The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-24
JEWS BEATEN BY RUSSIANS Ani-Semitic Riots in
 GOmcl. POLICE FAVOR RIOTERS No Attempt is Made to Prevent the OulrageS.
Slaughter Not as Great as That at
 Kishineff, But Attitude of Authorities Makes Affair One of Significance.

| oohci' 0oNeiHHent or S1onlle, Russia, Sept. 23, Monday, Sept. 1.-The Associ- ated Press correspondent had made ar, | investigation on the spot of the Pogrom, | as the Russians describe the anti-Sem- | ite riots. which occurred here September Il. and were renewed for several days.
 The riots were smaller. but perhaps more remarkable than those which took place at kisaineff, because the police and | military openly sided with the plunderers and murderers, the "Pogromshiks" as the Russians called them. The troops. supported by many educated and well-to- do Christians, formed a movable shield behind which the "Pogromshiks' ruth lessly demolished the Jewish homes and shops and cruelty clubbed such Jews as fell into their hands, leisureiy proceeding from street 10 street and district to dis- trict as they did so. The commerce and industry of Gomel Is largely Tn the hands of the Jewish population, numbering 25,000. Few of the residents are wealthy, but none paupers The Jewish artisans incline to socialism
 Start of the Trouble.
 The trouble began September Il, hol- iday. "the day of the beheading of John the Baptist, in a wrangle in the. fruit and fish markets between Moujiks, peas- ants and Jews. The wrangle ended in free fight in which many were wounded One Moujik succumbed to his injuries
 The Moujiks demanded vengeance and employed the following days, Saturday and Sunday, In infiaming the anti-Semite agitation, the leaders being an officer, Pensky. and rich merchant, Petra chenko.
 Everybody knew that a program would occur Monday and the Jews appealed for protection to Chief of Police Ravsky, who summoned an infantry regiment from it's summer encampment. Thus there were 1,6Oo soldiers in the town. At luncheon hour Monday the anti-Semetic railway workmen to the number of some hundreds began an organized attack on the Jewish houses in Zamoxkaya Street, sacking them and demolishine or spelling tho nuiky articles by soaking them with kerosene. Police Chief Ravsky then uiae- ca policemen and troops on the streets. but they acted as though they were ip- tended to protect the pogromshiks from interference. Jews, who tried to cross | the lines to rescue their coreliefonists. were clubbed by the soldiers with gums, bayonetted or arrested. es Escape Cut Off. The plunderers proceeded from street to street, the troops and police following them and cutting off access to the deyas- tated Jewish houses
 Altogether nearly 400 houses and shops
 
 smashed, the blinds and frames being splintered and every scrap of furniture ana effects destroyed or stolen The JeWs who did not take refuge with com passionate Christians or conceal thsyn serves Tn cellars were severely beaten and m many cases dangerously wounded
 Ihe police then undertook to disarm the Jews. Laborers collected in the bus lest part of Roumanziovskaya Street and stopped and beat every passing Jew. This gang was encouraged by Assistant Police captain Charnolonsky and Rural Police Commander Yelensky. The gang ciubbed Berg Kevesh to death in the presence of these officers. After the victim had been removed to hospital. the officers con- tinued an amicable conversation with the murderers. none of whom was arrested. The Jews rallied in force in Konnaya Square at o'clock in the afternoon and when the military fired on them. kiuins three and wounding others. Presumably on the Governors instructions. the mili- tary employed their fire arms against the pogromshiks in the caucus. killing three.
 Peasants Driven Away.
 Night put an end to pogram. Four hun dred peasants arrived in Gomel early the following day Tuesday, but were easily driven away by the military A few houses were pillaged that day and more on Wednesday, after which no disorders occurred until September 1S when a fruit gardner. Sevagelsky, was slaughtered by thieves. The other. Jews killed were Pi- atelsky murdered by peasants in the vil- la9e of Verouimo. five miles distant where he had taken refuge with his wife who has become insane; and in Gomel it. self Davidov, Leikin and Elpern, clubbed to death by the military or the mob and Kagansky and Oberman. shot and bay oneted.
 During the week following the riots all the trains leaving the city were crowded with thousand Jewish families. The Christian dead numbered five. of whom the troops shot three. Ten Christians are recorded as wounded.
 The Jewish committee says it is able to identify S5 pogromshiks, but only about twenty-five Christians have been arrest ed. including one telegraph official More than fifty Jews were arrested for carry ing concealed weapons or conspiring against the police.
 Fears are expressed that the coming market days. Sept. ? and 2S. may wit ness repetition of the pogram. The pres ent attitude of the military is disquiet- ing.