The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-10-01


Among the cmigrants from Europe arriving
al New York last week was u large party of
Jews who had been driven ont of Russia by
the mob at Kief in April last, One Of their
number told their story as follows;
In April last the people became so reused
against us that it was impossible to control
them without an actual attack by the soldiery
and the police The commander at kiet saw
that unless he submitted TO the people the RI
OTIS would involved the Russians as well as
the Jews, and that the people must be allowed
to rob US unless some of them were killed,
He addressed the people and the soldiers, ask
ing that quiet be kept, but at the same time
acknowledging his inability to keep order.
The consequence was we were attacked with
lmpunlty.
The soldiers were In town, but they either
remained Indifferent or actually assisted IN the
oppression. In and around Klef there were
10000 Jews. These lost everything. MIR. Di
amant here was a large merchant, dealing
chiefly III sugar and tea, and was considered
a wealthy man Now he has nothing; hardly
a cent. |, too, was in business and have lost
Everything. We come to America to begin
life again. but on harder terms than when we
! first started. The Goth and eth of April were
the worst days for us; we had been drlv'
en- from 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 tor
our lives Those two days lived in o cellar;
Mr.. Diamant was with us. We had nothlAg
TO eat or drink and we did not dare go out.
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 hidng-place be known,
and we remained IN the cellar, hungry
and thirsty. We were in hiding for some
thing like iifty-two hours In this time every
thing was destroyed; there was nothing more
to steal and the people mad grown quiet. So
we ventured to leave the cellar in order not to
starve to death. But even then we could not
get bread; we got water and sustained our
selves. Then we formed a sort OF encamp-
jment. We made tents when we could and
those 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
had not clothing enough to cover themselves,
and no one had enough to divide. We still
suffered from hunger and many grew very III.
Finally the Sisters OF Charity took pity on us
and gave US TODD. They broughtmany wagon
loads of bread to our encampment and each
received HUE slice. MS saVcu Ilaly lives,
but hardly relieved our misery.
After this was over those of us who could
do so went away into Germany and finally to
Berlin. We were allowed to go without mo,
} lesta,ion. In Berlin many of us were received
I into the hospitals. | was i'll IN hospital for
two weeks, and 80 were others of our party
| During the riots IN Kiet 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
cessiul than the 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 dose. In
7 the rural districts some Jews who own lane
, will be allowed to remain but these are very
l few.
; Was there any religious element in the feel
0 ing against the Jews?
l Of course the Russians did not like our re
e llglon, and some Of the priests encouraged thu
l riots But this did not make much difference
G knew of one case where priest denounced
( the riots. His congregation heard him through
4 but after the service was over and the prizes
had left the church his own people attacked
A and beat him. 1t was not safe for any one t.
/ show any sympathy for the Jews, for whom
the most that could be hoped was that they
I might escape with their lives