The record-union., 1892-08-02

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. Letters re-
ceived here from Ashkend, a town OF
Asiatic Russia, in Syrdiria, report that
the news in regard to serious riots in that
place on July 9th, in connection with the
cholera epidemic, has been suppressed by
the Government, the strictest censorship
being exercised. From these letters it is
learned that the native Sarts, believing
that the doctors were poisoning the pa
tients who were suffering from cholera,
became greatly excited and determined
to put an end to the murdcrous practices
which they imagined were being en-
ployed III the cases Of unfortunates
stricken with the terrible disease.
The widest rumors We're current of
cruelties inflicted by medical men in
causing the immediate death Of patients,
and these stories had the eject of arous-
ing the fury of the people to the highest
pitch. Five thousand SartS suddenly in
Vaded the Russian quarter and wrecked
the residence of the Deputy Governor,
who fed on the approach Of the bowling
mob. bis flight was discovered, how
ever, and he " as pursued and OVertak en-
in the street by the Infatuated crowd,
who mercIleSsly vented their Jury upon
the helpless official. He was maltreated
in terrible manner. His plea for mercy
was IN VAN, and after being tramDlpd
upon he was assaulted with a shower OF
stones, until his life had been beaten out.
The authorities having become aware
OF the state of affairs in town took inn
mediate steps to suppress the disorders
and protect the other officials. 4 body
of troops hurried to the scene Arriving
lrn Nl,,,.T !.
Sembled, the troops opened fire, killing
several of them. The Sarts, armed with
pistols and daggers, held their ground
and made desperate resistance to the
soldiers. The two forces closed in on
each other and a furious hand to hand
fight resulted. The maddened Sarts.
when their pistols had been emptied.
slashed furiously about with their dag
gers and were doing much execution
with these weapons. Drilled and better
armed, the soldiers were unable to over
come their Ianatical opponents, and adj
ditional troops had to be sent to their as
sistance. They were reinforced by a
body of Cossacls, and finally the riot was
queIled and the mob dispersed.
The Sarts were not disheartened. and
collected around the Mosques, and taking
these edltices, deied the authorities to do
battle with them. a large number of
soldiers were dispatched to the scene and
attempted to dlSlodge them from their
strongholds. The Sarts made a sturdy
resistance to every effort of the soldiers to
drive them from the buildings. and fired
from loop-holes with telling effect upon
! the invaders. The troops at last concen-
trated their forces, and making a grand
assault, triumphantly carried the
Mosques, and a scene of carnage ensued.
The lighting inside the structures was of
the most desperate and sanguinary char
acter. Although the SartS found that
they could not cope with their military
opponents, no quarter was asked for nor
was any given, and they fell by scores
| before the weapons of the soldiers.
The character of the struggle NAV be
imagined when It is known that sixty
Sarts were killed and hundreds of them
wounded. The soldiers, too, suffered
heavily, the Russian loss being fifteen
killed and many wounded. Many ar
rests have been made of persons CON
cerned in the disorders. 1t is feared
there may be renewal Of the trouble,
and precautions are being taken accord
ingly.