New-York tribune., 1902-10-29
DOUKHOBORS' SAD PLIGHT
MOB OF RELIGIOUS FANATICS LOOKING
FOR JESUS"
TWO THOUSAND OF THEM DESCEND ON A
TOWN IN A PITIABLE CONDITION.
INFANTS DIE ON THE MARCH
GBy TELEGRAPH TO TEE TRIBUNE ]

lBE TELEGRAPH TRIBCSE1
Winnipeg. Man, Oct 2S-Two thousand
Doukhobors have marched on Yorktown. N. w.
T, and the town has oapitulated without firing
a shot. The spectacle presented was lament
able one The Doukhobors had camped out last
night without shelter and the Thermometer
stood at Ii degrees below the freezing point
The mob consisted of men. women and children,
including infants in arms; one was born last
night, the mother marching in the procession.
Some of the sick were borne on litters. some
few We're barefoot many wore rubber boots
and others coarse sandals made Of binding
twine
Simeon Tcherninkov who talks little Eng
lish and whose bare feet bore witness TO his in
sane zeal. explained that they were looking for
Jesus" When asked where were his boots he
held up his naked foot and cried Jesus boots."
Immigration Agent Speers succeeded in get
ting the sick the women and children, housed
in the immigra ton SHEDS and other buildings
much against their wills. Mothers deserted
their babes and allowed them 10 be taken into
the shelter refusing 10 follow them until forced
along. They say that if God tells them 10 go
back TO their farms they viii do so. but If not
then they viii continue they are. Infants
that died on the march were thrown into bushes
by the roadside.
The first contingent 10 descend on the town
consisted of about sixteen hundred persons.
After they had been taken care Of. detach-
ment Of four hundred arrived. Corporal ].
Nugent and a detachment of mounted police
/ stopped them on the street until arrangements
for shelter could be found. The smiles of by
ISLANDERS We're answered by the recitation in
Russian OF a verse Of the XXIId Psalm,
"Au they that me laugh me TO scorn." etc.
A long, lean ascetic with unkept beard. dis
hevelled hair and bloodshot eyes. stood at the
head Of the halted procession and prayed. He
was protected from the cold by long cape
/ reaching from his shoulders 70 his feet, while
many OF his followers had not sufficient clothing
TO prevent their perishing in the snow. A low
ering sky augurs i'll for tomorrow. SYM
pathetic citizen offered a glass of milk TO a
pallid baby. whose mother split the milk 10 pre-
vent the child drinking it. Biscuits were Of
fered 10 the children, but they were forbidden
10 eat them.
The Doukhobors' camping ground last night
about three miles from town, where there
was no shelter except the bush Parties strayed
greaseesS'' fruit OF the rosebush 10 satisfy their
hunger No labor of animals had helped 10 pro-
dCce this fruit, and they could eat IL without
/ sin. Their prophet had prophesied that on their
/ arrival at Yorkton their babies would be taken
/ from them, and they gave them up willingly, for
/ OF God.
Hitherto the Doukhobors have not been propa-
/ gandists. and they have not sought 10 extend
/ their faith among their Canadian neighbors.
Now they are missionaries, and have invited
! outsiders 10 join them, thus offering chance
10 homestead the fertile lands reserved for
! elusive settlement by Doukhobors In all the
years they have been here.