The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1903-09-25
ANTESEM|TE RIOTS.
Jews Brutally dubbed or Bayou
cited by Russian Soldiers.
Altogether Nearly 400 Houses and
Shops Were Wholly or Partially
Wrecked at GomeI, Russia
Christians Took Part.

Gomel Government of Mobile. Rus
STA, Monday, Sept. 1.-Anti-Semite
riots occurred here on September II,
and were renewed for several days.
The riots were smaller but perhaps
more remarkable than those which
took place at Kishineff, 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" ruthlessly
demolished the Jewish homes and
shops and cruelty dubbed such Jews
as fell into their hands, leisurely pro-
ceeding from street to street and dis
trict to district as they did so.
The commerce and industry of Gomel
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 in
cline to socialism.
The trouble began on September IL,
a holiday, 1.-The day the beheading Of
John the Baptist" in a wrangle in the
fruit and fish markets between MOu-
jiks, peasants, and Jews. The wran-
gle ended in a free fight in which
many were wounded. One Moujik sue
cumbed to his injuries.
The Moujiks demanded vengeance
and employed the following days. Sat
urday and Sunday, in inf1aming the
anti-Semite agitation, the leaders be-
ing an officer, Pensky, and rich mer-
chant, Petrachenko.
Everybody knew that a pogrOm
would occur on Monday and the Jews
appealed for protection to Chief of Po-
lice Ravsky, who summoned an in
fantry regiment from its summer en-
campment Thus there were 1000 SOL
diers in the town. At luncheon hour
on Monday the anti-Semitic railway
workmen to the number of some hun
dredS began an organized attack on
the Jewish houses in ZamOvkaya
street, sacking them and demOlishing
or spelling the bulky articles by soak
Ravsky had placed policemen and
troops on the street, but they acted
as though they were intended to pro-
tect the ''Pogromshiks" from interior
ence. Jews, who tried to cross the
lines to rescue their co,religionists.
were brutally dubbed by the soldiers
with guns, bayenetted or arrested,
Meanwhile, recruits for the 'Pogrom,
sinks poured steadily over the bridge
leading from the railway workshops.
Altogether nearly 400 houses and
shops were wholly or partly wrecked.
the windows smashed, the blinds and
frames being splintered and every
scrap of furniture and effects. even
the samovars, sewing machines, mir
rors and lamps destroyed or stolen.
The Jews, who did not take erefuge
with compassionate Christians, or con-
ceal themselves in cellars, were Sc
verely beaten and in many cases dan
gerously wounded. Some young Jews,
exasperated by the action of the police
and the troops, armed themselves with
any available weapons and tried to
force their way to the threatened
houses. One Jewess attempted to
shoot a On-commissioned officer and
Is revolver shots were heard in the
vicinity of the bazaar, but were ap-
parently fired in the air, as no one
was hurt.
During the rioting a number of Jews
were killed