The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-08-03
MasSacreS in Syria.

Miss Amelia c. Temple, one of the mis-
sionaries in Syria. writes to her father, who
resides in Worcester, the following accoun,
of the massacre at DER el kamar, the letter
being dated Beirut, June %
Scarcely had we heard the news of Zah-
ieh's fall. and though, of what would be-
come of DER el kamar, when We received
fearful tdings from that mountain city.
As the Druses finished their work of desc
laiion in Zaheh. word was passed round a
monS them. We VIII take DER el kamar
next. That very Tuesday evening they COM
nencei putting their threat imto execution.
Companies of SIX. seven and eight began to
sci. a large force OF Druses arrived. and all
night long they carried on their operations
unmolested The Deirites seemed panic
stricken : not a gun was fired. not sword
drawn. not an arm stretched out to save their
property or themselves. Toward dawn on
"Wednesday morning, a work of slaughter
commenced. at which my heart stands still as
! write Of II. From house to house the ruff
fans passed. From BOYS at the age Of ten
wears. to the totterlng old man of eighty.not
one escaped. In MANY houses, two. three,
four and five fell before the DESTROYING
sword. Around and around the blood ;hirs-
~ gang roamed. hunting in every nook and
corner. in cellars and in wells. in stables and
on the house-tops. till not man was left to
bury the slain. There they still lie. render
ing The place resort for vul,ures. and an
uninhabi.able place for men. Women, crazed
bv their fears, the sights and their losses.
rushed frantically around-houseless, home
lesS-Ior the fire was made 10 consume what
it coud lick up with its ten thousand
tongues.
The population ofDeir is-rcs 1000. Tive
thousand five hundred men are said to have
persisted. It had been better for the women
if they. too, had shared the fate of then
husbands. Many fled to the governmen:
troops stationed in the mids: of the CITY
These. to the number of two or three hun
bred. were standing without the gate. which
had been barred against them. begging fol
admission. Druse swords and hatche,s made
desperately short work with them. Those
who had taken refuge within, were one hy
one thrown out of the windows, TO meet the
fate from which they had fled. Only two
houses are left standing. Rev. Mr. Birds and
the dwelling of one of the governors depart
mentS. Nr. Bird went up yesterday TO bring
away some goods. 1t will be long before he
can with safety TO his health go again. Some
few people escaped to the seaboard. The
English magnanlmously sent down the steam
ers yesterday to bring them up and refugees
from Hasbeiga and Sidon. Both arrived to-
ward midnight last night, bringing one thou
sand passengers mostly women and children.
Mr.. Ford's family also came from Sidon.-
The French men-of-war offered their boats to
help them land these poor refugees. Ttey
have no clothing, no money, no homes. and
almost no hopes. Who made us to offer
The French government vessels have gone
up to Tripoli and I.atakia and along the
coast, to awe the enemy and comfort the fee
ble-minded. The English sent back one
vessel TO Sidon for those who were left be
hind.
a very prevalent rumor is current. that
B'hamdun is to fall to-day. The Bruses ATE
gathering in the district called Melton, for a
great battle. That district is about four or
five hours from here. The Consuls, and cap
taius of the English, French and Russian
men-o.-war being in our harbor. held meet
ing yesterday to devise means for insuring
and preserving the peace of Beirut. Each
vessel steamed up last night, so as to be able
to turn around, and in short to be ready for
any emergency. An English vessel of 10
guns lies directly before the city. keep ny
carpet-bag packed. ready to go on board The
steamer if ordered to do so bv the Consul.
lie gives himself no rest night or day--con-
stantly doing all in his power to ward off evil
or prevent the consequences of that already
committed. Do not feel anxious about NE.
l am cheerful and peaceful all the time
Should the Moslem rise here-which is rot
expected-we shall Immediately go on board
the English war vessels. You gave me to
God by baptism. You renewed and confirm
ed that conservation when YOU gave me
! leave to come here. Leave me in the hands
Of My Father and your Father, my God and
your Cod
| Dates from Reyrout are to July llih. Inc
war Of Christian determination in Syria rag
ed with redoubled fury. A rtcapitulalion
made up to the date Of July LIST showed tia