The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-03
BERLIN, Jan. 2.
Asst November the Vossische Zeit-
ung of this city published a
ctnr,, frn,nn Knunn On nnitnl Of tho

story from Kovno. capitol of the
Ia government of that name in
Russia, stating that the imperial au'
thorities. who are, of course, members
Of the Greek church, had ordered that
the Catholic church at Krosche, in
that government, be closed. With the
purpose, it was said, of preventing the
order from being carried out, large
number of Catholics took possession OF
the church and held it, day and night,
against the authorities.
The governor at last sent troop of
Cossacks to dislodge the defenders of
the church and desperate conflict re-
suited. Twenty of the Catholics were
said to have been killed with swords or
lances. while 100 we're reported to have
been wounded. Those who were IN.
hurt or only slightly injured fled from
the church. pursued by the CosSacks,
who drove them into river, where
many of them were drowned. The
orthodox peasants were said to have
aided in the massacre.
THE OFFICIAL VERSION.
Soon after the publication Of this
story the Russian papers came out with
an official version OF the affair Ac.
cordipg to those papers, the Gar had
ordered the church TO be closed in or.
der that an agricultural college might
be built on the site. The Catholics OBJ
jected to the order and declined to let
1t bs executed. The governor and
three companies of cossacks then forci-
bly, closed the church do )rs, and an en-
counter between the military and po-
lice on one side and the Catholics on the
other followed Four policemen were
slightly wounded. The official state
mept branded tine story of Il massacre
OF the Catholics as 4 pure invention.
Tho Cologne Gazette a few days ago
said it did not credit the official denial
and claimed to know that the story OF
the massacre wus true. Today the
Volks Zsitung publishes mail advices
from Krosche, bearing out in. every
particular the first story Of the killing
OF the Catholics, 1t adds that the Cos.
sacks displayed the greatest barbarity
and took fiandish delight in killing de-
| fenceless women. 1t is said that some
of the young women were subjected to
the vilest indignities by the Cossacks.
SHAMEFUL DISSERTATION.
After the capture of the church by
the soldiers the building WAS desecrated
in every conceivable way, some of t he
Cossacks throwing the Host from the
altar ard trampling upon it. The re-
ligious symbols and church decorations
were completely destroyed. The peo-
pie who had been killed by lance
thrusts or by blows from sword
wore lying about the church in every
direction, while the Cossacks, heed
eas of their piteous appeals, trampled
upon thom with their heavy boots ani
sometimes struck Mt them with theil
spurs In the meantime the Catholics
who had fed in disnay when they saw
so many OF their comrades fall, ran il
the direction Of ths river. A separat,
band of Cossacks started after them
brandishing their lances and sword
and shouting, Kill the cattle" The
panic stricken Catholics could no
turn, for if they did they would hav
fallen into the hands OF the Cossacks
who mounted on their horses made
short run of it,
The correspondent says that some o
the fleeing people fell to the ground il
an agony of fright, and We're strucl
with lances by the horsemen as the
dashed by in pursuit of the fugitives
Several are alleged to have been kile
in this manneI. When the river wa
reached many of tho fugitivss plunge
in and sought to swim to tine othe
ride. A number Of them could no
stem tho current and were drowned
the Cossacks standing on the ban,
laughing and jeering at them in rt
spouse to their cries for help.
WHIPPED WITH KNoUTS
Those who did not jump into tn
river, were secured by the Cossack
and taken back to the town, wher
those who HAD beon captured at til
church were held as prisoners. Tn
authorities ordered that all Of them b
hogged, and tho order was carried ou
IN the market place. Women as WEI
as men. were stripped until they wer
practically naked, and surrounded b
the heartless Cossacks and orthodo
Russians, they were whipped wit
knouts. Persons who are converau
with the nature af the Cossacks, plso
no faith in the official denial of thei
actions on this occasion.