Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-02
RIOTERS IN A FURY.
Five Thousand Sarts Kill a
Russian Governor in a
Horrible Manner.
BLOOD FLOWS LIKE WATER
When the Troops Endeavor'to Sup
press the Fanatical Mob.
NO QUARTER GIVEN OR ASKED
By the Desperate and sanguinary In
yaders of the Peace.
BLOOD FLOWS LIKE WATER
NO QUARTER GIVEN OR ASKED
SIXTY KILLED AND HUNDREDS WOUNDED

ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. Private let
tiers received here from Tsshkend, town
of Asiatic Russia, in Syr-Darya, report that
the news in regard to the serious 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 these letters it is learned
thet the native Sarts, believing that the
doctors were poisoning patients who were
suffering from cholera, became greatly ex-
cited and determined to put an end to the
murderous practices which they imagined
were being employed in the cases of the un-
fortunates stricken with the terrible dis
ease.
The widest rumors were current of the
cruelties inflicted by the medical men in
causing the immediate death of the patients,
and these stories had the effect of arousing
the fury of the people to the highest pitch.
Five thousand of the Sarts suddenly in
vaded the Russian quarter of the town and
attacked and wrecked the residence of
Deputy Governor Poutinstoff, who fled on
flight was discovered, however, and he was
pursued and overtaken in the street by
large and. infuriated crowd of the attackers
who mercilessly vented their fury on the
helpless official
Surrounded and Stoned to Death.
He was surrounded on all sides by enc
mics hungering for his blood and was NAL
II
with his assailants for mercy, but his ap-
peals were in vain and at length he was
flung tc the ground and after being trampled
upon by the desperate rioters was assailed
with a shower of stones until the life had
been beaten out of him and his features had
been mutilated beyond recognition.
The authorities having become aware of
the state of affairs in town took immediate
steps to suppress the disorders and protect
the ether endangered officials. A body of
troops was hurried to the scene of the at
tack on theDeputy Governor and they were
given orders to adopt the most rigorous
measures in dealing with the rioters. Ar
irving at the place where the defiant Sarts
were assembled, the troops opened fire on
their ranks, killing several of them.
The Sarts were armed with pistols and
daggers, and nothing daunted by the deadly
fire poured into them, held their ground
and made desperate resistance to the
soldiers The two forces closed in on each
other and furious hand-to-hand fight re-
suited, the maddened Sarts, when their
pistols had been emptied, slashing furiously
about with their daggers and doing much
a. H. I,;1 IaJ
and better armed soldiers were unable to
overcome their fanatical opponents and ad-
ditional troops had to be sent to their as
sistance.
Rioters Capture the Mosques.
They were reinforced by body of Co.'S
sacks, and with the valuable aid of these
soldiers they finally succeeded in quelling
the riot and dispensing the Sarts in all
directions The Sarts were not disheart-
ened by this repulse, and soon took steps to
resume their attack. They collected around
the mosques, and taking possession of these
edifces, at once set about the work of con-
verting them into temporary forts, and de-
fed the authorities to do battle with them.
A large number of soldiers were dispatched
to the scene of the new manifestations on
the part of the rioters and attempted to dis
lodge 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 them
selves were in a practically safe position.
The Sarts made sturdy resistance to every
effort of tine soldiers to drive them from the
buildings, and fired from loopholes with
telling effect upon the invaders. The
troops at last concentrated their forces, and,
making grand assault, they triumphantlv
carried the mosques, and a scene of carnage
ensued.
Desperate and Sanguinary Fi2h ting.
The fighting inside the structures was of
the most desperate and sanguinary char
acter. Although the Sarts found they
could not cope with their military oppo-
nents, no quarter was asked for, nor was any
given, and they fell by scores before the
weapons of the soldiers, their desperate
courage being unwavering and their defiance
unceasing to the very end. The character
of the struggle may be imagined when it is
known that 60 of the Sarts were killed and
that hundreds of them were wounded, many
of them most grievously.
The soldiers, too, suffered heavily, the
Russian loss being 15 killed and many
wounded. Tremendous excitement was
caused in the town by the terrible affair,
and the authorities fou nd it necessary to
strongly patrol the place both day and
night. Many arrests have been made of
persons concerned in the disorders, and there
is no doubt that an example will be made
of all those convicted of completely in the
riots
1t is feared that there may be a renewal
of the troubles, and precautions are being
taken accordingly by the officials. The troops
are being largely reinforced, and everything
is being done to put summary and effectual