, whom he had escorted from Odessa through Bukarest to Bessarabia. Anyone who experienced such a flight or has heard a refugee talk can imagine what kind of trip that was. The deceased himself had talked about the 8 days he had spent beneath a stack of hay. How much grace did he bring mankind, how many sick people did he comfort and take care of? When his end arrived he was a lonely man with only 1 man and 2 women from Balmas at his side. His last wish was to be interred in Balmas and that did happen.

Yesterday at 4 p.m. his funeral took place. Five priests had gathered. One of them was Alexander Kisar from Jassy. He represented the bishop from the Jassy diocese to which we from Bessarabia belong. The bishop was unable to attend. In addition, present were Father Tschurik from Orgief, Father Glaser from Kischinev, Father Leibman from Krasna and our priest J. Fuchs.

Another refugee and his wife have arrived here from Franzfeld, South Russia. (*Editor: The reported most likely was not to mention the refugee by name.) This person asked me to contact by means of the Staats-Anzeiger his Uncle Michael Derzapf, whose address he did not know. He (apparently the uncle!) is the son of Joseph Derzapf. His mother’s name is Katharina and his grandfather’s name is Jakob. He is asking his uncle for a little help and a letter with his address, so that he can write to him personally. Because he does not yet have a permanent residence, his uncle should write to Father Hartmann, Kischinev, Bessarabia, Rumania.

It should be mentioned that we have good weather and that it is raining every day. The crops have grown well and the pastures are nice and green. If it stays warm then we should have sufficient grass within 8 days. We need it urgently because the fodder is all gone and some cattle here and there are dying off.

In closing, I am greeting my old mother and my siblings in Canada. Today I also wrote a letter to my mother. Further I greet Mr. Brandt the editor and all readers of the Staats-Anzeiger.

Respectfully,
Zachaeus Kopp