New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-23
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

SEEKING; FREEDOM FROM MUSSULMAN RULE
A FAMILY OF CHRISTIAN TURKS FROM DAMASCUS
NOW AT CASTLE GARDEN-A STRONG PICTURE
or FURNISH TYRANNY.
Among the steerage passengers by the steaih-
sbip wyoming from Liverpool, which arrived late on
Tuesday was family Of Christian Turks consisting Oh
the father and mother, six sons aud one daughter 4y
left BeyrOut Syria July 49, taking steamship 10 L
erpool whence they sailed for this country The name
nj the father ia Yusef Awad e Arbain, of Damascus
He has lived to see five massacres by the Mussuman
rulers of his country. IN Of them his house was
Numbered and burned, and with great difficulty ne
escaped with his life. His character as an intehgeht
teacher and advocate of the Christian religion rendered
him especially obnoxious TO the fanaca leaders OF the
Moses and his danger was the greater this account
Awad il an intelligent man, fy-seven years old, and
has been for many years teacher Of the High School OF
the Greek Patrarchate and director Of the Christian
schools in Damascus. He has been employed, Also by
the English and American missionaries in that city as
teacher OF Arabic He has assisted the Rev. Dr. Van
Dyck the representative Of the American Bible Society
NJ Damascus in the work Of trauslanR the Bible into
the original Arabic. He is said to have been one OF te
best native scholars in Syria The two Oldest sons arc
graduates az the medical department of the Syrian Prot
estant College. They also have been for four years
members OF the Young Mems Christian Association ut
Damascus. Awad said that his object IN coming 10
this country was 10 escape from the tyranny OF
the Turks and afford his children an opportunity Tor
higher education denied them in their own laud since
the war; he said the Turkish Government had sent to
SYRIA to watch and guard the Christian population,
nearly Crcassians TO whose presence in Europe
the Powers la objected He feared that at any mo-
ment the Christian inhabitants OF Syria might be sub
iected these fierce hOrdes to the same late hat perez
The Christians in bulgaria He described the Mpssnman
inhabitants Syria OF the lowest order with Dm
Awad brings many credentials from Protestant ms
sOnares the British and American COnsuls, ana from
many of the Syrian church dignitaries ana nOplenen
These certificates. which refer to AWad in the highest
terms are signed by the Rev. Smyle Robson ana the
and by the Rev Ur. Van Dyck who says that he has
known him thirty years worthy man. Ill
Jones, the Well-known Friend, OF Maine, Ellen Clare
Miller OF Edinburgh and Alfred Floyd Fox,
1867 ndOrse the certificate by saying that they had
been greatly interested In the beraty and Christian
spirit manifested by Inn. The Rev. d.. Van Dyck FS-
fers the family, two DAYS previous 70 their departure
from BeyIOut, these words: " Lake many Othef
Christian subjects OF the Turk, this family are seeking
renef from the CALLING yoke which neither they nor
their fathers able TO bear, aud which Brlush IN
terests to be Tiyetting more firmly and making
more heavy"
any other language He DESIRES also, That his three
Youngest boys be placed IN school, and Tor the pros
ecutiOn their education ne would accept ald He had
sufficient money for the journey here, Du nOws neas
are nearly exhausted.
The family formed yesterday picturesque group at
Castle GarQeD clothed IN their national dress The sons
have fine, intelligent features The oldest Is twenty
eight years of age aud the youngest lad OF nine years
This is tine first rian family that has arrived IN the
United States. Others will follow should this family DO
successful. The father claims that at the breaking
out of the RussOIursh war, he was taxed SS,OOO by
Tie Sultan and received in return worthless bonds