Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-02
BLOODY RIOTS IN RUSSIA.
Cholera Patients Thought They Were Poi
soned and Rose Tn Revolt.


soned and Rose In Revolt.
Private letters received at ST. Petersburg
from Teshkend q town Of As;atic Russia in
Syr-darya report that news in regard to seri-
GUS riots which occurred in that place on July
6 in connection with the cholera epidemic has
been suppressed by the government, the
strictest censorship being exercised In the
matter.
From thee letters 1t is learned that the ma
tive Sarts, believing tina: the doctors were
poisoning patients who were suffering from
cholera, became greatly excited. and deter
mined to put ehd to the murderous prac-
tees which they imagined were being employed
in the cases of the unfortunates stricken with
the terrible disease. The widest rumors were
current of the cruelties inflicted by the medical
men in causing the immediate death Of tho
patients. and these stories had the effect Of
arousing the fury OF the pee pie to the highest
pitch.
Five thousand Of the Sarts suddenly invaded
the Russian quarter OF the town. and attacked
and wrecked the residence of Deputy Governor
Poutinstoff. who fled on the approach of the
bowling mob. His fight discovered. how
ever, and he was pursued and overtaken in the
street by large and Infatuated crowd of the at
tackers, who mercilessly vented their fury on
the helpless official.
He was surrounded on all sides bv enemies
hungering for his blood. and was maltreased In
O terrible manner. He pleaded with his as
sailants for mercy. but his appeals were in
vain, and at length he was flung to the ground
and after being trampled upon by the desper-
ate rioters WAS assailed with a shower Of stones
until the life had been beaten out Of him and
his features had been mutilated beyond recog-
milton.
The authorities having become aware Of the
state of affairs in the town took immediate
steps to suppress the disorders and protect the
other endangered officials.
body OF troops wus hurried to The scene OF
the attack on the deputy governor. and they
were given orders to adopt the most rigorous
measures in dealing with the rioters.
Arriving at the place where the defiant Sarts
were assembled, the troops opened fire on their
ranks, killing sc yerai Of them.
The Sarts were armed with pistols and dag
gers and, nothing daunted by the deadly fire
poured into them. held their ground and made
desperate resistance 20 the soldiers.
The two forces closed in on each other and q
furious hand-to-hand fight resulted. the mad
deEed Sarts when their pistols had been emptied
slashing furiously about with their daggers and
doing much execution with these weapons.
The drilled and better-arIned soldiers we're
unable 10 overcome their funatical opponents.
and additional troops had to be sent to their
assistance. They were reinforced b. body OF
soldiers. the finally succeeded in quelling the
riot and disp::rsing the Sarta in all directions.
The Sarts were not dishear tened by this
repulse. and soon took steps to- resume their at
tack. They collected around the mosques. and,
taking possession of these editces at once set
about the work Of converting them into tenn
porary forts, and defed the authorities to do
battle with them.
4 large number OF soldiers were dispatched
TO the scene OF the new manifestations on the
part of the rioters, and attempted to dislodge
them from their strongholds.
This was no easy task. however, as the Sarts
were strongly ensconced behind the protecting
walls OF the mosques, and could shoot down the
soldiers while they themselves were in pric-
tieally safe position.
The Sarts made a sturdy resistance to every
effort of the soldiers TO drive them from the
buildings. and fired from loopholes, with tell
ing effect. upon the invaders.
The troops at last concentrated their forces.
and, making grand ASSAULT they triumphantly
carried the mosques, and a scene Of carnage
ensued. The fighting 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. their desperate courage being un-
wavering and their defiance unceasing TO the
very end.
ine ch7racteI " the struggle may be iuaaS-
ined when II is known that sixty of the Sarts
were killed and that hundreds Of them were
wounded many Of them most grievously.
The soldiers, too, suffered heavily, the Rus
sian loss being fifteen killed and many wounded
Tremendous excitement was caused in the
town by the terrible affair, and the authorities
hrd Il necessary TO strongly patrol the whole
place both day and night
Many arrests have been made Of persons con-
ceraed in the disorders. and there ID no doubt
that an example will be made Of all those con-
victed Of completely in the riots
1t Is feared that there may be a renewal Of
the trouble, and precautions are being taken
accordingly by the officials. The troops are
being largely reinforced and everything is being
done TO put n summary and effective end to any
further uprising on the part Of the sarts.