The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-09-24
GOMEL ANTI.SEMITE RIOTS.
SMALLER BUT MORE REMARK
ABLE THAN THE KISHINEFF.
Police and Military Openly Sided with
the Plunderers and Murderers-
Troops Supported by Many Educated
and WelI.to.do Residents-Jevyisll
Homes Demolished aud R0bbed-Vic-
tims Cruelty Beaten.

Gomel, Government Of Mohilev, Rus
sia, Monday, Sept. 21.-The Associated
Press correspondent has made an in
vestigation on the spot of the ''Pogrom," "
as the Russians describe the anti-Sem-
ite riots, which occurred here Septem-
ber IL and We're renewed for several
days. The riots were smaller, but per-
haps more remarkable than those which
took place at Kishineff because the po-
lice and military openly sided with the
plunderers and murderers. the f'pog-
ron1shiks," as the Russians called them.
The troops, supported by many educat-
ed and well-to-do Christians, formed a
moveable shield behind which the "pog-.
romshilis'' ruth1essly demolished the.
Jewish homes and shops and cruelty
clubbed such Jews as fell into their
hands, leisurely proceeding from street.
to street and district to district as they.
did So
The commerce and industry, of which
Gomel, which is considerable, is largely
in the hands of the Jewish population,
numbering $4,000. Few of the residents
are wealthy, but none are paupers. The
Jewish artisans incline to socialism. The
trouble began September Ill, a holiday
tthe day Of the beheading of John the
BaptisD, in a wrangle in the fruit and
fish markets betwene Mouths (peas-
ants) and Jews. The wrangle ended in
a Gree fight in which many were
wounded, one Moujib succumbing to his
injuries. The Mouths demanded ven
geance and employed the following
days, Saturday and Sunday, in inflan-1
ing the anti-semite agitation, the Lead
ers being an officer named Pensky and
a rich merchant name Petrachenko.
Everybody knew that a pogrom would
occur on Monday and the Jews ap-
pealed for protection to Chief of Police
Ravsky, who summoned an infantry
regiment from its summer encaInp-
lnent. Thus there were 1900 soldiers
in the town. At luncheon hour on
Monday the anti-semitic railway work.
men to the number OF some hundreds
began an organized attack on the jew
ish houses in Zamovkaya street. sack
Ing them and demolishing or spelling
the bulky articles by soaking them with
hEIUSSLE.l OllIG IlSiRStA VII siidu
placed police and troops on the Zamov-
kaya. but they acted as though they
intended to protect the pogromshiks
from interference. Jews who tried to-
cross their lines to rescue their core
ligiouists were brutally dubbed with the
soldiers guns. bayonetted or arrested.
Meanwhile, recruits for the pogromshiks
poured steadily over the bridge leading
from the railway shops. A by-stander
begged the commander of the gentiar-
merle to send troops to guard the exit
from the bridge. The officer replied
threatening the man with arrest and
saying I'VE know what we have to do
The plunderers now proceeded from
street to street, the troops and police
following them and cutting off access to
the devastated Jewish houses. They
subsequently visited the Jewish quar-
ter called America then Konnaya
square. the upper end of the principal
thoroughfare OF the town and district
called Caucasus" Altogether nearly
400 houses and shops were wholly or
partially wrecked, the windows smash-
ed, the blinds and frames being splinter
ed and every scrap Of furniture and ef-
fects, even the samevars, sewing ma
chimes, mirrors and lamps destroyed or
stolen. The Jews who did not take ref
uge with companionate Christians or
conceal themselves in cellars were se-
verely beaten and in many cases dam
gerously wounded. Some young Jews,
exasoerated by the action of the police
and troops, armed themselves with any
available weapons and tried to force
their way to the, threatened houses,
One Jewess ATTEMPTED to shoot nom.
commissioned officer and twenty-five re-
volver shots were heard In the vicinity
of the Bazaar. but Were-apna rentIv fIrad