Chargé Eddy to the
Secretary of State.
American Embassy,
St.
Petersburg, September 19,
1906.
No. 649.]
Sir: In confirming my cablegram to the
department of the 11th instant as follows:
Consul at Warsaw telegraphs that a disturbance exactly similar to
the one at Bialystok is taking place at Siedletz. Details
lacking as yet.
I have the honor to inclose, for the further information of the
department, a copy of a letter, dated the 14th instant, from the
vice-consul in charge at Warsaw, in which he gives details regarding the
disturbances at Siedletz. In this connection I also inclose translation
of a telegram, published in the local papers, dated Siedletz, September
12, giving the official account of the occurrences.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Vice-Consul Fuchs to Chargé Eddy.
American Consular Service,
Warsaw, September 14,
1906.
Sir: I have the honor to confirm my wire of
the 10th instant, reading:
“Siedletz exact repetition of Bialystok.”
In supplement to this and to the general report of the “pogrom,” as
given by the press, I wish to add the following particulars:
[Page 1312]
There can not be the least doubt but that the “pogrom” was
premeditated and prepared by the troops, soldiers having been seen
on the eve of the massacre enter lodgings and instruct the Christian
population to hang out devotional objects as preservatives against
what was going to happen. There were no khooligans on the premises,
it appears, to provoke or to take part in the massacre.
I am informed from reliable quarter that the number of Jews killed
amounts to 137 (corpses identified), the number of wounded about
thrice as many. The Jewish shops and houses along the principal
streets and the central market pillage.
Characteristic feature is that in opposition to the wholesale
massacre of Jews and devastation of their homes was killed one (1)
Christian civilian and one (1) soldier, another soldier being
wounded. As to property one Christian shop and one hotel
plundered.
On the other hand, however, it can not be denied that attempts upon
the lives of gendarmes, higher police officials, and military men
had lately been particularly numerous in Siedletz.
I have, etc.,
Witold Fuchs,
Vice-Consul.
[Inclosure 2.—Press Telegram—Translation.]
Siedletz, August 30, (September 12)
1906.
(Official.) Details of the disorders at Siedlitz, In the afternoon of
August 28 (September 10) an officer was shot at from the balcony of
a house in Igo-rodnaia street. Seven young men were arrested. The
night of the 29th was quiet.
On the 29th (September 11), at daybreak, another officer was fired at
in Slodolnaia street. The troops opened fire against both houses.
During the night of the 30th (September 12) two shots were fired
from the garden in front of the treasury. It is evident the
sentinels were aimed at and they replied by firing eight shots.
Up to the present 6 Jews and 1 Jewess have been registered as wounded
at the Christian Hospital. One Catholic was killed and another died
of fright. At the Hebrew Hospital there are 17 Jews killed, 12
severely wounded, and 60 slightly wounded; 21 bodies have been
buried at the Hebrew cemetery.
Fifty-four persons, of whom 43 had used arms, were arrested. A
dragoon accidentally killed himself. Twelve places were set on fire,
but all of them were localized. Seven shots were fired from
artillery, making breaches in two houses on Penknaia street. The
firing was concentrated on the houses in the center of the town.
The furniture of several apartments was damaged. The merchandise in
several shops was injured. Large quantities of goods were stolen.
To-day the town is quiet. A military committee has arrived from
Warsaw. The Jews continue to remove from the towns to neighboring
villages.
The reports published in Polish newspapers are intentionally false or
exaggerated in order to produce sensation. There have not been
disorders in other parts of this government.
