The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1860-08-11
MoUxr LEBANON, Bhamdun,l
Tnun OH 1pGA

WILLIAM A. BENTON.
Mouxr LEBANON, Bhamdun,)
~" June 9Th, 1860.
DEAR CHRlsflAs RRIEDs: We take up our
pen 70 give you some faint description of the aw.
ful visitation which has come upon this poor,
guilty land. The old animosities, feuds and hates
between the Druses and Christians have now bro
ken out in most fearful war, sending horror,
bloodshed and devastation over this beautiful,
this goodly Lebanon.
On Tuesday, Nay 2Sth, the hostilties com.
menced; battle was fought ON the White Back
Mountain, about four hours from here, between
party Of Zahlehans and Druses. There was a
severe loss on both sides; the high priest of the
Druses was killed. That same awful night, the
fires of the combatants were lighted at Retmiri,
and all the little villages around that place, and
in the xetn district at the north; we counted
ten, and soon after twelve villages burning at
once, and sending up the most fearful flames to
Heaven. No eye slept that night; we expected
every moment that we might be attacked. The
dreadful night wore away, the morning dawned,
and our mountain heights were enveloped In q
dense cloud of black pine smoke.
We rat down in the study for. morning devo-
tions, and the CRY Of 1.-THE Druses are upon us"
rang in our ears. Mr.. Benton rushed out, and
was met by hundreds Of women and children
running to our house for safety. He asked where
they were; some said one thing and some anoth
er. and be walked up through the village to meet
the dreaded foe, and if possible mediate between
them. He looked all around and saw no one,
or any appearance of danger The accidental
discharge Of gun, and the screams Of the wo-
men had caused false alarm. Mr.. Benton now
felt il his duty to take the direction of affairs
He divided the men Of the village into compa-
mica, and stationed them at different points to
watch, telling them if they saw any approach, to
give him notice, and he would meet the foe first
Of ALL
We raised the American Gag over our house,
and told ALL that in case Of an attack upon the
village, the women were to come to our house
and the men to stand their ground. We then
cent word to Sheikh Yusif the Druse governor
of this village, and told him of our position, and
asked his pleasure. He approved Of al, and ad
yised the people Of Bhamdun and Bhuttum to
bring their valuables 10 our house, and took his
most solemn oath that he could and would pro-
tect Bhamdun; said that Mr.. Benton was his
own brother, called him Sheikh Benton Abel ell
Nelik-the name Of his house. 1t Is wonderful
how the Lord has given US the hearts and conf
6dence Of these Wild Druses.
Several times during that meyer to be forgotten
day, the poor panic stricken people were about
to Zee and start for Beirut, and but for US they
would have been slaughtered on the road, as the
war was raging ill the way, and the neighboring
Drsse so,nen would have come and plunlered
and burned our village.
Towards night Kowass from the American |
Consul at Beirut, arrived to inquire after u.s. they
thought Bhamdun was burned and knew not |
what had become of u.s. Also Sheikh Nebhan, |
the brother Of Sheikh Yusif, arrived, and he is |
here STILL We do mot feel that we are by any
means out Of danger, but there are many indica.
tions that Bhamdun will outride this fearful
storm. We suppose that more than hundred
villages have been burned, and, to the horror Of
ell the foreign residents in Syria, it is plain the
Turkish authorities are favoring the Druse side,
and themselves helping on che butchery of the
Christians.
Near Sidon, there has been massacre of the
Christians, and but for the appearance of an Eng.
lisa war steamer, which threatened to destroy
the city, the Nuslems would have arisen and |
slaughtered the whole Christian population.
Nearly al day Yesterday We heard the guns Of
the contending parties A severe battle was
fought at Metn, at the north of us, and we hear
that the Druse lose is great in killed and wounded
Such 10 our position that we hear the Druse side
Of the question. Bhamdun stands neutral, and
under the Druse protection, being one Of their
principal stations; the commander Of their force
q here. Rasmaia, large Christian village near
here, which had taken up arms against the Druses,
one hundred and sixty Of her young men being
gone to the war, was forced to surrender; day |
before yesterday they gave up their arms and
their crop Of silk, the cocoons being in their
houses, upon condition that they should be pro-
lected. After the whole contract was complete,
the Druses fired upon the people and completely |
plundered the whole village. While this awful |
1csne was going on, Mr.. Portalas, French gen.
lleman who has factory near that place, rode
into the midst and told al the villagers to follow
him, and he took them al to his factory. Some
Df The vomsn had nothing ON, save their UNDER
house. An the gentlemen Of the factories in this
part Of Lebanon have acted noble part in pro-
beCtlnR tho women and children In their facto-