The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-26 00:00:00

THE _MASSACRES IN SYRIA

The Union .Franc-Comteise publishes a third
letter from Father Rousseau, the Jesuit missionary
in Syria, dated Saida, the 4th :—" The population
of the town of Zahle, from 12,000 to 15,000 in
number, all Christians, twice repelled an attack of
the Druses; but on a third attempt the latter had
recourse to a stratagem, which succeeded. Know-
ing that the Christians expected reinforcements,
they prepared banners bearing the Cross, and placed
them at the head of a band of 2,000 men, who, in dis-
guise, marched towards Zahle, singing the patriotic
songs of the Christians. The inhabitants of the town,
deceived by the trick, advanced to meet them, but the
Druses received them with a volley of musketry,
after which, rushing on with drawn swords, they
slaughtered many and put the rest to flight. Some
days previously to this the women and children
' retired into the mountains, so that the massacre
was not so great as it had been in other towns. But
it was most afflicting to all of us, and especially to
me, for I lost Father Billotet, who belongs to the
Franc-Comtois, as I do. Three of our holy brethren
were murdered near him, as were also a great
many other persons who had sought refuge in
our house, thinking that they would find a safe
asylum under the flag of France. Twenty-one
nuns are stated to have been dishonoured by
the Turkish soldiers and the Druses in er
house in which they had assembled. I cannot, how-
ever, positively guarantee this fact, as I do the
others. Two of the mitts were killed. But what
caused the greatest terror to the inhabitants of
Zahle, and compelled them to take flight was, that
the Turkish soldiers fired cannon against the town
and reduced it to ruins. Rachaia and Jedaidi,
towns in the Anti-Lebanon, have undergone the same
fate in consequence of the treason and bad faith of
the governors. A greatnurnber of .the Christians,
after the destruction of the towns and villages in
which they resided, sought shelter iu the caverns
and woods of the mountains; but the Druses,
to prevent any from escaping, hunted them out with
large dogs. Having found about 100 in one spot,
they tied their hands behind their backs, and then
proceded to put them to death in a most cruel man-
ner, first cutting off arms or hands, or tearing of
pieces of flesh, er pulling out their eyes. Some they
even burnt alive. Beyrout, notwithstanding the
presence of the Consuls-General and of more than
20 vessels of war in the port, is neither safe nor
tranquil. The Turks there have been on the point
of rising, and on the slightest alarm the Christians
would be massacred. This the latter know, and
accordingly a great many of them have left for
Alexandria or Marseilles. At Saida the same
' fears are justly entertained, and the prin-
cipal families have departed. In this WAR
everything was prepared for massacre and,
pillage, and the very day and night were 'desig-
nated. The Turkish Governor and Mufti wore
ou the point of giving the signal when the French
Admiral at Beyrout, having been informed of ate,
' dangers which menaced us, sent in great last; one
of the vessels under his orders. The eommander of
the vessel on arriving went to the Governor, to ask
if he would answer for the security of the town.
I cannot do so for an hour,' was the reply
which he received, The officer then distrlaarkisil
on is little island about 100 of his isacss., :.ad returned
to Beyrout in his vessel 44-a ova the Admiral an ac-
count of hi ,s caissian. The Admiral immediately
came here with two vessels of war, two Fsif,ll*..:l
vessels accompanying him. The in-rival of
these forces intimidated tho .cruses and tne
Turks, and they inatle no attempt against
the Christians. The Pasha of Beyrout hits
also arrived, but lie has decorated .he chief
of the Druses apparently ar,l a scowl-Tense for
having allowed mcxe than ~000 Christians to be
massacred, and rsies,e than 80 villages to be burnt.
The French Admiral having obtained ;rasa the
civil and military authorities a prana;ss to protect
the city, has returned to Beysont, leaving us, how-
ever, one of his .vessels to keep the Turks and
Druses in cheek, Nevertheless, fears are increasing,
and danger appears to become each day mare me-
nacing. If France does not hasten tia our help we
shall fare the same fate as the other sacked towns.
The Druses announce that the number of Christians
they have massacred in the mountains of Lebanon
is 22,000, but the Christians do not believe that it
exceeds 15,000."

IREL 1.21 TD.
_4
DUBLIN, WEDNESDAY MORNING.
THE LATE AFFIt“Y AT LURGAN.

The 'special reporter of the Freeman's Journal
writes as follows, under date of Lurgan, Tues-
day :

The excitement consequent on this barbarous
outrage has been only partially allayed The two
wounded men still continue in great danger, espe-
cially Murphy, but hopes are entertained by Dr.
Hannay that M'Cann will live. The others are
considered out of danger. The whole county of
Armagh is now proclaimed, notices to that effect
having been posted up by the police on Sunday
morning at the churches and chapels here and in
the Moyntaghs. The station of the constabulary
now at Derryadd consists of one constable, one act-
' ing-constable, and 10 sub-constables, and that at
Derrymacash, where the murderous fusillade took
place, of one constable and eight sub-constables;
both these bodies of policemen are patrolling con-
stantly night and day. The following parties who
had been sworn against during the investigation last
week into the affray at Derryntacash, but had not
been hitherto in custody, then came forward and
gave in bail, to take their trial at the next assizes, in
the same amount as the others—viz,, Richard
Murphy, Joseph Haddock, Alex. Murphy, sen.,
Wm. Abraham, Stevenson Turkington, Samuel
Rudaell,EdwardMurray,Wm. Castles, and Samuel
M'Caulay. There are now 27 in all to take
.their
trial for this murderous outrage, and it is under-
I stood that a number of informations will be sworn

tins week against other parties concerned on the
Orange side. It is rumoured that a special commis-
sion will be held before the assizes to try the pri-
soners and rioters. The following malignant placard
I copied from the board in front of the Court-house.
It shows the animus of the Orange party, and is
evidently got up by them :
" Wanted, two impartial magistrates for the
Lurgan bench in place of the present imbeciles, and
a head constable of constabulary for Lurgan. Also,
a parish priest for Derrymacash, and an Orange
Grand Master for the proclaimed county of Ar-
magh.'"