The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-21
Mr. B. SpigeI. Of Richmond.
Tells Of Kishineff.
HE SHOOK OFF ITS DUST
Foreseeing What Must Inevitably Come,
Two Decades Ago He Left Homo
and Kindred for Free America.
First Cousin Among Dead.

Mr.. 3. splgel. Of No. 212 East Broad
Street, Is glad enough that two decades
ago he packed his trunk and shook the
dust Of Kishlneff from his feet forever
But ho is deeply grieved over tho fate
os friends and relatives in that unfortu-
nate Russian city, and nourns the death
OF q first cousin, while his blood bolls at
the outrages committed upon the innocent
and b1ameless people Of his race.
Mr.. spgel is not alone in his criticism
and sympathy for tho far distant suffer
ers, as is evidenced by tho sum OF $500
already raised for their relief and the
enthusiasm which Is being displayed over
dance and musicale ut Saenger Halle
which will occur tonight.
Twenty-three years ago Mr. Spigol came
over to this country from Russia, settling
in Richmond. He regarded this as the
center of the tobacco belt, and was deeply
Interested in tho growth and manufacture
OF the weed. Klshineff was at that time,
and still is, In the heart Of belt some
what similarly located ns Richmond, the
soil being good producer Of tobacco.
TIe had been engaged In cultivating this
plant there.
Mr. spigel was prompted to leave IIish-
fnefr and Russia principally because he
observed the tendency of the government
at st. Petersburg to suppress those OF
his religious belief. His foresight told
him that in time It would amount to
outrageous persecution, when their lands
and storehouses would be worth naught.
AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT
4 Mr. spigel says that tho recent mas
sacre may be attributed entirely to the
growing sentiment against the govern
ment, the Cznr and the means to which.
he resorts to rule the country. In n
word the massacre Of the Jews at Kishi-
neff was the direct result OF the Min
lister Of the Interior to distract the at
tention OF the Socialists and Nihtlists
from the growing evils IN the admins
tration. 45s
The sentiment against the Car was
growing so strong and so rapidly that
the ultimate overthrow of the govern
ment was only a question of time. Some
thing had to be done to check this, to
turn the attention Of the hundreds Of
eisloyal subjects. Kishineff was cen-
tsred.4prsyn, pr..n sri,sss i2ecs:isaA the IoHs
in this city, which is larger than iRlch-
mond. were gradually gaining power
through their more intelligent interpre-
tntton of business principles They were
gradually forcing others out OF business.
The ST. Petersburg government he
saws decided all OF n sudden they should
lose this strength, and to accomplish
the double purpose of changing the
trend of thought in the country and rob
the Jews OF their business In the south-
land the massacre was hit upon. Mr..
Spigel is positive tho government winked
at tne outrage, Gums Viz iitc9., e',., : - 80
Interior Minister to establish this TACT.
SECTS THERE.
Mr.. spigel states that the population
OF Illshneff, which is located about
fifty miles from the Roumanian border,
Is cosmopolitan in its makeup. It Is
composed of Mohammedans, Turks and
Russians. or these the Jews are in the
minority. The majority of Russians NIL
grated from the extreme north. They
are, according to him, a hard lot of
people, envous and grasping.
The local sentiment against the Jews
in Klshineff was due entirely to Jeal-
ousy, aroused by their better business
qualifications, and Easter the feeling
against them crystallized, MS n conse-
ouence of a number of heated religious
sermons Then the government gave Its
sanction to tho growing sentiment by re-
fusing to interoede, and the massacre
occurred.