The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-03-27
I'll The + DISP ATC
errihie Outrage upon an Amer,-
can Family In Syria.

DsssA&EE upon an ri.
can Family I'm syria.
Ihe london TIMES Of March 5th contains A ,oa
letter from the Rev. w NJ, Jones. an Ams,,ca,
missionary ia Syria, containing the details of a,
appalling outrage perpetrate,i. as believed bv
party Of five or six Mohammedans In tho a..S :
the nisht, upon the family of Mr. Dixon. nm an,.,
lean colonist 10 the neighborhood OF Jana tn
circumstance has been briefly narrated here,.fora
but tho suhjoined extracts from Mr. Jones, ls,ts
will be perassd with fniinterest:
The night before the attack several ,na,, 80
seen proving around the house of Mr.. John Stein
beck, the brother, but were frightened awav =,
the loud sctyamipg OF the Feflah family liv,n, -
the premises. On the night of the nth ;nsfsn,
three men knocked at the gate Of Mr. Dixon's gar
den and demanded entrance, on the plea of sea rsh
ing for lost COW, which they said a neiehhor;,,
shepherd had Informed them was with he AL
within. They we're told there was no stray auin,a
in the var d, and were requested 10 leave ana =,
they loiered about, and said they would wait unti
the morning outside, Frederick steinbeck told
them they were there for good purpose--tbex
were thieves, aud must be off forthwith F.ede
rick and Dixon then went on the house-top e
watch their movements. The men went north for
quarter Of a mile, and then turned eastward &c
the river. Ii is supposed they came to ascertain
the strength Of the house, and TO know IL Mr. Hen
ry Dixon the son, was at home lie was that nigh,
with his sister at Mount Hope. in the temporary
absence OF her husband, Mr.. John Stenbeck nj
Jerusalem. After little time again noise was
heard outside, aud presently knocking at the
west gate and demand for admittapce -
The dogs became furious, and voice cried out
Your dogs bark like fire. Again there was
quiet MIR. Dixon took long ladder. went care
uiIy to the gate. mounted il; and look over, and
saw five men sitting against the wall close by the
| gate. apparently consulting what to do Mr.. Dix
on aud Frederick Steiobeck returned to the house
There is more noise outside, aud the dogs become
| A..aa II
yeais that il is half past II o'clock Frederick be-
| gins to load revolver, and inquiries, Father,
what shall dor" This was said with apparent
! concern, and just then the north gate of the gar
den gave way with crushing noise TO the effort Of
| the invaders.
Mr.. Dixon and his companion went out partial.
| iy under cover of the wall. On arriving near the
gate. and while trying to spy out the robbers, a
gun was fired from without, but obliquely through
| the gate. From the blaze of the fire Mr.. Dixon
thinks that Frederick was not more than six feet
from the muZzle of the gun. The whole charge OF
| twenty-four shot entered the abdomen on the
right side. Frederick fell Immediately, excIam
ing, Father, / am hit; here take the gun" Mr.
| Dixon instantly caught the gun and fired, and is
| supposed to have wounded the murderer in the
hand. Frederick arose and got into the house Ms
best he could aud there fell on the floor exclaim
ing, ''oh, mother! have received ball. Mr.. Dix
| ON returned to the house by circuit)u route
and began to ftsteB in the door. The men
| we're at the door. Frederick was in grea,
agony. Mr.. Dixon said to him, TRY and bear
your pain with as little ado as possible, a. your
| grOaning may give them an idea of our weak ness
The young wife was supporting her husband,
head, aud bathing IL with spirits: the mother was
| trying to prevent the flow OF blood with cloths
| Mr. Dixon supports the door with all his strength
Little Carrie, nearly eleven years Of age. and tn,
two little ones one of two years, and the other o
nine months, are hnddcd in the bed. The rob
bers make a try or two. and burst in the door
Mr. Dixon retreats to one side, but facing the enc
mH-ai five appear to enter at once the foremos
man with club about seven feet long and from
two to two and a half inches thick lie strike
| Nr. Dixon with great force. The latter parties o.
rather lessons the weight Of tile GLOW by his head
which was severely bruised and the appendage o
| woolen hat lie Tell with groaII, inseDsib
| aud bleeding Mrs. Dixon hastened to suppor
her wounded husband raised him, and seated hin
| by the SIDE of the dying son, who Complains O
| being faint, and is heard to pray, "Father i.
heaven, forgive all my sins, aud help me to bea
| this pain"
The robbers entered the room and most furious
| ly, and having knocked down Mr.. Dixon they pas
sed Immediately to the stove and lifted the pipe
| search for gold They pitched into the clock mis-
taking the shining brass pendulum for gold des
troying that article, and then began to search th
trunks. Two or three were opened. All this hap
pened within three or five minutes after breaking
| nts the house. Now commences a scene wbicl
beggars description. Mrs. Steinback had lust en-,
| braced her dying husband and he had Just givei
tera token Of affection, his lips feeling very very
cold, when three fthe rufisns seized and drag
her out OF doors. She struggled heroicaly: sezin,
the beadsteads with one hand, she held it until i
| iell when she caught hold of her father, who II
| his turn held her until he was beaten off mos
| cruelly. Mrs Steinback is struck in the breas
with a hammer, pistol is presented to her an,
then she Is cuffed aud knocked about and other
wise abused, until these tiands have accomplisbe,
their purposes. In the meantime man stand,
sentinel over Mr.. Dixon, while fifth sezes Mrs
Dixon and drags her aside for the same pose.
| Subsequently, Mrs Sfeiuh,rE is i,y (,
other two. taken out and treated in the same ma u
ner. When first seized, the men trod upln hel
husband, who moved himself little under the Ia
Bile, as is supposed to get out of their way Upor
ner return her husband was dead. This was per
| maps, twenty minutes after he was shot. Mr. DixoI
watched his opportunity to slip out, with the in
tention OF making an alarm and obtaining helm
Out was beaten and forced back. Money is de
manded. and the purse, containing but a small
amount, is given up. Again the demand is made
out they are told there is no more. The huge clut
is thrust against the side of our brother Dixon anC
| 4. gun is presented some five or six times M M,
| breast, but each time he manages to thrust il
aside. He be gins TO pray aloud, butloud piayin.
the despeTadoes will not endure, though not un
derstandiUg word. Little did they know how
continuously the whole family were that night Ell
| gagged in prayer.
The trunks, boxes, rooms, and all the premise,
| are thoroughly searched three times, and, mol
| finding the object OF their search, they each tiut
| kecame more furious and abusive, The ladies' are
| driven and ordered about, and obliged to wall
| upon the villains in the most slayish manner
| Mrs. Dixon is beaten. Mrs. Stenback is struck
| repeatedly with the butt of the gun the breast
She begged them 10 have pity on her, saving, 81
| We had thousands, would we not give them t,
| you is not life dearer than money" Mr.. Dixon
| is taken by the hair, his head is brought on one
| side, aud sword drawn TO sever it from bis body
The blow is parried by Mr.. Dixon's hand, assisted
! by the faithful daughter, Mrs. Steihback. al
| though in the scufile his hand is severely wound
| ed Little Carrie, too beseeches tie man to spare
| The life of her dear grandfather. The fellow In
| iesistiDg. stares at the child moment, and the
| Joins the work of piiiage. Tbsnen seemed much
annoyed at the crying of the children, but hap
| PLY offered them no violence.
| The insulted and grossly abused family were a
| GOOD deal OF the time kept sitting on the floor
| md not allowed to speak. There were many spot
Of blood left upon the clothing in the trunks.
supposed to be from the hand of the wounded
| man. The leader of the gang was white Dlan,
| and the others described as black men,
| These were masked with the Arab veil except
| the eyes. The white entered unmasked,
ont instantly seized a child's garment, threw il
his head. and held the corners in his mouth.
rhe black men obeyed the beck of the whit.
with quickness really surprising. They
were evidently in n hurry to get away. Near
daylight the tormentors left, taking with them
IS many household goods as they could carry of
lamp was lett on the sill of the gate when
they entered SO that any one coming could be
seen from the house and he shot d wH. None o.
the family yenturcd ont till daylight.
The robbers made good their retreat before IL
was light. In spite OF bis wounds and bleeding
head, brother Dixon went out at daylight and call
ed to Mr.. Classon, n near neigbbor, who came and
remained with the women Till others should come
TO their help will let the reader imagine the
scene at the first announcement of the sad tdings
90 his son and daughter on Mount Hope.
One hour after we arrived at Mr.. Dixon's the day
after the outrage, the funeral service was held by
a fe@ friends, aud we buried dead out of
sight in the cemetery, where our brother beloved
now lies with The remains of sister Miner, and
where thny rest TO await the summons Of the Res
direction morning. The day following Mr.. saun-
ders and onr consul arrived from Jerusalem The
18TH and 18th the governor was visited and urged
to employ all his energies to ferret out the murder
ers Up TO the present the consul has been doing
bis utmost to get the government to act in the
case,