Ambassador Meyer to the Secretary of State.
St. Petersburg, June 16, 1906.
Sir: I beg leave to report that Thursday, June 14, Corpus Christi Day, was the anniversary of the saving of Bielostok from cholera. The day was observed by orthodox processions, which were interrupted by pistol shots from the tops of certain Jewish houses, supplemented by the throwing of a bomb. This created a terrible commotion, resulting in the massacre of Jews and much loss of life on both sides.
It is difficult to obtain authentic and reliable information concerning the affair, the report, however, appears to be confirmed from several sources that the authors were Jewish anarchists who fired revolvers at the Russian Church procession and killed several persons taking part in it. This occasioned uprisings against the Jews and outrages by rioters as well as destruction of Jewish property. The troops have dislodged bands of rioters, and order is being slowly restored.
The exact number of victims is unknown, but 100 killed and 250 wounded is thought at this time to represent the casualties.
Bielostok is a town of about 60,000 inhabitants. Martial law has been proclaimed and additional troops are arriving.
[Page 1297]Messrs. Shtchepkin, Arokantseff, and Jakobson, members of the Douma specially appointed as a committee to investigate as to the real causes of the late disturbances and massacre, have left for Bielostok.
I have, etc.,