The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-23
Is JEWS KILLED AT GOMEL.
IOO SERIOUSLY INJURED, zoo
SLIGHTLY HURT.
The Jews We're Defending Themselves
From Christian Mob when Russian
Troops and Police Attacked Them
with Great Brutality--Qulet Restored.

Special Cable Despatch TO THE SUN
BERLIN, Sept 22.--In regard to the riot
ing between the Jews and Christians at
Gomel, Russia, the Jewish Relief Com
mittee states that the houses OF 3A5 Jewish
workmen were plundered and destroyed.
Twenty-Five Jews were killed, 100 were
sent to the hospitals suffering from serious
injuries and 200 others were taken care
OF who were only slightly hurt.
The killing and wounding Of the Jews
are attributed to the brutality Of the troops
and police, who attacked the Jews while
tho latter were defending themselves from
a Christian mob.
The trouble arose on Sept. II, when the
Christian dealers forcibly despoiled the
Jewish pedlers who refused to lower the
price of behring's. Next day the riot was
renewed, the Jews disregarding the in
structions to keep of the streets, because
they felt compelled to rescue their women
who were being assaulted and their fellow
men who were being tortured.
At last accounts quiet had been restored.
The town was practically under martial
law, work was at a standstill and bread
was scarce
LONDON, Sept. 22.-The Times cites the
Gomel affair as an instance Of how little
faith can be placed in official versions OF
such occurrences. 1t gives from private
letter written from Gomel during the prog
ress Of the riots an account OF their origin,
which is similar to that issued by the Jewish
relief committee at Berlin.
This account says that after the outbreak
on Friday number OF anti-Semitic agita-
tors went about. infaming the passions Of
the mu jiks and exhorting them not to leave
their fellow Christians unavenged. This
continued on Saturday. the 18th, and Sun.
day. the 18th.
The Jewish leaders had in tho meantime
been urging their followers on no account
to give any cause for fresh disturbances
All the drinking shops were kept closed
and most OF the Jews remained indoors
while the streets were patroled.
On Monday, the 14th. however. the work.
men In the railway workshops organized q
meeting at noon In one Of the principal
streets. About one hundred man assembled
and began to break the windows and enter
and plumber the houses of the Jews.
- kr khnp d.
self defence, but the soldiers prevented
them from entering the streets where the
plundering was going on. forcing then
back to their houses and beating and ar
resting those who did not obey.
Other soldiers, meanwhile, stood by
while the mob was going on with it's worl
OF pluuder and committing all kinds o
excuses
/ -One could hear the shrieks OF children
| in the streets which the patrols had blocket
against help from the Jews outside say
the writer, land when some Jews tried t
force their way down side street the sol
diers fred on them. killing six. The polic'
did not show themselves anywhere, ane
the troops were on duty alone to protec
the rioters
| When the above letter was despatched
the rioting was still going on. Four streets
it was believed, had then been wrecked
but nothing definite was known as to tn
loss Of life.
| Az Gomel had 20 900 Jews, out Of tota
population OF 10000, there may be founda
ton for the reports that 1t has been secone
Kishinef.
Gomel, or Homel is railroad junction
500 miles south of st. Petersburg, in tn
! heart of Russia. 1t is the district tow
in the Government OF Mohilev. 1t ha
eight orthodox churches and synagogue.
1t Is the centre of a lively trade in wood
wool. hemp, oil and sugar. There are sew
eral sugar refneries in the place. and larg
/ railroad repair shops
In 1897 Gomel had population G
se,s4s
PEACE CONGRESS TO ROOSEVELT