The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-19
REFUGEE TELLS
TERRIBLE TALE
When He Fled From Kishinef Sixty
eight Lay Dead in the
Streets.
Others, Killed in Their Homes, Were
Stretched Out on Their
Own Floors.
Russian Officials Were Bribed to Pre-.
vent a Recurrence Of the
Outrage.

4 New York, May 1e.-Half- mad even yet
from the horrors Of the massacre, AbrA-5
ham Wolovnick, the first refugee from
Kshenef, Russia, has arrived in New
York. That Wolovnick is no imposter is
proven by his passport, showing that he
crossed the Austrian frontier. fleeing for
his life, April II.
awful beyond what can describe, . he
declared. in picturing the scenes Of the
massacre. "One moment all was peace
every one smiling and happy. Suddenly.
they tell me, some one cried: Let's have
a, fight with the Jews
"To us the attack was like bolt from
a clear sky, but 1t must have been pre-
arranged, for, starting at the center Of
the city, it spread almost instantly to all
running with blood. Unarrned and unable
to protect themselves, my people could
only flee for their lives.
But not many were successful. When
left sixty-eight were dead in the streets
and many others were lying In garrets
and cellars, where, concealing themselves,
they had been surprised and murdered.
ITO tell what saw would be impossi-
bic, cried the refugee, his eyes fairly
bullying. Men, women and children act;
ually dismembered alive by the crowds
In the streets. With my own eyes I saw
fed.
Meanwhile the police stood by and
said: Let them go on. Not soldier
and there were some who pitied us-waa.
permitted to come to our aid.
When they were tired killing, the
butchers rushed into our synagogues and
despoiled them, destroying everything
they could not steal. They sacked our:
homes and killed us il they found US In
them.
For myself, my first thought was Of my
wife and baby. Hurrying to the nearest
1 =
fairly started, sent them as fast as z
could to Odessa, where they are now.
Then hurried back to my father and
mother, and, with them and a brother and
sister, we found shelter in the cellar OF 81
compassion ate neighbora Christian. He.
is cooper, and over us he piled barrels
until 1t was safe for us to make our way
to the railroad station. :-ss
owned prosperous tailoring bust
ness. but 1t is gone now, and all want
is to get my wife and child to this coun-'
try
Brlbed osflelais.
| Additional lettexsa9ron Jews in Kiet
were reseiyed to-day telling of the fight
Eof thousands OF Jewish population and OF
the serious situation existing In that city
and its suburbs.
Many rscent letters have told that the
Jews Of Kien expected an outbreak
against them about May 8. This attack
uiQ 5HOL take pace Dut III mas Deem gen.
orally asserted that the slaughter has only
been postponed. According to a letter
received to-day by s.. Singer, cigarette
manufacturer Of Brooklyn, from his
brother in-law in Kieff. the threatened
anti Semitic outburst was averted solely
by the bribery of the leading officials OF
| the city. The letter says In part:
The vice governor and the chief Of
police were each bribed with 10000 ruhles
| ($5,000). and for this reason the con-
/ templated massacre Of April 20 (Russiau
calendar) was prevented. I myself have
contributed 100 rubles to the fund to
bride the officials
The relief fund was swelled by aboud
s., 900 yesterday, bringing the total amount
to well over 100000. OF this about t21. 900
/ has already been sent. Arrangements
are being made for a mass meeting, prob
/ ably. on May, q, to protest against the
massacres. Ex-President Cleveland IL
4 eYnecfed tn nraside Ga