The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-08-03
The Massacre in Syria.

Mis- Amelia c. Temple, ono Of the missions-
ne In Syria. writes to her hther, who resides
In Worcester, Ma.., the following thrilling 40
count OF tho nassaers q DER 81 Kamar, the
letter being dated Beirut, June q:
-"Sosreely had Ne bsard IL new, of. Zahlsh's
all, and thought OF what would become of DER
eli kamar, when We received tssrS,I ,i,,ircs
from that mountain city.
As the Druscs finished their work Of ds.o,..
ton IN Zahleh, word was passed round .monc
them. We will take DER 81 Kamar nsxt., Thai
very Tuesday evening they commenced putting
seven and eight began to enter the city, and to
plumber. Toward sunset, large force Of
Druses arrived, and al night long they carried
on their operations unmolested. The Deirites
seemed panic-stricken; not gun Was fired mot
sword raised, not an arm stretched out toRvs
their property or themselves. Toward dawn on
Wednesday morning, work Of slaughter com.
menced At which my heart stands still a. write
Il. From house TO house the ruiiians passed.
From boys at the age Of ten years, to the tot.
tering old man Of eighty. not one escaped. In
fore the destroying sword. Around and around
the blood-thisty gang roamed hunting In every
nook and corner, In cellars and In wells, In sta.
blcs and on the house-tops, ill not man wa
left to bury the slain There they still lie, rem.
dering the place resort for vultures, and On
uninhabitable place for men. Women, crazed
by their fears, the sights and their losses rushed
frantically around houselcss, homeless-f0i
the FIRE was made to consume what Il could lici
up with It's ten thousand tongues.
The population Of DER h tiedsl 1000. Two
thousand Ave hundred men are said to have per
ishcd. II had been better for the women !
n =. 80 81 al hns ha IL
Many fed to the government troops stationed
In the midst Of the city. These, TO the number
OF two or three hundred, were standing with.
out the gate, which had been barred against
them. begging for admission. Druse swords
and hatchets made desperately short work with
them. Those who had taken refuge within
were one by one thrown out OF the windows,
to meet the fate from which they had fed. On
ly two houses are LEFT standing, Rev. Mr.. Bird,
and the dwelling Of one Of the governors do.
partments. Mr.. Bird went mp yesterday. u
bring away some goods. Il viii be long before
he can with safety to his health go again
Some few people escaped to the seaboard. The
English magnanimously sent down their steam.
ers yesterday to bring them up, and refugees
from Hasbeiga and Sidon. Both arrived tow:
ard midnight last night, bringing one thousand
passengers, mostly women and children. Mr..
FOrd's family also came from Sidon. The
French men-of.war offered their boats to help
land these poor refugees. They have no cloth
ing, no money, no homes, and almost no hopes.
Who made us to diferl The French govern
ment vessels have gone up to Tripoli and Lata:
kia, and along the coast, TO awe the enemy and
comfort tho feeblc-minded. The English sent
back one vessel to Sidon for those who were
left behind. +
A very prevalent rumor Is current, that D.
hamdun Is to fall to-day. The Druses arc gath.
ering In the district called Melton, for great
battle That district Is about four or Ave hours
from here. The Consuls, and captains OF the
English, French and Russian men. of-war, be-
ing in our harbor, held meeting yesterday to
devise means for insuring and preserving the
peace of Beirut. Each vessel steamed up last
night, 30 rs to be able to turn around, and, In
short, to be ready for any emergency. An Eng
lish vessel Of ITO guns lies directly by the city.
keep my carpet-bag packed, ready to 60 ON
board the steamer II ordered to do 30 by the
Consul. lie gives himself nc rest day or night,
constantly doing all in his power to ward OIL
evil, or prevent the consequences OF that al
ready committed.
DO not feel anxious about me. ] am cheerful
and peaceful NIL the time. Should the Moslem
rise hcrc-which Is not cxpected-we shall im-
mcdiately 20 on boari the English war vessels.
You gave me to God by baptism. You renewed
and confirmed 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 God.'"