Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1903-12-06
WAS AT BEIRUT
Nan Was on Hand During the
Excitement.

Steve Halby an old time Clifton boy
who returned last week from visit
to his old home in Syria, had very
thrilling and exciting experience while
at Beirut, Turkey, according TO the
Clifton Copper Era. He had been at
Mount Lebanon, and called on the
American consul at Beirut to secure
his passports, as he was about to re-
turn to America. This was during the
troublesome times at Beirut. The
American consul informed Steve that
il was almost impossible for him to get
out at that time. but Steve insisted on
leaving at once as his business was
pressing. The two then get into car
riage and started to visit some Turk
ish official to have his passport APP
proved, and while driving through The
streets the American consul was fired
at by mob. The consul ordered the
driver to return to the consulate, 3nd
at once cabled his gcVernment &c send
a couple of war vessels, which arrived
in four days. They came into port
cieared for action, end the admiral lost
no time in landing with a lot Of mar
ines and machine guns. Steve says
that when the Americans landed with
their guns cleaning and Old Glory
piest and proudest moment of his life.
Never before did he so fully realize
that the starry banner meant life and
liberty to Christian people in all lands
Hundreds of Christian women and
children of all natiOnalities gathered
around the admiral and his brave band
of marines. shouting, praying and sing
ing. Many of them kissed the hands
and clothing of the Americans as they
passed by. The admiral found the
streets strewn with corpses. and wo-
men and little children starving for
bread. The admiral soon established
confidence in the hearts of the Chris
tiOns, and also gave the Turks to un-
derstand that if another Christian was
harmed he would blow their old forts
to perdition and kill every Turkish
soldier in town. Then with a small
band of marines they went to Mount
Lebanon and brought hundreds of peo-
pie back Who had fed for their lives
before the fury of the Turkish mob,
which the government made no effort
to put down. Steve says that when
the Americans landed he was so eXcit-
ed that he joined with them and
marched down the streets and in sew
eral languages told the Turks what he
thought of them and their old sultan.
He says the outrages committed
against the Christians are beyond all
comprehension. and are too horrible to
relate. Mr.. Halby is a Syrian. but
was educated in San Francisco, where
he was also made an American citizen,
and a rafting good one, too. He says
Americans as a class don't half way
appreciate their government, and
never will unless they visit foreign
lands-in times of trouble. He says
Turkey is one of the richest countries
on the globe, full of gold and silver
mines. which the sultan will not allow
opened up. 1t is rich in agriculture,
and has a fine climate. but the people
are ground to poverty by a government
which is rotten to the core the very
existence of which is a disgrace to the
civilized world. With good government
it would be a garden of beauty and
paradise for mankind, but at the pres
ent time it is a seething cauldrcn of
hatred, rapine and murder.