Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-08-10
The Bloody Work i'm Syria.

A letter from Rev. Mr.. Bird, an Ameri-
can missionary at Deir-el- Komr, on the
western side of Mount Lebeanon, gives
some additional particulars of the slaughter
of Christians and Druses at that place -
"1'he Druses took and burnt Hadet and
Baabda, Erzy, Der-il-K Kalaa, Belt Miri and
several villages near Prummana. The
whole of the Meta district was than swept
with the besom of destruction, both parties
being engaged in burning each others
houses. This is simplest thing in the world
when the houses are filed, rs now, with
brush for cocoons. The bare walls are
alone left in scores of villages. The Jezzin
district (all Maronites,) has been laid waste
by the Druses. / cannot enter into partic-
ulars. The Druses are triumphantly VIC
torious. Now they are probably attacking
Zahly. Abeih, Sock and Bhamdoon haye
been speared. Mr.. Bliss and family and
the girls of the boarding school at Sock
have taken refuge in Beirout."
"Ours is the exosed part of the village
and was taken. Between 200 and 400
houses we're burnt. No Druses attacked
our premises. One jumped on the roof,
but went off on finding it Frank house.
Two school houses were burnt, and the
teachers saved but little Of their effects.
Our house was the place of refuge, and
three natives dressed up in my old clothes
and hats served as scare crows / don't
know what could have been done without
them. A sort of American flag also waved
its protecting folds over the house. But,
oh, the hideous war cries, the screaming
bullets, the peals of the musketry, the
cracking flames and the enshrouding smoke.
Quantities of bullets struck our premises.
One of the teachers was wounded. One
bullet entered the study, and one the chapel.
Night put stop to the fearful work. OF
the people of the place perhaps 20 were
killed. and 60 wounded. OF the Druses
from so 10 $50 killed, and wounded un-
known"
81 open my letter to say that the slaugh-
ter at Zahleh has been fearful; amongst
others several Frence Jesuits murdered by
the Druses. The whole of Syria is now
open TO these hords of ruHans. Great
fear is expressed for Damascus. At Dbeir-
el-Kamar the Druses are disarming the
Christians, and will no doubt in due time
massacre the whole population of the place.
Beirout is like deserted town-the harbor
crowded with men-of-war, signals making,
salutes firing, and everything as in state
Of war;
Another account in letter to London
paper slys:--
Our whole country is in ruin. The
wealthy province of Netten, with all its
villages belonging to the Christians, has
been pillaged and burnt, ana women violat-
ed. Zahleh and its envirous, Hasbeeyeh,
and Rasheeyeh and its envious, shared the
same fate-their inhabitants, men, women,
and chrildren, we're slaughtered, none be-
ing saved except about 200 in every 1000.
The whole district of Yezzin has been de-
stroyed-priesis murdered, nuns violated
and killed; and the same things are going
on to-day at Dar-el-Kamen."
OF the coYardly massacre Of the disarm-
ed Christians at Harbeiya. the following ac-
count given in a letter to the London
News -
TO Protestant ChFistendom Hssbeiys
should be place of the utmost possible in
terest. for it was here that the preaching Of
evangelical truth had borne more frat than
anywhere else in Syra- The Prosestants