The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-10-25

Nine years of struggle to reach
America were ended by reunion at
the home of Henry Hartmann, lOl
North Newell street, here recently
when Mrs. Hartmann and four child
rem reached Kenosha from darkest"
Russia, having lived through the
perils of the Great War only to be
thrust into the more dreadful days of
the Russian revolution and the Boil
shevik regime, from which after
months and years of starvation and
suffering they finally escaped to come
TO America. There were seven child
rem when the journey to America was
planned first in 1914, but three of them
died as result of the hardships dur
ing the years of waiting.
War First Stopped Journey.
/ The family had hoped to be united
in America in 1914. In January 1918,
before there was even any rumblings
of war, Henry Hartmann, left his home
in Baltzer, city in the heart of the
district of the Volge, to find new
home in America, "the land of oppor-
tunity" He came to Kenosha and and
by July 1914 had saved enough money
for passports for his wife and family.
4 All ready they had packed their be-
/ longings and were ready to leave
Russia within a few days when the
war clouds broke and closed the door
for embarkation.
They returned to their home to
await the end of the war. But in the
trail of the war came the revolution
and after threo years Of hearing no
news, Mr.. Hartmann gave them up as
dead. In 1921 through the American
relief he heard again that they were
alive and sent money once more to
bring them to Kenosha. This they
eventually received and after more
than six months on the way reached
Kenosha a few days ago.
Tell of "Bolshevik Horror"
Most interesting is the story told
by Mrs. Hartmann and her children
; of the years of suffering in Russia.
They were in Baltzer in 1918 when
the Bolsheviks captured the town. AT
that time the prayer of a priest saved
the city from the fury which came
a flag of truce went to meet the Boil
later. The Reverend Eichert bearing
shevik rabble and negotiated peace
with them. The city was turned over
into their hands but no one was harmed.
In 1919 the Cossacks drove the Boil
sheviks from the city. The reds in
leaving pillaged the country and the
Cossacks in retaliation shot all of the
inhabitants whom they suspected of
] aiding the Bolsheviks; some were
] beaten to death with iron gloves,
others were placed in ice cellars with
only the. scantiestN clothing on and
|. left there to freeze to death. After
they were frozen, they were taken
!, out and if a spark of life remained
shot to DEATH The Hartmanns all
lived through this rule of terror of
the Cossacks,
Angered Bolsheviks Return.
The tables were turned in 1920 Ac-
cording to the refugees when the Boil
sheviks returned, were victorious over
the Cossacks and had their day of
triumph, which meant only more suf-
fering for the people. All food and
property remaining were now taken
| everything, homes, horses, cattle,
swine and poultry. Famine followed
lfdeath. Twenty pounds of -four were
allowed per Capita lEOH hdICH L0AV
to harvest in August of the same year.
The crops failed and the people
starved. AS many as four and five
died in a family, the Hartmanns
family being one of those stricken
in this dreadful year
"In winter the dead were taken by
the scores on sleds to the cemeteries
to be buried" said Mrs. Hartmann
through an Interpreter. "In summer
they were carried to the cemeteries in
wheelbarrows. They died so fast there
was no time for funerals"
People Stage Revolt
Finally, according Ato her account,
the people became desperate and re-
volted against the Bolsheviks who had
plenty and who looked on with un-
sympathetic eyes. Armed with pitch
forks, clubs and whatever they could
get, the peasants marched on Baltzer.
1t was a government seat for that dis
trict and the streets swarmed with
Bolshevik soldiers. The inhabitants
were driven off the streets; twice the
oldest Hartmann daughter while on her
way to work was driven from the
streets.
Finally the peasants attempted to
storm the ciAV. The Bolsheviks opened
fire and bullets fell like rain; the
rumbling of the cannons shook the
houses to their foundations and
scores of them were wrecked. From
the windows of their home the Hart
MAINS. watched the battle and al
though most of the fighting was in
the very 'neighborhood in which they
lived, not bullet passed through
their home. They consider this al
most miracle.
Anothre Reign of Terror.
Then came another reign of terror.
For distance of mile and half,
thousands lay dead and the stencil
from them sickened the people who
hardly dared to drag them from the
streets. The peasants who had been
in the revolt were captured and
dragged before a military court where
over five hundred were slain at once.
IOthers were taken to a cemetery, UNI
dressed, if they had clothes, given a
spade and forced at the point of a