Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1903-10-15
THE GOMEL MASSACRE
Details Of the Attack IN Jcys
In Northwest Russia.
THEIR COURAGE WAS ASTONISHING

Even the Women FouEht-pa-t of
the Time the Jews Were .assa..z.ed
by Both soldiers ANA hob. hole
sale Executions May Follow Re
sistance 80 the Soltiers.
The Jewish Morning journal OF New |
York recently printed the foilowln- lei |
ter about tie Gomel massacre OF Jews |
in northwest Russia from It's special
correspondent at Warsaw:
1T all began on Friday (Sept. II, |
with Il quarrel between Il Jewish Shop- |
keeper and IL Christian woinan who &C
fused 10 pay for a herring. The attack |
on the Jews was renewed on Sept. Il |
1t soon transpired that the riot of F'ri
day was only ii kind of rehearsal for
the real 'pcgrom,' which took place on
the 18th and 10Th Now. the streets
of Gomel were drenched wiki blood
and the rioters this time We're not peas
ants, but Tie strongly built little Rus
sian railroad lHborerS. 800 in number
The Jews defended themselves as val
iantly as on Friday, with whatever
weapons they could get hold Of The
police worked earnestly and diligently
to quell the disorder. but We're power
less against the savage mob. In ordi-
nary times there are plenty of soldiers
in Gomel but at this time Of the year
they were still in their summer camps
and could not reach the town the first
day OF the riot.
THE Jews tclegraphed to the gov
erIlor Of Nohilev for assistance and re-
ceived Il reply that he was indisposcl
and could not start for Gomel on that
day. but he requested the chief OF po-
lice to aid the Jews. The chief carried
out the order faithfully. and he him
self shot to death two Russians. but he
was poWerleSs to restore order. Five
Jews were killed the first day. and bat
for the gallant fight put up by the
Jews the number Of killed would be
much larger The strength and cour-
age displayed by these people. who are
generally tainted for cowardice. were
something astonishing. Even women
fought. The physical agility and the
correctness OF their aim were not at
all those OF 4 race of cringing peddlers.
"'Ihe riot became worse on the 18th.
but the Jews still stood their ground.
The governor arrived that day. The
peasants from the surrounding country
began TO gather on receipt of the news
that the Jews were being robbed AZ
Gomel. and many came with the in
tention of revcnginG Fridays defeat.
The Jews were prepared and had arm
ed men stationed Oh all the roads lead
ing into Gomel.
"The soldiers arrived in the fore
noon. and their first act to restore order
was an attempt to disperse the Jews.
The latter replied that they could not
trust their lives to the soldiers for fear
Of repetition of the kishineff atroci-
ties. They insisted that the attacking
rioters should be dispersed first The
soldiers insisted and fired on the Jews.
The latter returned the fire. and they
We're soon attacked from both sides
that is. by the soldiers and by the riot
ers.
I'm the meantime the news of the
riot reached Minsk. and fifty we'll arm
ed young Jews from that city FASTENED
to the rescue of their distressed brcth
rem in Gomel. But they were betrayed
by an agent prOvOcateur. or government
spy, who was among them and were
arrested on their arrival at the railroad
depot Of GOmel.
THE riot ended on the third day
Ten Jews and eight Christians were
killed Che figures of the government
Messenger are false). and the number
of seriously wounded is very large
Among the dead is also young Koha-
noyski, aged twenty-five, who enjoyed
all excellent reputation.
"The city is practically destroyed
Houses are demolished and shops emp
tied of all their contents. Several syn
agogues were destroyed. and the town
looks as if great confiagration had
taken place there
"But there is something worse in
! store for the Jews of Gomel. The city
/ was even before the outbreak under a
mild form of martial law owing to the
! labor troubles which took place there
recently, and the Jews who resisted the
! soldiers were told that they would be
! tried before q military court. which
means that they may be sentenced to
DEATH"
An American Dancer For Baireuth.