Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-09-15
A PROSECUTED PEOPLE.
DRIVEN FROM HOME AND SEEKING
REFUGE IN FOREIGN LANDS.
The sufferings Of the Jews at the Hands OF
the Russians -Plundered with lmpu'
nity-No Protection from the
Military Experience Of Ntl
Two immigrants.
A JEWISH EXODUS FROM RUSSIA.
THE JEWS IN RUSSIA.

Plundered by the RussiRns-Ho fro'ec-
ton from the Military-An Exodus from
Russia.
New YoEK, September l4.-Among
the eighteen Jewish refugees from Rus.
sia who arrived at Castle Garden, yes
terday, are two men named respectively
Diamant and Aronstein, who were
found at Castle Garden yesterday Just
as they were stsrsi"s tV so 10 the eeh'
porary homes provided for them here
by Hebrew committee.
Diamant is man of sixty-fve years.
His wife and children, who are with
him, are intelligent-looking. Aronstein,
who is apparently not more than TWEEN
ty.five years old, gave some account OF
the riots. He said:
"In April last the people became 80
reused against US that it was impossible
to control them without an actual at
tack by the soldiers and the police. The
commander at kief saw that unless he
submitted to the people the riots would
involve the Russians as we'll as the
Jews, and that the people must be al
lowed 10 rob us unless some OF them
were killed. He addressed the people
and the soldiers, asking that quiet be
kept, but at the same time acknowledg.
ing his inability to preserve order. The
consequence was that we were attacked
with impunity."
No Protection from the Soldiers.
"rhe soldiers were in the town, but
they either remained Indifferent or ac-
tuaily assisted in the oppression. In
and around Kieb there were
twenty thousand Jews. These
lost everything. Mr.. Diamant here was
a large merchant, dealing chiefly ia su-
gar and tea, and was considered veal
thy man. Now he has nothing; hardly
a cent. /, too, was in business, and l
have lost everything. We come to
America to begin life again, but on hard
er terms than when We first started.
The Goth and 9th of April were the
worst days for US; We had been driven
out of our homes, our goods had all
been stolen; what could not be taken
was destroyed; furniture was broken or
burned, our food was taken away and
we were forced to hide for our lives.
These two days l lived in cellar: Mr..
Diamant was with US. We had nothing
to eat or drink and We did not dare 90
out"
In Hiding Fifty Two Hours.
"Our greatest fear was for our young
women, especially on account OF the
officers, whose duty it was to protect us.
So, you see, we did not dare to let our
hiding place be known, and we remain.
ed in the cellar, hungry and thirsty. we
were in hiding ior something like fifty
two hours. In this time everything was
destroyed; there was nothing more to
steal, and the people had grown quiet.
Sow ventured to leave the cellar IN
order not to starve to death. But even
then we could not all get bread; ~e got
water and sustained ourselves. Then
we formed sort OF encampment. We
made tents when we could and these
who could not lived as they might. We
crowded together and did what we could
to protect ourselves against the weather.
This was in April, you remember, and
many of us were almost naked; even
many of the girls bad not enough cloth
ing to cover themselves, and no one had
enough to divide. We still suffered
from hunger aud manv grew very i'll.
Finally the Sisters of Charity took pity
on us and gave US food. They brought
many wagon loads OF bread to our en-
campment and each one received little
slire. This saved our lives, but hardly
relieved our misery"
An Exodus From Russia.
"After this was over those OF us who
could do so vent away into Germany
and finally to Berlin. We were allowed
to 90 without molestation. In Berlin
many OF US were received into the hospi
tails. l was i'll in a hospital for two
weeks, and so were others OF our party.
During the riots in Kiei many families
were separated, but when quiet came
they found each other again, and / do
not think any were missing. No lives
were lost, the object OF the rioters being
plumber. They were jealous OF US; We
were more industrious and more sue
cessful than tbs other classes OF the
people, and they hated us on that
account. They will continue to hate
us, and those OF US who have not already
left Russia will have to do SO. In the
rural districts some Jews who own land
will be allowed to remain, but these are
very few"
"Was there any religious element in
the feeling sgsinst the Jews"
"Of course the Russians did not like
our religion, and some OF the priests en-
couraged the riots. But this did not
make much difference. knew OF one
case where priest denounced the riot.
His congregation heard him through,
but after the service was over and the
priest had left the church his own peo'
pie attacked and beat him. 1t was not
safe for any one to show any sympathy
for the Jews, for whom the most that
could be hoped was that they might es'
cape with their lives"