The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-07
IS KISHINEFF REFUGEE.
He Tells a Thrilling Story of
the Massacre.
COMPELLED To TAKE PART
Went with Mob and Thereby
Saved His Family.

New York. Jan. 6-According to The
World Leon Braurstcin. refugee from
Kishineff, who has been in this countr.
only three weeks, tells thri ling story
compelled to participate because he was
not known to be Jew, thereby saving
his own life-and that Of his family.
: He is ar Intelligent young man, TWEEN
ty-one years Old, speaking several Ian.
guages and thoroughly corversant with
the situation In Russia. He is living
with Samuel Mosk and his family at No
1876 Second avenue
His father, mother and seven Lrothars
snd sisters are still in Kishinef and he
fears that in the massacre planned fl
January they may be murdered He had
70 flee the country when itw as discovered
that he was q jew
Braunstein was forced to join the Rus
sian army when he came of age. H,
Was thought to be q Christian because
when the riots broke out he was with
e crowd of 200 Christians who murdered
= score Of Jews.
1T makes nv heart sick to think of
the frightful sights had to witness ard
remain helpless to aid my fellow cCun-
trymen. The mob was armed with sabres,
knives, iron bars, axes, pitchforks and
sticks and stones.
The riot began by the Christians tear
ing from the shoulders of Jews their tai
Uses. This is mantle thrown over the
shoulders when they go to prayer. They
then became more bold and struck the
Jews and finally began to slaue liter them
The mob chased an Old cripple who
tried to escape One Of the men smashed
him over the head with huge club His
brains were knockeds out and his life
blood spattered overm Y clothing / al
most tainted but the mob was maddened
and continued the hunt for Jews.
After the murder of the cripple they
said they were going to celebrate the
massacre with a wine supper and started
for my house. They knew where / lived
but did not know that my parents were
connected with me. They said they would
XIII the family, steal what there was in
the house and have feast.
II was so horror stricken that for
moment lost my presence OF mind. Then
] decided that the only way for me TO
save my family would be by going with
the mob.
when the mob arrived at the door of
cur home they began to stone the win
6ows. l entered the house a few min
ufes before the rest, and had my rela-
tives PROSTATE themselves on the floor
Then pulled off the bedclothes and
gathering together all the shawIs piled
them over the frightened and helpless
creatures.
when the mob came in I told them
She family had escaped by the back door
and gone TO house short distance
eNaysffI led them a Short distance on
the imaginary chase: l was fearful that
some one would linger and uncover my
relatives, but the mob was 50 excited by
that time that no search was made.
Returning 10 the house, / told the
members of thief amily 10 cover their
heads with shawIs and make themselves
look as much like Russian peasants as
possible. This they did, and fed When
the mob returned we toasted on the wine
and food in my fathers house.
''The next day ore of my comrades
pushed his finger under my nose and
shouted: He is a Jew, / know il, for
he helped the Braunsteins to escape |
had to fee the country that night
got across the border and went 10 Lon
don. From there l came here.
II have not had letter from my par
ents for two weeks, and am fearful for
their safety. The only hope 1 have Is
that the Russians viii not allow letters
to be sent out of the country telling the
real situation. The last letter 4 got had
been opened and censored. l understand
that other persons in this country have
found that their mail has been tamperei
with