However, Semosenko was slow to lay down his office. He schemed to remain in Proskurov, and, in his turn, intrigued against Kiverchuk. Apparently he especially disliked the moral satisfaction which his going would give the Jews. But when he saw that he had to go, he made use of the fact that he was suffering from a chronic venereal disease, called a consultation of physicians, and, through his adjutant, persuaded them to give him their verdict to the effect that in the interests of his health it was necessary for him temporarily to give up service entirely, and to retire to some hospital at a good distance from Proskurov. (See testimony of Dr. Salitronik, pp. 41-43.) With great pomp, attended by sanitary detachments and sisters of mercy, Semosenko at last left Proskurov.
This Semosenko, who bathed the houses and streets of Proskurov with Jewish blood, was, according to the description of witnesses, a weak young man of 22 or 23, who had begun his service as a volunteer under the tsar. With the forced seriousness of his face he produced on all the impression of a half-witted, nervous and unbalanced man. Judging by some of his resolutions in the reports which I have seen, it must be admitted that he was at the same time characterized by great powers of calculation and decisiveness.
According to my approximate reckoning more than 1,200 persons were killed in Proskurov and environs. Besides this, out of over 600 wounded, more than 300 died.
In view of the fact that in his first proclamation Semosenko
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threatened to shoot on the spot anyone who instigated a pogrom, and that this proclamation was not published owing to Kiverchuk, who at that time was hindering Semosenko's entry into power by every means; and in view of the further fact that Kiverchuk willingly let him have this power when he expressed readiness to massacre the Jews; I come to the conclusion that Semosenko was mainly the physical instrument of those bloody horrors which took place in Proskurov. But the chief inspiration of the bloody times in Proskurov appears to have been, in my opinion, Col. Kiverchuk — that old tsarist official and unquestioned pogromist and black-hundreder.