Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-03
MAssACRED By COSsACKs.
The Almost incredible Cruelties In
hicted On a Russian Community.

hicted On a Russian Community.
In November last the Vossiche Zeitung of
Berlin published a story from Kovno CAP
ftal of the government of that name in Rus
sia, stating that the imperial authorities
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. 1t was said, Of
preventing the order from being carried
out. large number of Catholics took POS
session of the church and held 1t, DAY and
night. against the authorities. The governor
at last sent troop OF Cossacks to disloige
the defenders of the church, and desper-
ate conflict resulted. Twenty of the Cath
olics were said to have been killed with
swords and lances. while 100 were reported
to have been wounded. Those who were I'M
hurt. or only slightly injured. fed 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.
Shortly after the publication of this story
the Russian papers came out with an official
version of the affair. According to these
papers. the car had ordered the church to
be closed in order that agricultural COL
lege might be built on the site. The Catho-
lies objected to the order and declined to
let 1t be executed. The governor and three
companies of Cossacks then forcibly closed
the church doors. and an encounter between
the military and police on one side, and
Catholics on the other, followed. -Four
policemen were slightly wounded
The official statement branded the story of
a massacre of the Catholics as a pure in
vention.
The Reports Confirmed.
The Cologne Gazette. a few days ago, said
it did not credit the official denial and
3acre was true.
Yesterday the Voiks Zeitung published
mail advices from krosche bearing out in
every particular the first story of the kill
ing of the Catholics. 1t adds that the Cos
sacks displayed the greatest barbarity. and
took tiendish delight in killing defenseless
women and children. 1t is said that some of
the younger women were subjected to the
vilest indignities by the Cossacks After the
capture OF the church by the soldiers the
building was desecrated in every conceiy-
able way. some of the Cossacks throwing
the Host from the altar and trampling
upon 1t.
The religious symbols and church decora-
tons were destroyed. The people who had
been killed by lance thrusts or by blows
from swords were lying about the church
IN every direction, while those who were
wounded were lying among them groaning
and moaning, while the Cossacks Needless
OF their piteous appeals. trampled upon
them with their heavy boots. and sometimes
struck at them with their spurs.
Driven to the River.
In the meantime the Catholics who had
fled in dismay when they saw so MANY of
their comrades fall. ran in the direction of
the river. separate band OF Cossacks
started after them. brandishing their Iances
and swords. and shouting at the top Of their
voices: XIII the cattler
The panic-stricken Catholics could not
turn. for If they did they would have fallen
into the hands of the Cossacks, who mount
ed on their horses, made a short run of it.
The correspondent says that some of the
fleeing people fell to the ground in an agony
of fright, and were struck with lances by
the horsemen as they dashed by in pursuit
Of the fugitives. Several are alleged to have
been killed in this manner
When the river was reached many of the
fugitives plunged in and sought to swim to
the other side. A number of them could not
stem the current and were drowned the
Cossacks standing on the bank laughing
and jeering at them in response to their
cries for help.
Whipping the Women.
Those who did not jump into the river
were secured by the Cossacks and taken
back to the town. where those who had been
captured at the church were held as pris-
oners.
The authorities ordered that all of them be
fogged, and the order was carried out IN
the market place. Women, as we'll as men,
were stripped until they were practically
naked. and, surrounded by the heartless
Cossacks and orthodox Russians, they were
whipped with knouts.
The story has excited widespread indigna-
ton. and persons who are conversant with
the nature of the Cossacks place no faith
in the official denial of their actions on this
Occ9 sfOn