THE RIOTS IN RUSSIA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 162, 11 July 1899, Page 2

THE RIOTS IN RUSSIA.

The recent anti : Seihitic riots at Nicolaieff lasted three" days, assuming greater proportions each day until it finally, became necessary to summon detach--ments of Cossacks. These, however, were not compelled to use their weapons. Their- presence sufficed to disperse the rioters, who, as a matter of fact, showed themselves far less violent than the people who have taken part in the anti-Jewish outbreaks in Russia J

during the past few years. The demonstrators contented ■ themselves with smashing the doors and windows of houses and shops belonging to jews, and breaking into their dwellings in order to wreck rooms and steal the furniture. Some were beaten, but none were seriously injured, and there wa» no attempt to inflict on them the cruelties, which have characterised former attacks of a like nature. It is even said that one Jew succeeded in saving his house.from pillage and his own person from blows by giving the rioters 25 roubles and supplying them with food. No women were subjected to violence. That these riotwere the result of preliminary organisation on the part of the mob was clearly manifest from the circumstance .that tha dodrs.of the houses, inhabited by tha Jews had been marked ■ beforehand with chalk with conventional signs, and that certain individuals marching at the head of the mob stopped, .the latter in front of the. Jewish houses and shops, which were thereupon plundered. The signal for robbing to begin was sometimes given by the ringleaders blowing a whistle. It happened that, unfortunately, tha streets were being newly paved, •so that heaps of stones were lying ready to hand for the rioters, who used them witJS great effect for smashing windows ano. doors. Quiet was restored when 4(MI persons had been arrested by the troopai and police. ..' j