The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-27
PREVENTED ODESSA MASSACRE
THE JEWS ARMED FOR 4 FIGHT,
A CORRESPONDENT SAYS.

Leading Jew Batter was there 10 Lead
the Mob, hut the Governor Was warned
mat He WOuld Meet the Fate Of
minister Pleive n Disturbances BEGAN.
The JstisA Morning Journal Of this city
received this letter yesterday from its
Odessa correspondent:
we expected great trouble In Odessa.
First, the revolutionists were planning a
grand demonstration for Feb. 10, the ami
versary Of the liberation Of the seTfs. On
the other hand the police were preparing
a grand massacre Of Jews to be used hs
safety valve 10 ward on popular uprising
against the Government. TbeJeWson their
part took all precdutione for their defence.
They organized companies Of armed men
10 fight for their lives. All this was done
quietly, but each side knew Of the prepare
tons Of the other.
For the better organization Of the mas
sacre. the authorities brought from st.
Petersburg the author Of the Kishineh
massacre, Kr1shevan, and the great anti
semitic spent more than q week in this city
He was, however, compelled TO leave befoTe
the day Of the massacre. 1t took place In
this way:
Rarto received numerous anonymous letters
which warned him that he would share the
fate Of Plehve and Sergius If he did not
send Krushevan away. The writers also
threatened 10 blow up the Government build
ings. The letters had the desired effect
and on Friday, Feb. IS, Krushevan left the
city. II was known, however, that the
massacre had not been abandoned ana that
II was TO take place the next day.
sIou can imagine how we telt. As L
said, the Jews were not idle. Every able
bodied Jew was enlisted in the defensive
organization. The Zionists had pre-
pared stores Of arms and supplied every
Jew with a gun OF other weapon. We had
revolvers, knives, daggers, lances and
knouts. Even women we're armed Inc
Jewish Socialistic wordngmen Of the Bund
withdrew from the revoluuonists ana
Joined the Zionists for mutual defence.
Also students Of other nationalities, mainly
Of the Eastern races and the Caucasus,
have Joined us, among them NUMEROUS
Armenians and GruzunA.
we had selected places for rendezvous
where every Jew was 70 report az the nrst
alarm. Knowing that IL was to be war We
prepared 70 care for our wounded. The
rich Jews opened quarters for hospitals
and engaged many physicians, nurses and
sisters Of mercy, and prepared great num-
W sY S nav be- sure that the admins
tTaton would not have had such an easy
lob as at Kishineh. We were sure OF VIC
tory We had plenty Of hand grenades
and the slaughter and destruction would
have been fT1ghtful. While prepared TO
fRht, the Jews sent q deiegation 70 the
Governor 10 ask him 10 prevent blood
shed. He answered that he knew what
was transpiring, but he was unable 70 inter
fere. He said that as soon a. the demon
stration began the police would be power
lea 10 prevent the mob from taking re-
venge for the insults to the Little Father,
the Czar-in other words, Stop the demon
stration and there win be no massacre
The Jews then went 10 the Mayor, who
u very liberal and sympathetic. he was
warned openly that II a massacre was per-
mited the city was doomed; He was
than Il was in the Caucasus and that the
bombs would work fearful havoc. The
Mayor took tho hint, He went straight
10 the Governor, and after . confereno9
they teleraphed 20 st. Petersburg
The result was that the manufacturer
and directors Of all industrial concerns N
Odessa re- ived orders from the Govern
ment 10 call together the WOrhngmen
and give them all the concessions possible
10 avoid a strike and demonstration. The
same day the famous manifesto Of the Car
was issued which promises reforns and 80
called popular representation In the Gov
eminent This was accepted by the reyo-
lutionists as q sort Of compromtsel and the
proposed demonstration was called on
On Feb 10, instead Of demonstrations, ban
uiieta were given In the factories TO the
workingmen and speeches were delivered
by the employers promising the working
men many material concessions. since
then all Is quiet. How long It VIII last
you cannot tell