lasted an eternity. Then came night. Klimenko did not return. We were sure then that we were lost. We prayed to God, said our last prayer, the "viduy" (confession), took leave of one another and sought each one of us a corner to collect our last thoughts. I found a block-book and a lead pencil and we began to write our wills. The paper was not enough for all, and many scratched their names on the walls of the convent inn. Our wills we gave to a very old Jewish woman. We felt sure that they would have pity on her. About one o'clock after midnight six bandits appeared, seized seventeen persons and bade them go with them. Even now I find it hard to tell what happened. The seventeen persons took leave of us and went. Through the cracks in the shutters we could see that they were going toward the river. About an hour passed. The bandits came back and took a second batch of fifteen persons. Again some time passed and the bandits came to take the rest. Everyone clung to his nearest and to his relatives. When we were taken out it was already very dark. I went along with two friends of mine. We resolved to die together. We were taken on the steamer again. We felt that the steamer was pushing off from shore. The bandits seized one of my friends and led him out. I wanted to follow him, but was pushed back. I listened for a few minutes. Everything was still. Suddenly I heard a noise as of a tree trunk falling into the water. Then my second friend was taken out. Two or three minutes later I heard the same noise. Now came my turn. I had nothing on but torn drawers and a "talis koten" (a prayer mantle worn over the shirt). I was led by two soldiers. One of them pulled off my "talis koten." I kissed the soldiers and begged them to give it back to me. I thought it might be useful in having me buried in the Jewish cemetery. But it was of no avail. I was taken out on deck. The soldiers had already taken hold of me. But I closed my eyes, called out, "Shma Isroel" (Hear, O Israel!) and jumped into the water. A wave threw me under the steamer. The steamer went on and I swam with the current. I was still conscious and made for the left bank of the river, where Chernigov is situated. I have no idea how long I struggled in the water and what forces carried me. It seems to me that I had seized a tree stump in the river and made for somewhere, I know not where. My strength gave away entirely, when I noticed that the bank was near. I crept to the bank, rolled myself in the sand to get rid of the water which I had swallowed and to warm myself a little. Naked as I was I walked on in the cold damp night. I saw a fire gleaming and proceeded in that direction. Two peasants with boat rudders in their hands ran up to me and told me to stop. I begged them not to hold me back and told them that I was a butcher in a neighboring village and that bandits had attacked me on the road and robbed me. The peasants called some one. A man appeared, who asked me in Jewish who I was. My joy knew no bounds. I told him my name. The man threw himself around my neck. He was a good friend of mine. He talked the matter over with the peasants, with whom he was carrying fish for sale. They gave me room in their boat and covered me with a half -fur coat. In the early morning we came to the little village of Strakholessye. We came to a peasant hut. The peasant showed himself very kind, looked at me and shook his head in sympathy. He gave me old torn clothes and allowed me to warm my-
UKRAINE
self near the stove. I thought that my life was no longer in danger, when two young peasants came in. "What, you have Jews here? There is an order to take them to the Staff. In these days all Jews should be killed and drowned." The owner of the hut asked them to let us alone, seeing that God himself had saved us, and it would be a sin to mix in his affairs. The young peasants were unconvinced and sat down. The peasant allowed us to escape through a window in the adjoining room and told us to run. We ran into the bushes, then into swampy land where human beings do not usually go. Wading in mud and water up to our waists, we looked for a place where there would not be a trace of a human being. Again and again we had to hide ourselves in the bushes when we saw armed men pass. There was a great deal in store for us yet. Finally we came to a factory, where Russian workmen gave us some clothing, warmed us up, gave us something to eat and provided us with a vehicle, which brought us to Kiev. There I became ill and was confined to bed for a considerable time. I remember that I found in the inn a note addressed to the alderman of the village of Petrovichi, in which it said, "Now all the Jews must be produced without delay." The note was signed by Lazarenko.
BAER BORUKHOV MOGULEVICH, June ist, 1919. Butcher in Chernobyl.