Description of the Siedlce Pogrom
1906 - 1907
Add to Favorites:
Add all page(s) of this document to activity:
Add only page 1 to activity:
Add only page 2 to activity:
Add only page 3 to activity:
Add only page 4 to activity:
Add only page 5 to activity:
Add only page 6 to activity:
Add only page 7 to activity:
Add only page 8 to activity:
Add only page 9 to activity:
Add only page 10 to activity:
Add only page 11 to activity:
Add only page 12 to activity:
In 1906, the U.S. Government sent immigration inspector Philip Cowen on an undercover mission to the Pale of Settlement in Russia (St. Petersburg, Kief, and Odessa) to discover the cause of increased Jewish immigration from Russia to the United States.
His findings revealed appalling and unremitting persecution of Russian Jews. Since 1882, the May Laws forced Jews out of their homes and required them all to live in the Pale of Settlement. Crowded into this small area of Russia, the Jews struggled to find jobs and pay rising rent prices.
Most tragic of all is Cowen’s description of the 637 pogroms—targeted attacks on Jews—committed against the Russian Jews. This is one section of Cowen’s report. It describes the Siedlce pogrom of 1906.
During these pogroms, entire Jewish cities were ransacked and destroyed while hundreds of Jews were brutally murdered. Cowen writes of these attacks through the stories of eyewitnesses who survived the pogroms. Photos of homes riddled with gun shots provide further insight into these terrible events. Cowen says: “The houses looked as if an enemy had gone through the town, its way fought step by step. Scarcely a house occupied by a Jew escaped riddling…”
Additional sections of the report use poignant pictures and narration, to tell about difficult living conditions and economic hardship for Jews in Russia, and describe other pogroms. To escape such persecution, Jews sought to immigrate to America. But by accompanying Jewish immigrants on their journey to escape Russia, Cowen found out that Jewish persecution did not end with their departure. Jews were repeatedly charged double or triple the cost of passports and boat tickets to America.
His findings revealed appalling and unremitting persecution of Russian Jews. Since 1882, the May Laws forced Jews out of their homes and required them all to live in the Pale of Settlement. Crowded into this small area of Russia, the Jews struggled to find jobs and pay rising rent prices.
Most tragic of all is Cowen’s description of the 637 pogroms—targeted attacks on Jews—committed against the Russian Jews. This is one section of Cowen’s report. It describes the Siedlce pogrom of 1906.
During these pogroms, entire Jewish cities were ransacked and destroyed while hundreds of Jews were brutally murdered. Cowen writes of these attacks through the stories of eyewitnesses who survived the pogroms. Photos of homes riddled with gun shots provide further insight into these terrible events. Cowen says: “The houses looked as if an enemy had gone through the town, its way fought step by step. Scarcely a house occupied by a Jew escaped riddling…”
Additional sections of the report use poignant pictures and narration, to tell about difficult living conditions and economic hardship for Jews in Russia, and describe other pogroms. To escape such persecution, Jews sought to immigrate to America. But by accompanying Jewish immigrants on their journey to escape Russia, Cowen found out that Jewish persecution did not end with their departure. Jews were repeatedly charged double or triple the cost of passports and boat tickets to America.
Transcript
35SIEDLCE [each letter underlined individually]
The city of Siedlce is about 55 miles from Warsaw. Of its population of 23,400, 65% are Jews. It is in Poland, where there had never been a pogrom.
I was in Hamburg when the pogrom occurred on September 8th, and when I reached Berlin a week later wished to proceed there at once, but people there who were in close touch with Russia emphatically advised me against doing so. In St. Petersburg, a week later, I met the deputation of Christians and Jews that had called on Minister Stolypin to present the views of the people of Siedlce and arranged with them for a visit a few weeks later. I reached there October 14th and found a community still terrorized, business paralyzed, and all the signs of a city that had been besieged. Within 48 hours after the three days pogrom ceased, a Jewish commission was on the ground to take testimony under oath of the damage done. Attorney Mohilewski swore in the witnesses and conducted the examinations, and from [strikethrough] of [handwritten] the original testimony in Russian, signed, in each case, by the witness of at his request by someone else, as set forth in the original documents, I have in my possession a copy in Russian from which a German translation was made for my use, a part [strikethrough] extracts [handwritten] of which I have put into English and submit as Exhibit 12.
The result of this investigation showed that 1530 families, representing 7306 souls, were affected; the direct money loss, cash stolen and property taken and destroyed, 344,584 roubles. Only 32 bodies were found for burial. 20 persons were so severely wounded as to be unfitted for
29 [handwritten, left margin]
31 [handwritten, bottom right]
36
work hereafter; the full number wounded it was impossible to get at as many were taken to Warsaw and other places for treatment or safety; 21 were widowed and 64 orphaned. Through plundering, burning or demolition of household goods, 440 mechanics, 416 small tradesmen, 330 laborers, 28 wholesale merchants, and 316 others were ruined. Immediate relief was granted to the extent of 50,000 roubles collected in Russia and 60,000 roubles from the balance of the pogrom fund gathered the previous year in all parts of the world. Many bodies were buried in the woods by the soldiers to minimize the effect of the pogrom. Two bodies attired in European dress, seen lying in the public garden, could not be found for burial, and others could be cited.
I have submitted as Exhibit 2 the report of Capt. Pjectschew, of the Gendarmerie, as to the cause of the pogrom, the part played therein by the authorities, and giving many incidents. That may well form the basis of this report. All I will do will be to add some information gathered on the spot in verification of statements made by him or as additional evidence submitted to me at first hand.
There was a close likeness in the organization of this and the Bialystock pogrom. Here as at the latter, the police chief had been murdered in some undiscovered way; in both cases they were friendly to the Jews; in both cases the tender of the latter to show respect for the dead was objected to; in both the Libau regiment took part; in both the plans were working for some weeks in advance; in both the chief officials of the place were active in fostering the pogrom.
30 [handwritten, left margin]
32 [handwritten, bottom right]
37
As to plans in Advance, the New York Times [underlined] of August 23, over two weeks before the pogrom, announced that it was looked for.
Ten days before the pogrom, said Dr Tschatski to me, the soldiers were seen going through the city making a plan of the city and noting the names and addresses of the Jewish residents. Where Russians lived, and that was well known, the men passed by without listing the people.
On the day the riot began a red lantern was swung from the flag pole on the city hall, and also a red flag. These remained on constant duty, the one by night, the other by day, and the moment they were taken down the pogrom ceased.
A few days before the pogrom officers said to merchant friends there was going to be a pogrom and advised them to stand from under.
Ten days before the pogrom, Tichonowsky required that the stores close at 8; on Saturday night soldiers went among the people and directed them to keep open their stores till 10 P. M., then at 9 o'clock the troubles began.
Within a few hours after the pogrom started, police wagons went through the streets loaded with cartridges. Whereas the soldiers always carried one package only, they jammed their pockets with them. "Ruskaya Reitsch", the organ of the League of True Russians, reported that 30,000 rounds of shot has been fired. This looked to me to be below the mark.
To protect themselves the Christians hung icons on the front of their houses or put painted crosses there. Here is a picture of one cottage, showing the latter. (See
31 [handwritten, left margin]
33 [handwritten, bottom right]
38
cross over window and other one at left.)
[photograph of man standing in front of a house]
The houses looked as though an enemy had gone through the town, its way fought step by step. Scarcely a house occupied by a Jew escaped riddling, and in houses partly occupied by them only those portions were shot at. In four cases pointed out to me Poles suffered also, but I was told there were reasons therefor.
Attached are a few photos I succeeded in taking.
No. 1 is a fair specimen of the effect of the shooting The spots are all rifle shots.
No. 2 shows few rifle shots,but smashed windows and fire tell the story.
No. 3 shows that not even humble homes were spared.
No. 4 is the synagogue which did not escape. The broken windows are all the show on this picture, but there were many rifle shots on the walls.
5 and 6. Show the rabbi's home, which was a shining mark for the soldiers. The rabbi occupied the upper floor, and on 6 can be counted 60 shots that expended their force on the outer walls. Within however was a scene of devastation. Here in the parlor were 21 holes in the ceiling, 16 in the side wall, 20 in the rear one and 12 in the two window casings. I dug out myself the remains of a dozen shot.
32 [handwritten, left margin]
34 [handwritten, bottom right]
#1 [photograph of two story structure with rifle shots on the facade]
#1 [photograph of same structure from a different angle]
33 [handwritten, left margin]
#2 [photograph of a building with men walking in front, windows are smashed in]
#3 [photograph of a small home with boarded windows and a person walking by]
35 [handwritten, bottom right]
#4 [photograph of a synagogue littered with bullets and broken windows]
#5 [photograph of a Rabbi’s home which had also been shot at many times]
34 [handwritten, left margin]
#6 [photograph of a Rabbi’s home which had also been shot at many times]
36 [handwritten, bottom right]
#7 [photograph of burned buildings]
#8 [photograph of burned buildings]
9 [photograph of the front of a Jewish hospital, bullet holes are circled]
10 [photograph of the window in the Jewish hospital, bullet holes are circled]
11 [photograph of the window in the Jewish hospital, bullet holes are circled]
12 [photograph of the window in the Jewish hospital, bullet holes are circled]
13 [photograph shows a bullet hole that came close to the operating tools]
35 [handwritten, left margin]
37 [handwritten, bottom right]
39
In another room were 16 shots in the ceiling and 8 in the wall, and in the kitchen were 17 rifle holes. Why the old, mild mannered man should have been so choice a target for the soldiers is past comprehension.
7 and 8 are all that remain of buildings burnt down. Each chimney represents two houses. In connection with No. 7 a story is told of woman's dishonor by soldiery horrible to repeat, and that the fire was set to cover the crime. For one of these fires it was that oil was first taken out of the street lamps.
9, 10, 11, 12 are the Jewish hospital, which was not spared. Dr Stein told me they had to lay the people flat upon the floor to minimize the risk of shot. Finally they could delay operating no longer, but they did it in the room least exposed to the street. As soon as the lights were lit a fusillade was aimed at the building. Ten shows where the shot came through some of the windows. 13 shows a hole that came close to the operating tools. One shot whizzed past the nose of the doctor; another went between the legs of a midwife, then through a door, and lodged in the seat of a patient who had lain on the floor as a precaution.
A wounded man brought to the hospital and laid on the grass while room within was found, was bayoneted by a soldier and then mashed to death with the butt of his rifle.
Artillery were called out and several rounds shot. I have the fragment of a shot, the outline of which I give herewith. It is nearly half an inch thick, of steel, and I picked it out of the refuse in a house on Pinkner St. No. 13 is the hole made by it as shown in the
36 [handwritten, left margin]
piece of steel shell [handwritten]
19794 [handwritten]
[symbol circled inside a hand drawn box]
38 [handwritten, bottom right]
40
interior. It went through a 12-inch brick wall, and is numbered 19,794. The shot ripped off the ceiling and part of the beams to which it was attached. Lying in a small attic corner above was a woman and child who escaped with their lives by the inch board on which they lay.
A fearful instrument the soldiers used was a metal whip. One of these, forgotten by a soldier after the drunken condition he was in when a house was sacked and the wine disposed of, I got from the man in whose house it was found. Because of the frequent search of people in Russia, I was afraid to carry this with me. I showed it to Ambassador Mayer and then left it with Vice Consul Smith at Odessa, boxed, to be sent to me at Ellis Island, but is had not yet reached me.
Here is a sketch of it.
[sketch of a handle with handwritten labels]
wooden handle
steel spring about 10 inch long
piece lead size of fist.
A deputation went on Sunday morning at 7 o'clock to Tichanowsky and asked why the shooting was going on. He said, "Don't you hear the revolvers all over town?" "Have you seen any of them anywhere?" they persisted. "No!" said he, "I needn't see it; I know a revolver shot when I hear it, and the revolutionaries are firing them". The only condition he would order the stoppage of the pogrom was if they would surrender the Bundists and revolutionaries. They said it was impossible to do this. At ten o'clock a formal delegation representing the general population and including the president of Siedlce, Herr Korsak, and several other prominent Poles, went to Ticha-
37 [handwritten, left margin]
39 [handwritten, bottom right]
41
nowsky. He repeated that only on the surrender of the Bundists and revolutionaries would he stop the pogrom. Then they went to Engelke, who was after all Governor, having resigned on the plea of sickness only certain pow-ers to Tichanowsky, and to him presented their request for restoring quiet. While awaiting his reply a detail of officers came from Tichanowsky to arrest the whole delegation.
It should be said here that because of the military occupation of Siedlce, the president was superseded by a temporary chief for the protection of the city.
The first Jew arrested was Moshe Srebnick. He lives in the first house from the police station. He is a superior man, was in New York two years and on returning went into the clock and watch business. To judge from the mass of ruin I saw about the place, he must have had a large stock for so small a place. He described to me how he went to Tichanowsky for aid and instead of getting that narrowly escaped with his life, and only because a friendly policeman put him into prison. In fact hun- dreds of people sought imprisonment as the best way to save their lives.
A boy of 16 described to me how he was standing in the garden of their house wherein a policeman had made an arrest. As the policeman was going out, an officer came up to him and handed him a revolver, with which he retur- ned half way into the house, and fired the revolver behind him. Then he went out again and handed the revolver to the officer who had given it to him. [handwritten]: Immediately thereafter there was a lot of rifle shooting. [end handwritten].
Kalman Wiszna heard some shots fired from his own
38 [handwritten, left margin]
40 [handwritten, bottom right]
42
house, and went out to investigate. He went to the floor above where and excise officer, Gamburzew, lived, and together they went to the gendarme doing the shooting, and asked him what he was about. He said he was just trying a new revolver.
The poor district did not escape. One series of houses in an alleyway eight feet wide, with an open sewer running through the center, is occupied by the poorest. In one house I examined, where two girls were shot while at a window, I found four rooms on each floor, three floors to the house. The misery of the people will be understood when I say that the tenants in the individual twelve rooms, 10 feet square, were 7, 3, 4, 9, 5, 5, 3, 4, 6, 8, 7, 5 that is 66 people in all. There were very few beds here, not more than one in each room, the people sleeping on the floor or straw pallets, and straw that was already hard as the floor it was laid on. Yet these rooms were riddled with shot = and the poor people robbed of what little they had, even to the sewing machines with which they earned a scant livelihood.
Some of the horrors the people endured are nigh unmentionable. Confined in cellars for two or three days, no food or drink could be had. One woman actually was compelled to give wine to her child, Dr Tashatskis told me, to relieve her thirst. In another case on the second day a man ventured forth to the town pumps-- the only place for water, and nine times brought a pail for his thirsty children in the cellar and every time [insert] but the last [/insert] a soldier spilled it out before he got home. The ninth time he washed his dirty boots in it and then let him take it in.
39 [handwritten, left margin]
41 [handwritten, bottom right]
43
During the whole pogrom but one Christian was killed-- no soldiers. This Christian was the porter in the Jewish Hospital, and he was killed by the shots fired into the
Building.
For two days no one was allowed to enter the city by the police, not even doctors, whose services were urgent. The delay in consequence was fatal in many cases. Col. Pjetuchow says in his report that even his own company of gendarmes was not permitted to cross the lines maintained by the soldiers.
Up to the time I was in Siedlce five had become insane and had to be put under restraint.
40 [handwritten, left margin]
42 [handwritten, bottom right]
This primary source comes from the Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
National Archives Identifier: 602984
Full Citation: Cowen Report - European Investigation Entry No. 9; 1906 - 1907; File No. 51411/056; Subject and Policy Files, 1893 - 1957; Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Record Group 85; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/siedlce-pogrom, April 19, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.