TWO FAMILIES MASSACRED.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5248, 18 April 1908, Page 6 (Supplement)

TWO FAMILIES MASSACRED.

MIDNIGHT DEATH STRUGGLE. A BAND OF ROBBERS. From Rostoff-on-Don tho correspondent of tho "Daily Mail" of 17th December wrote on Bth December:— Two families were practically exterminated on the night of 30th November at a lonely farm on the Steppes near Novoleherkaslc by a bond of frobbers, who despatched even the household cat nnd dog* The names of the killed are Bondarenko, his wife, his son Nikita, his four-teen-year-old daughter Xenia, and young man named Limorenkol; and of UlO other family Gretchenko, his wife, his brother, and his two young children. Three little boys of the Bondarenko family hid from the murderers and escaped.

R appears that the Bondarenko family had Yd.st retired for the night when the door was hurst In and three strangers entered. Brandishing revolvers, they commanded everyone to come out. Dazed with sleep, tho family obeyed, and saw several other men with revolvers and ropes outside the door. Bondarenko was ordered to hand over all tho money ho had. He replied that he possessed only JGs, to which the robber lcador retorted that that would give his tnen just 2y a d each.

At this point the girl Xenia fell Into hysterics. A robber threw a cloth over her head and brained her with a hatchet. The boy Nikita and the young man Limorenkoi were next seized and killed In the same manner. Bondarenko and his wife wero then loektxl up in a cupboard, whence they heard the robbers enter the adjoining building where the Gretchenk< a slept. Shrieks nnd groans arose as tho wholo Gretchenko family were overpowered and murdered. Gretchenko’s wife was strangled with a piece of rope. Next the robbers returned, dragged forth Bondarenko and his wife, and slaughtered (boon. Tho three youngest children escaped the murderers’ notice, and were left alono with the dead. A ! peasant visiting the farm discovered the j tragody, and rescued the children next day. I The bodies were found In different ' places, showing that the victims had 1 made vain attempts at flight. Some of ■ them had their hands tied behind their backs. On the girl Xenia’s battered face trace# of tears were still visible.