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A Multitude of Immigrants
AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS AND HOW THEY ADDRESSED THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE

 

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From The World newspaper, Tuesday Evening, May 19, 1903:

JEWS FLOCK IN THOUSANDS TO AMERICA.


Refugees from All Parts of Europe Spurred to Emigrate Owing to the
Fear of Renewal of Massacres that Disgraced Kishineff.

ADVANCE GUARD ARRIVES


Troops and Artillery Displayed on Public Streets in Russia
to Prevent Any More Outbreaks of the Lawless Element.



KIEFF, where 37,000 JEWS have been EXPELLED.
 

 

The terror put into the hearts of the Jews throughout the countries of the Old World by the Kishineff massacres has started an army of refugees toward this country, and to-day the vanguard of the persecuted people, numbering 1,500, arrived in this port on the steamship Staatendam. Thousands are waiting in the big emigrant cities on the other side to take ship for America. It is estimated that at present the total headed for the United States alone is 15,000, and that another week will see them all on their way.

Ellis Island's accommodations are pressed to the limit. The immigration officials have anticipated the coming of great numbers of Jews as a result of the Russian horrors, but not the influx that has begun.

The Board of Alderman to-day adopted two resolutions introduced respectively by Alderman Leopold Harburger and Robert S. Downing, calling upon President Roosevelt and Secretary Hay to protest against the anti-Jewish outrages in Russia.


KISHINEFF SYNAGOGUE, DESTROYED BY THE MOB.


STEPS ARE TAKEN TO PREVENT MASSACRES.


ST. PETERSBURG, May 19. -- The Czar's dismissal of Lieut. Gen. Von Raaben, Governor of Kishineff, for neglecting to take proper measures t avert the massacre of the Jews, has aroused great military activity among the governors in the southwestern provinces.

Stringent precautions have been taken to allay popular feeling and avert a renewal of the outbreaks on May 29, when there will be a universal celebration commemorating the two hundredth anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg.

These military safeguards along prevented the horrors of Kishineff being imitated in dozens of towns on the Russian Labor Day, May 1 or May 14, according to the Gregorian calendar.

A dispatch from Tiraspol, seven miles north of Kishineff, which was held up by the censor, says that the authorities learned that massacres were contemplated at Tiraspol, Odessa, Nicolaieff, Elizabetgrad and Kieff on Labor Day, and prevented them by comprehensive military precautions. The dispatch says that the streets of Tiraspol were patrolled by Cossacks, infantry and mounted gendarmes, while abundant reserves were kept under arms in the barracks.
 

TWO RABBIS WHO ARE PROMINENT FIGURES IN KIEFF AND KISHINEFF.

 

Rabbi Abraham Kotlamfker.

 

Rabbi Aaron Krupink.


CANNON IN STREETS.

At Nicolaieff the Governor, Rear-Admiral Enkvist, was so impressed by the popular anger at the Jews that he had cannon posted in the chief thoroughfares yesterday in order to deter the riotously inclined elements from an open outbreak.

All manner of monstrous maliciously concocted reports were disseminated among the people against the Hebrews.

One report, which was industriously spread, was that the Jewish bakers were supplying poisoned bread to their Christian customers and scattering poisoned sweetmeats among the Christian children.

To prevent an outbreak on May 29, the Governor of the province of Saratoff has prohibited all public assemblages under pain of heavy penalties. In his proclamation, posted in all towns and villages and published in all newspapers, the people are forbidden from assembling in public places, and warned from interfering with the police in the performance of their duties. Crowds are to disperse at the first order from the police, the penalty for disobedience being a fine of $250 or three months' imprisonment.

SHOWS AUTHORITIES' ATTITUDE.

This stringent order is typical of the attitude of the authorities brought about by the fate of Gen. Von Raaben. A powerful clique at court, headed by several Grand Dukes and the all powerful M. Pobiedonotseff, Procurator of the Holy Synod, tried hard to save Gen. Von Raaben, claiming it was a pity to sacrifice so prominent an official on account of the Jews, but the Czar was so incensed at the reports of the atrocities and the supineness of the authorities, who had ample warning, that he would not be influenced.

Father John of Cronstad has written a biting article in the Novosti on the Kishineff barbarities. He says:

"The heart of the Czar, who is concerned for the general weal of the people, has been filled with great sadness by the awful atrocities and cruelties committed at Kishineff.

"Russian brethren, why do you transform yourselves into murderers? Why did you perpetrate such slaughter? You have thereby severed your connection with Christianity."

According to the Moscow newspapers, Count Tolstoi has sent $260 to assist in relieving the destitution among the Jews at Kishineff.


COMMONS HEARS THE MASSACRE STORY.


LONDON, May 19. -- The Under Foreign Secretary, Lord Cranborne, was asked in the House of Commons to-day for information on the massacre of Jews at Kishineff, Bessarabia, a month ago. The Secretary, in reply, placed the total number of killed at about double the number given in the official Russian report. Otherwise the facts did not differ from those already published. Lord Cranborne added:

"According to the Government's information, the disturbances arose from the murder of a Christian lad, which was wrongly attributed to the Jews. The latter retaliated on their assailants and the result was an attack on the Jews by a mob on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday in which, it is believed, about a hundred Jews lost their lives and many more were injured."

The official announcement from St. Petersburg May 11 said that forty-five persons were killed and 424 were injured during the massacre at Kishineff.

The Jews of London are very indignant at the assertion of Count Cassini, the Russian Ambassador at Washington, that the troubles at Kishineff were the outcome of the usury of the money lenders. The editor of the Jewish World offers to give $25,000 to any American charitable institution named by Count Cassini if the latter can substantiate his assertion to the satisfaction of three Americans of standing in the United States.

 

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