The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-07-17
Rirllmunn Qispatfb.
TUESDAY MORNING. july II, Iss
MASSACRE OF CHRISTIANS.
Details of the Massacre in Lebunon--P Pei
lis OF American Missionaries.

gives the following narrative of the massacre
of Christians in Lebanon, and of the perils OF
the American missionaries. He SAYS the off,
cial account as furnished by the English vice
consul al Sidon, states the number of mu rder-
ed 10 be three hundred. The French vice con-
sui of the Sidon adds forty to this number in
his official report; the Austrian makes the to-
tai kfAed to be 800; the Russian, 1888; the Prus-
sian, BIG. Nor is the excitement OF the Mos
lens in those parts over. So bad is their
feeling towards the Christians, both in Sidon
and Tyre, that the British steamer Firefy, T.
Captain Mansel was sent off at the request of
the other Consul Generals, TO cruise down the
coast, and afford any assistance required by
the Christians
To-day an account Of another horrid mas
sacre of Christians at Rashayia, a large
Christian settlement at the foot of Mount
Hermon, has been brought in. j wish could
dscredit the tale, but the source whence /
have il leaves me in no doubt of its truth.
1t appears that Rashayia had been for some
days invested by Druses, and that on Tuesday,
the Jth instant, they had increased greatly in
numbers. A parley took place, and 1t was
agreed on both sides not TO fight, on condition
that the Christians of the place promised not
to join the Zhaiie Christians After sunset
the Druses appear 10 have changed the ir
minds. They suddenly assaulted the place -
The Christians, taken by surprise, fed for re-
fuga 10 the palace in which the regular Turk
ish soldiers We're stationed The latter tut
the gates III their faces, and the Druses hati it
all their own way. 1t is usual tor the Dru seS
10 respect women in warfare, but this was not
tire case in the present instance, for men were
murdered, women violated, and young chill
dren torn to pieces. OF the two thousan,i in
habilaDts of the place, besides refugees from
other villages, not twenty are left to tel the
tale.
Al Hesbeya, another large village no far
from the above place, the Emir OF the dis trict
was Moslem, but behaved well. He ins is ted
on the Turkish soldiers of the garrison doing
their duty, and defending the village against
the Druses. The consequence was that the
latter was driven back with loss. Had the
Turkish authorities done their duty tn us since
the struggle began, we should not no w have
TO lament the loss of some five or six tn ousand
Christians throughout Lebanon, to say not tn
ing of more than sixty villages bein z burnt
down. What mentioned In my last is mo re
and more confirmed every day The Turks h
authorities have in every instance either stooai
calmly by, or have helped the Druses in every
possible manner. / have the most certain
proof that whilst, on the one hand, the Pacha
was threatening TO arrest some of the leadin 8
Christians of Beyrout because they had SUBJ
scrIbed money whereWith TO feed and arm
their poorer co-religionists iuahe raountains,
the Druses were receiving food, arms and am
IN unition direct from the Goyernm ent stores
In my last letter mentioned h aying pro-
ceeded TO DER kamar, "a Christi an town of
Lebanon, situated about eight hours Journey
off III the mountain,) with party which car
rled wi tn IL provisions for the Am erican Mis-
sion there, the town being tor several days
closely besieged by very large party of the
Druses. \ e reached the place on Sunday, the
Sd, twenty -four hours after the lighting had
ceased but quite in time 10 with ess the effects
of the siege, the storm, and the partial burn
ing of the town.
AT the en- trance of the town our he rises stum-
bled over the dead body of a man, who had
but short time before been murder ed by the
Druses. His head was nearly hacked Off and
IA pool of fresh blood streamed across the road.
just we got 10 the door of Mr.. Birds (the
American missionary's) house, one of the
Druse chiefs, by name Sellm Bey, met us, rid
ing at the head OF some two hundre warriors.
Being resident of the village OF A Abeigh
Seiim Bey was well known to my com panion
and ting the latter very civilly, he re-
quested 10 have Il few min nutes' in erview with
him. Mr.. Calquhoun suggested That he had
better turn with us into Mr.. Bird house the
doors of which were then being u ufastened to
allow onr party to enter. AcCol dinghy, we
entered the lower courtyard ana q motley
asSembiage we warehouses kIcl ;ing mules
returning the compliment-Druse warriors,
fresh from scenes of blood-while the two or
three hundred Christians who had taken re-
fuge in Mr.. Birds house, peeped from any
hole where they could get a chance of seeing
US. In the centre of the group sto Cd the two
American missionaries, the Druse chief and
the present writer. Seiim Bey is a very fine
looking young man, armed dressed and mount
ed in the true Arab fashion.
His manners were courteous and well bred
in the extreme. He said he had but n moment
to spare, and his object was to assn re the mis-
sionaries that not only should their lives and
their property be sate bat that, 50 far as he
was concerned, no farther attack of the Druses
should take place. He had come to tore or
der in the town, and would remain in the i'm
mediate neigh hborhood until this was accom-
plished He expressed his deep regret for what
uad taken place. but said the Druses were
driven 10 it by the taunts of the Christi tians OF
DER ell Kamar, and by the manner in which
they had strlyen 10 stir up war all over the
country. To do Selim Bey justice, he never
took any part in the assault OF Deir- el Kamar
After leaving one or two of his own party to
guard the premises of Mr.. Birds house and
school, the Bey took his leave, urrying OFF to-
wards the village of Bechir Bey, about an
hours journey distant.
We then proceeded into the pper court of
the house, every room of which we found
crowded with Christians of all de nominations
Much and iercely as the papist sects of Deir-
el-hamar have denounced the PrOtes tan IS
they did not hesitate to take refuge with the
missionaries in the hour of danger. Even the
Bishop of the Greek Church, VINO, but a year
ago, solemnly communicated from the altar
ali who attended the American schools was
now glad TO find an asylum from his country
men under the shadow of the stars and strires
The premises of the American missionaries as
also those OF the French JeS uits-tne only two
Frank h1uses in the town-had been respect
ed. We found that the fighting had las ted
eight hours on Friday the lst, the Christians
OeIeHOluS themselves we'll u0tlt tlelr amJuu-
milton failed. About third OF the town was
burnt down. Plundering was still going on,
and two murders We're committed close 10 the
house by wandering Druses.
On the day of the lighting, but befo, it
commenced, MIR. Bird, not expecting any dis.
turbance, went TO village, about three hs urs
distant, TO visit some poor native Protest an t
families residing there. Whilst he was alb
sent the lighting commenced, and moor nj rs
Bird was lett with her house fu ii OF Dati We
Christians, and with her little gi ri, to mana ge
matters best she could. 5 IA annaars 10
nave behaved with admirable fortitude, Sh :
sent TO ask the Turkish Governor for a couple
of soldiers to protect her ho' Ise but this was
refused her Lolnt blank. You must know
that Deir-el-k kamar is not, like the rest of Lee
banon, under the rule OF ither Christian or
Druse kaimacans, but h as a Turkish Gov
ernor OF Is own, appolT ted direc tIy by the
Suitan, as we'll as garri son OF three huud red
IuIAtsh troops Oh the re' ,ular force with staff
couimissariat, ana fou field pieces When
the Druses attacked In town A. noon on + Ri
DAY, the Isl, soW.e Df the Christians went 10
the Governor AID ;isxed him TO defend their
lives ana pro perty with his troops. as the Y
fused to $50
L wen. twice over the points of attack and
nave y hesitation whatever III saving that
even 200 regular troops, armed as the Turkish
solT iers are could, If they had the will 10 do
SO not only defend the place against almost I
INV aumber OF nndiscipiined warriors, but
ought with the greatest ease to have driven
them from the rocks, and cleared the neigh
borhood of them.
DELIVERY OF EXPRESS PARCELs-I4por-
saat Dscisioa.-The Supreme Court of Illi-
nois decided that an express company Is still
liable for pac ckages until an offer 10 deliver is
deliver at the express Office not being suffl-
cient excuse, except under peculiar circum-