The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-08-24
OUR YANKEE AT DAMASCUS AND
a BALBEC.
CoNsTANTINoPLE, July 25tb, 1871.

From Beirut, was the only practicable
point for reaching Damascus and the
ruins of Balbec, but our comrades, hay
ing less appreciation for historical locali
ties, than ourself, had decided to avail
themselves of the first steamer for Con-
stantinople and we had concluded to be
left behind rather than pass those places.
We arrived on the 9Th Of July, and fort
unately for us, no steamer was due till the
18th, By hard ciphering we found that
trip might be made, and return in time
| if we could endure the fatigue of two
days and three successive nights ride
and labor, which in this country and
climate, and by diligence and on horse
back, was excessive. Four to five days
was the shortest usual time for the
journey. 1t was Saturday, and we were
anxious to visit the American Mission
Schools, and make the acquaintance of
some of the Missionaries, and also to at
tend the American Chapel on the follow
ing day. Bpt we could not do that, and
visit Damascus and Balbec too We'rea-
soned with ourself, chat this would pro
badly be the only opportunity we should
have to see those places, for the next one
thousand years, and we could not afford
to wait, and candor compels us to CON
fess even at the risk of damaging our
Reputation in the estimation of our high
ly esteemed, and personal orthodox friend
the Rev. Dr., that we did utilize the holy
Sabbath Was it not clearly case OF
Necessity
A French company run line of dill
lgences over macadamized road to Da
mascus--a five horse coach by day and It
three horse coach at night-distance 70
miles; time IA hours fare SO francs We
t ok the Saturday night diligence, our
company consisting of the Arab driver,
and four passengers, viz: one Greek, one
italian, one Frenchman and one Ameri
can, (ourselO. The two former left US a
few miles out In less han an hour from
Beirut, we began to ascend the mountains
and continued up and down by zizzog,
the whole route reaching an extreme
height of more than 5000 feet. The
crooked road if Strengthened out, would
probably reach to Damascus and return.
The horses, or mules, three abreast. are
changed every hour, and the timetable
programme carried out with great pre-
cision
| A little after midnight, our team, con
sisting of two horses and a mule, made no
little trouble by the kicking of the frac
tious mule, and while the driver was on
the ground, making some temporary re-
pairs to the harness-the Frenchman
having also ighted-they suddenly
dashed off at full speed down the noun
tain side. We had preference in our
mode of descending-a little more leisure
was aesirable-we did not like to be hur-
ried consequently, we threw open the
door, and ,leaped to the ground, at the
risk of dislocated neck, and the immi-
nent hazard of the funds of sundry Life
Insurance :, companies, C'Providential,""
we hear the Rev. Dr., exclaim, 'just as
the Sabbath was commencing'O A little
less than half mile, and the team was
brought up in Q heap, with one horse in
the ditch and his heels among the spokes.
The united efforts of three languages
Arab, French and English (American),
failed to extricate them from their con-
fusion, when fortunately, caravan of
camels just passing, their drivers were
pressed into service. The utterance Of
sundry expressive adjectives, which we
could but partially translate, several dis
tinct appeals to the Prophet, and an
hours hard labor, sent us on our, way re-
joicing. No other pleasurableo excite
ment occurred during the journey. 1aa
A few miles before reaching Damascus,
we encountered large force of the Sui
tan's troops encamped on desert plain,
consisting of infantry, cavalry and artil-
lery. They were on parade as we passed,
presenting fine array and kicking up a.
terrible dust. We had seen many Egyp-
/ ian and Turkish soldiers in Egypt and
elsewhere, but not in as large bodies.
Their uniform consists of white jacket
and Turkish trousers, with red sash and