The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-08-06
THE MASSACRE IN SYRIA--AwFUL
SCENES

By the foreign news, we have many shock
ing details of the massacre in Syria We copy
the following from the Boston Traveller:
- The Ci0l Var IN Syria.
BEIRUT June 22-Der ell Kamer town of
several thousand inhabitants, was, but is no longer
The accounts from there heart-rending beyond
description. All the people of the town referred
to deliberately slaughtered in cold blood after
they had given up their arms to the Turkish au-
thorities. The Turks, after disarming Them turn
ed them over to the Druses, who put them to the
sword, aided by the Turkish soldiery.
These atrocities occurred about twenty miles
from Beirut. To-day these Druses- are at our
doors. The setting sun may tell bloodier tale
than has yet been related. Were it not that the
Moslem element has been SO largely stirred up, we
might hope that the Druses were ready to cease
their work of slaughter, but now the Moslems
inviting the Druses to come to their aid.
| have seen from my window the military Pasha
going about the town trying to calm the tumult
and disperse the crowd. This morning the Ameri-
can missionaries reached Beirut from Sidon which
has been so long threatened with massacre The
same British man-of-war which brought away the
Americans, brought also 600 refugees to Beirut.
Damascus has only been preserved from destruc-
ton by tie efforts of the famous Algerine chief,
Ab-del-Kader, who has organized efficient
corps, which patrol the city day and night But
the alarm is very great even now, and letters APP
pealing for help come by every mail
JUNE 23.-The state of this poor country beg
CARS description. The large towns of Zahleh and
DER ell Kamer have been put to the sword and
thousands of dead bodies lie exposed to the jaekals
and hyenas which intest that part Of the noun
tains.
The news is heart-rending Men that we knew
have persisted in this awful butchery. Widows
and orphans are creeping slowly towards Beirut
for safety: But alas! they will find safety here
Moslems are in arms and Christians trembling
III their houses fearing general massacre Even
while 1 am writing | am surrounded by multitudes
of men, women and children crying for protection.
The house is considered as an asylum, and the
house of every American is filed with the despair
! ing unfortunates.
Such an intense excitement prevails at this mo-
ment as to prevent from finishing this letter.
Christians have closed their shops and have retired
! to their houses, where they trembling await the
issue. Mosleals rushing about the towe cry
ing "This is the time to kill the Christians" and
their women and children rushing about the
streets shouting MAY G ID cut off the Christians"
1t is impossible for to buy provisions, and our
/ servants rendered useless from fear. Chris
tians have been beaten, and some of them most
severely.
Yesterday at the conference of the consular
corps, the city authorities were summoned to ap-
pear and give assurance of safety. When ques-
toned by the French Admiral as to the number of
troops at his command, the governor replied, 81
don't know" The military commander was then
summoned, and gave the same reply.
The British and American consuls declared that
they would invite their countrymen to take refuge
on board the naval vessels now in the harbor. 1t
is greatly to be lamented that there is no good
Frank organization on land to cooperate with the
forces at sea. Yesterday the American consul
called a meeting of Americans, warned them of
their danger, offered his house as asylum to ALL
and proposed that upon the first alarm all Ameri-
cans should go at once to the American prin ing
establishment the best place for mutual protec-
ton, it is castle in itself, and affords ample
facilities for resisting an attack or standing
siege Provisions have been placed there, and
there is at least American organization
This step has already inspired confidence.
A Turkish line of hattleship arrived last night
Beirut may be saved, but the country is lost
The Paris journal DIES Debats," publishes a
letter from Father Rousseau of the Jesuit Mission
in Syria The details which he furnishes, and
written the spot, are heart-rending and fright
| full. The Catholic Vicar General Of the Beyront
district had been cut into four pieces, with his
brother and sister, and their remains thrown to
! the dogs. The Turks, he says rejoice in such
sights. and say: "See, here, these Christians and
their priests is it not natural that the dogs their
equals, should make good meal of them?"
! The stencil of the dead bodies all around, under
the excessive heat, is described as insupportable
! Twelve hundred Christians of Gazine were sur
rounded in wood by the Druses, and murdered
or burnt A woman met by of these savages
with her three children, was made to sit down
while he slaug Uttered her infants on her lap. A
| Nlaronite cure, with five young children, was cut
! to pieces himself and the children torn limb from
! limb.
! The whole country is ravaged with fire and
sword, and hundreds pcrishing of want in the
woods and mountains owe have collected more
than 500 children" the same letter says, call of
them now orphans" .-.~
! BACHELORS AND OLD MAIDs.-"It is said that
| in Japan old maids unheard of-do not exist
| When the girls do not get married voluntarily In
any reasonable time, the authorities hunt up hus-
bands, and make them marry willing or not will
ing. An exchange thinks that the japanese know
a thing or two even if they have been walled in
for four centuries"
| We quote the above paragraph to show what is
| thought of bachelors and old maids by our new
commercial and international friends of Japan.
Commerce is considered to be "civilizer," and it
is to be hoped that the light which has been mon
opolized by the japanese long enough, will now
melt in many streams and flow even to US who
sit in 1.-The region Of the shadow of death" For
bachelors and old maids are death to progress ex-
tension, advancement; and as a people-owng no
doubt somewhat to our harumscarum fotune seek
ing, notwithstanding disposition-wc marry late,