Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-25
JEWISH REFUGEES.
The Terrible Experience Hebrew
Emigrants Had in Their Russian
Home. sa&A -

PhaGdelphso Press. 21st.
To-day thirteen Russian Jews viii arrive
In this city from New York, IN charge Of 3
representative of the United Hebrew Chart
ties. These men form q small portion of
the great body OF unfortunates who have
been driven from Russia within the last six
months
Seven Of these refugees came to this city
last week, In the expectation of fielding EN-
ployment. Through the efforts OF the
Hebrew Society few OF them have been
provided with work. Three OF their less
fortunate brethren were found by a Press
reporter Ia a lodging -house on New street
last evening. They are very intelligent
looking, their whole appearance Indicating
position In their native country at least
in the middle classes OF society. They all
spoke German 1uently, and In that Ian
guage John Schiller, seemingly the most in
telligent of the trio, gave an account of the
causes which forced him to fee his native
country. II was born,n he said, Sin the
City Of Kiev on the right bank of the Dnie-
per. My father was q railroad contractor,
and previous to the time our troubles came
upon US was considered one Of the veal
thiest men in the city. l was brought up
carefully and received an excellent educs-
ton, and all went well with me until short.
~ after the beginning OF this year. During
the months OF February and March rumors
Of an uprising among the peasantrY against
our race were carried to our
ears, but we paid no attention to them
until we were suddenly and rudelY con-
WINGED OF their truth. On the 10Th OF
last April the ordinary quiet OF our city
was broken by the cries and curses OF a
bowling rabble, which poured into Kiev
from the country round about and was
every minnie increased by additions from
the slums and alleys Of the city itself.
On every side were heard fierce cries
Of Down with the Jews Don't let
Christ-killer escape and oaths and curses
too horrible to speak about. think there
must have been fully 10000 persons In that
mob, and when they entered the Jewish
quarter OF the city they divided into four
Companies that they might more effectually
accomplish the terrible work they had IN
dertaken. They drove US from our houses,
destroyed our furniture, tore up our
carpets and broke into thousand
pieces our most valued orna-
ments. Our stores and workshops were
robbed OF all they contained, and when the
fury of the mob had been spent there was
scarcely Jew in the city who had money
sufficient to buy himself food. They drove
us from our homes, and for a whole month
we were obliged to live in tents and shelters
erected outside Of the city. My sister was
robbed of everything she possessed, not
even dress being left her to cover her
uskedness. Many of our people attempted
to resist the destruction OF their property
and some were killed-stoned to death
while doing so. Altogether twenty eight
persons met their death in this manner. One
bruised old man was dragged into a church
and commanded to kiss the erucifx. Upon
his refusal to do 50 he was SO terribly beat
en- that he died before he could be taken
into the street. Eight young girls and one
wealthy Jewish lady were seized by a band
of about sixty OF the most debssed class of
the peasantry and so brutally outraged that
only four survived to tell the horrible
tale. The government did not inter
fere with the proceedings OF the mob
in any manner excepting that after
the riot was over q guard OF Russian SOL
diers was placed around our encampment
Indeed, we have good reason to believe that
government officials instigated the uprisal,
for on many passports Issued to persons
coming to Kiev prior to the riot was written
an order that they should leave that city
within twentyfour hours at peril OF their
liberty. The Governor Of the province, who
WAS In Kiev at the time, attended by his
guard, witnessed the whole affair, and only
interfered when he found that there
promised to be q terrible destruction of
life."
When asked whether the Nihilistic senti-
ment was prevalent among his class in Rue
STA, Schiller said, smilingly, "Why, we are
all Nihilists there-that lie, we all want more
liberty than we can possibly have under the
government as it now is. But we by no
means believe in dynamite bombs IS a RENE
dy against existing evils, and you will find
that such sentiments are confined to few
fanatical students"