Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-08-29

AIE.ssa q E5sss .:ss,

Arrival of n French FIeet--TurIEsh Faeet
Augmentcd-DetaiIsf from Damlascns.
The Syrian correspondent Of the Boston Traveller
writes another interesting letter from Beirut under
date of July 18th, giving, from an American source
complete history Of the late occurrences in Syria
The writer confirms the previous announcement
that Jerusalem was in great danger from the wild
desert tribes and adds that the missionaries there
had left for Jafa From the letter we quote the
following
The arrival last week of several Turkish frigates
and line of hatte Ships together with the heartrend
ing news froE Damascus, already communicated
threw the deeEest gloom over Beirut The fanati-
eism OF the A9slem population famed into
name when mo news OF the eold-booded massacre
OF hve thousand Christians in the streets of Damas
Gus arrived and the preDonderanee of the Turkish
naval forces over the foreign fleets, greatly encOur-
aged the fanatics here, who confidently believe that
| the ottoman government will sustain them in all
their excuses. This gloom and dependency among
the Christians increased the details of the mas
sacre at Damascus were brought in, and the fami-
| lies OF the European merchants together with
thousands OF the Christian population, fed to the
nearest available ports of safety The streets of
as silent graveyard
The mists OF dread and gloom were somewhat
disspated, however, few DAYS ago, by the timely
arrival OF two immense French line of battle ships
the booming OF whose guns gave joy to the disheart
ened Christians, aud at the same time uttered
warning voice to those who thirsted for Christian
blood.
The French, English and Greek fleets were now
in the majority, and more confidence was felt by
the consus, whose countenances are closely watch
ed by all foreign residents for the signal of depart
Cre from Syria. Every trunk is packed ready 10
embark at a moments notice, whenever their re-
spective eOnsals shall bid themgo Business ceased
long ago, and all shopping is at an end for the
present
Yesterday the hills of Lebanon echoed back the
salutes from another large detachment of the Turk
ish fleet, four war steamers having arrived from
Constantnople with troops. But tbs time the Turk
ish veseels of war had contrary effect Instead
Of creating doubt and dIrefu uncertainty, they did
more towards inspiring confidence than any thing
else. The cause OF this change of feeling is found
in the fact that they brought Fuad Pasha, minister
TOR foreign affairs from Constantlnople, together
with the highest military officer to conduct in
vesngstion into the conduct OF the government Off
Gals here, with discretionary powers.
J The writer goes to say that Fuad Pasha imme
diately set to work in earnest He deposed tn
Governor General, confscated his property, ant
!, adopted other prompt measures which not onl!
i soon restored public confidence, but alarmed tn
Druses, who very suddenly became apparent.
friendly to the Christians They have OfFerer
; the Christians at Damascus large escort through
f here quote from the letter AGAIN:
Horrible stories are aAoat about the thousands o
I, Christian women of Damascus. Our blood almOs
I congeals at the thought Of such fate. knew
many of them; they were fair and beautiful an
many of them gentle and TO some extent cultivated
! Hundreds of these were, doubles, buried beneat
! | the ruins of their burning houses but toll
that thousands we've carried off into the interior b.
the KOOrds and Arabs of the desert: to be destroys
!, at their leisure. Horror Of horrors! We lear
Il | that many of them have turned Moslems, to saw
u their lives. Several hundred of such renegade
have been reported, and doubtless there man
= more not yet heard from. A letter from the Gree
u refugees from Hasbeiya, who had taken refuge i
Damascus from the Druses, cOoly relates the fact
y their change of religion They state thar upon tn
II news of the insurrectiOn reaching them, they pu
turbans upon their heads in the MOslem style an
began to pillage the house of their host, if the
had been MOslems. They rushed out into the street
. with plumber upon their backs, cursng the Chris
ian gods the Christian religion and uttering all tn
MOslem imprecanOns. Thus loaded with curse
and shouts, they rushed unwillngy into Turks
part of the city, where they were recognised a
: Christians. They were attacked by the MOslemi
and were forced into entire abandonment Of thei
y religion, and have become Mosems so far all III
Il outer ordinances are concerned.
There were no American citizens in Damascus a
the time of the massacre. Mr.. Crawford and fam
ly are living in the village of YebroOd some te
hours distant from the city and occupied hOus
. jointly with MOslem Sheikh. This fact in itse
will secure his protection. Singular as it ma
seen, MOslem will lose his own life sooner tina
allow the guest in his own house to be molestet
Thousands of Christians were saved in this way
Damascus-and it is currently reported that sewers
Moslems lost their lives in defending the Christian
who had taken refuge their houses. Forty Mo-
lem houses were burnt during the insurrectiol
whether by accident or in revenge for priYat
wrongs is not known.
The Christian quarter of Damascus became
2 complete ruin strewed with cOrpses, besides thOs
who met their death, precpitated into wells, an
y flames of the burning houses, as many who coul
not find place of escape hid themselves in well
cellars and other places, and who, being starved
faint after remaining there two or three day
came out, but were met by their enemies VIII
either stoned them or threw them back into Ii
flames.