The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-06-27
BLOODY BATTLE IN
STREETS OF LODI
Polish City the Scene Of a Fright
full Slaughter.
200 DEAD, OVER 1000 INJURED

Men, Women and Children Being
Shot Down by TroOps-streets Re-
sembled a SHAMELESS.
LODI. Russian Poland, June 26.-The
most serious phase of the fighting be-
tween the military and strikers Is at
an end. but there are still isolated at
lacks In the suburbs. Over 200 killed
and upwards Of 1000 wounded is the
result of three days of street battles.
At Baluty Cossacks attacked a Jew
ish family OF five persons. who were
driving in a cab to the railway station.
and shot and killed all, including the
cabman.
At Pabjanice, near LODI, workmen
attacked two policemen and shot and
killed one and wounded the other.
There is a general exodus from LODI.
Twelve thousand persons have already
left and all trains are crowded.
During the disturbances 80 govern
ment liquor stores were destroyed by
the mobs, which appropriated all the
cash and stamps found on the prem
ises. The cash and stamps were added
TO the funds OF the Socialist party.
Some prominent citizens this morn
ing telegmphed General Shustow. com
handing the troops here, asking for
protection against the brutality OF the
soldiers. especially the Cossacks' VINO
in one instance killed and robbed the
servant of a millionaire named Rosen-
blatt. who was carrying $4,000 to the
bank. The general promised to punish
the offenders, but said he required Wit
nesses OF the occurrence to testify
against the Cossacks.
The city resembles shambles and
the terrible scenes will never be wiped
from the memory of the Polish people.
The fighting spirit of the people is
fully aroused. They have tasted blood
and want more. Certainly the revolu-
tionary spirit is abroad. and 1t remains
TO be seen whether military measures
will have the same effect as previously.
Practically the whole population.
numbering over 100000, is in open re-
volt. The troops now number about
$4,000.
Fridays fighting was Of character
vastly different from the mob riots OF
February.
The strikers paraded the streets In
martial array. and when threatened by
the imperial troops threw up barri-
cades of paving stones. This was re-
peated in a dozen parts Of the city.
In every instance the troops. after
searching the barbados with rifle vol
leys. stormed them and bayoneted the
defenders. The strikers defended
themselves with revolyers and bombs
Through the precautions of the author
tiles none of them had been able 20
secure rifles.
The slaughter included women and
children as well as men. Wives OF the
strikers fought with desperation. and
in the first encounter girl OF -,
armed with a revolver. blew out the
brains of a Cossack. In the same en-
counter man hurled bomb into the
ranks of the Cossacks and killed or
wounded 90 of them.
After the troops had carried all the
street barbados the strikers, in groups
of from five to 100 lurked in the side
streets, and fired yolleys at the sol
diery marching along the main thor
Oughfares. After each such attack the
soldiers gave pursuit and slaughtered
the fleeing strikers.
Mobs that gathered in the streets
were subjected TO volley firing. When
dispersed. thousands of the strikers
climbed to the tops Of houses and from
these points of vantage hurled bombs
and threw vitriol Soldiers maddened
by vitriol burns committed outrages OF
the most frightful character, stabbing
women. ripping open children, tOrtur-
ing men with sword pricks. Wounded
strikers, trying to crawl from the
streets to the shelter of the houses,
were fired on and literally mangled by
hundreds OF bullets.
Saturday the scenes were hardly less
frightful, though the slaughter was
much smaller than Friday. The strik-
ers did not parade and no barbados
were erected. but furtive shooting from
windows, from alleyways and from
housetops went on from dawn until
sunset, and at night men with long
knives lurk at every street corner and
patrols of soldiers in many parts OF
the city have been set upon and slaugh-
tered by these silent, terrible foes.
At Baluty, a suburb OF LODI. four
Cossacks were killed and 16 others
wounded by bomb which was thrown
into their barracks. Twenty-three OF
their horses were killed.
The soldiers exhibited the utmost
carelessness as to whether they killed
peaceful persons or rioters, and as
consequence many women and children
were among the dead.
The streets resembled a battlefield.
The houses were barricaded with
boards and mattresses. and for hours
volleys and Individual firing were heard
in every quarter of the city. Until late
at night the Cossacks were busy col
lecting bodies of the dead and picking
I'D persons seriously wounded. The
bodies were carried of in carts 10
neighboring churches.
Terrible, indeed. is the plight OF the
wounded, for medical aid is unobtain-
able and many are dying for the lack
thereof.