Evening star., 1906-09-03

special Correspondence OF The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.
BIALYSTOK, Russia, August 8, 1906.
The scene of the terrible massacre Of
enterprising town on the railway from St.
Petersburg to Warsaw and about two hours
ride from the latter city. 1t is the capital
Of Lithuania. and a very old town. founded
In 1920, with a castle which was the scene.
OF many a stubborn battle between the
barons. 1t Is now an institute for girls,
and one of the finest schools in Russia.
Bialystok, like other Jewish towns, is noted
for it's educational and benevolent institu-
tions, which are models of their kind. The
hospitals are said to be quite as modern
and progressive as any in Germany, and
the surgeons are famous for their skill.
Jews and Gentiles live in harmony together,
and the most friendly relations have always
existed between them. Four-f1fths Of the
population are Jews. The remainder are
Roman Catholics, with few Protestants.
There are scarcely any members of the
Orthodox Greek Church, except the gov
ernment officials. During the debate in the
duma on the massacre Bishop Ropp of the
Roman Catholic Church. who has jurisdic-
tion over this diocese, testified that there
was no racial or religious prejudice what
ever, and that the members OF his faith
had no hostility or prejudice against the
Jews.
Important Manufacturing Place.
Bialystok is one of the most important
manufacturing towns in Russia, with sew
eral large woolen mills where blankets,
dress goods and other fabrics are woven
by 5000 Jewish weavers The factories are
owned and managed by Jews, and nearly
all the operatives belong to the same faith
Being situated in the midst of fertile
agricultural country, Bialystok Is an i'm
portant commercial center. with several.
rich banks and large mercantile establish
ments and commission houses. Some of the
latter handle good many American agrt-
cultural implements and machinery. The
Jews own neutrality-suspicious. OF the
most desirable residence and business
property. All the banks and nearly all the
trades and industries are under their con-
troll. and they have made Bialystok one of
the finest towns in Europe. The streets are
wide and well paved. lined with handsome
residences and attractive shops. fine hotels.
cafes, restaurants and other evidences OF
taste and prosperity.
Bialystok is the civil and military head
quarters of Iithuania and an important
strategic point near the German border
1t is therefore strongly fortified. and has
a garrison of several thousand troops quar-
tered in barracks surrounding the city.
Practically the only residents OF fmpor-
tance who are not Jews are the civil and
military officials.
tionary activity in western Russia and the
headquarters of the Jewish ."bund, the
most effective of all revolutionary societies
1t has given the police great deal ,of
trouble. and the military authorities partic-
ularly because OF its aggressive propa-
ganda among the soldiers.
Cause of the Massacre.
That was the real cause of the massacre.
1t was not due to any religious or racial
citizens
Bialystok In the mob. except few local
hoodlums The men who did the looting
were nearly all strangers, who were
brought to this city by the police for that
express purpose 1t is believed that many
of them were hired, others had their ex-
penses paid and were given full license to
loot Several of the rioters were ldenflned
as policemen in citizens dress.
1t has been definitely established that
no Roman Catholics took part in the dis
turbance, and several members OF that 1alth
endeavored to restrain the mob and the SOL
diers An unsuccessful attempt had been
made to bring them into the affair. Clrcu-
lars were sent by the police to every house
charging the Jews with revolutionary lnten7
tions and with being enemies of the gov
ernment but no attention was paid to
them. circular was also distributed
among the soldiers accusing the Jews OF
trying to overthrow the government and to
assassinate the car. lust as they muir
dered Christ This publication bears the
official sanction of the censor, dated June A.
1906, and closes with the words:
Away with Zionism! .
Away with the red fag.'
Away with the red Jewish freedom"'
Away with Jewish equality
Away with all hostile Jewish innova-
tions!''
"Russian soldiers. up and at the enemy"
Forward Forward!'
These appeals. however had no effect so
far as exciting the prejudice of the citizens
nd
employ strangers. who entered shop after
shop and commenced looting. When the
owners resisted soldiers came and killed
them When they fed In terror they were
followed with volleys of bullets; and when
they were overtaken they were stabbed with
bayonets
The people of Bialystok live in large
apartment houses, four or five stories high,
inclosing one or more courts. The street
fronts are occupied by small shops. These
tenement houses are not crowded like the
ghettos of New York or London. The in
habitants have plenty of room, light and
air, but there is only one entrance through
nd nd fharpfnra