of them went to Proskurov and brought back the three Gaidamaks of whom mention has been made. Hearing of this, all the Jews hid, but the peasants hunted them down and rounded them up with the Gaidamaks' help. The question was raised whether to settle with them there or in another place. The Gaidamaks first searched the Jews and took their money and valuables, amounting to more than 30,000 rubles. Then the Gaidamaks proposed to massacre them all on the spot But the old peasants told the Gaidamaks that they themselves would deal with their own Jews, but not here in the village, rather outside the village. They put the Jews, with their wives and children, in sledges, and started them in the direction of Proskurov. On the way the young peasants wanted to put an end to them, but the old peasants insisted that they be handed over to the authorities, who would mete out justice.
They were taken to the commandant's headquarters in Proskurov, and thence to the station-commandant at the station. The latter, in turn, took them to the office of the field court-martial, but from there they were taken back to the commandant's, and thence to a chamber for prisoners. Since the will to massacre had by that time sensibly diminished in Proskurov, it was decided to set them all free next morning. But when they were freed they did not return again to their homes in Grinovtsy. (Testimony of the Buchers, p. 3.) As for Halperin, during one of the transfers, he succeeded in escaping.
The witness Marantz also tells of a marvelous deliverance. On Sunday, February 15, he, as a member of the council, started for the council-chamber to take part in the memorable session at which Semosenko and Kiverchuk appeared. On the way he met the councilman Storr, and joined him. They noticed that a Gaidamak officer was chasing them in a cab. When he caught up with them he jumped out of the cab, took out his sabre and attacked them. In a moment more the blows of the sabre would have struck them. At that moment some one on the opposite sidewalk called the officer by name; he turned around, and Marantz and Storr succeeded in hiding in the nearest house, and so escaped.
On the morning of Wednesday, February 19, comparative quiet prevailed in the city. It goes without saying that the Jews did not open their shops, since they had no interest in that. But Semosenko issued an order that the shops should immediately be opened.
On February 22, Semosenko issued a proclamation to the effect that, according to information in his hands, there were
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many bolshevik agitators in Proskurov, and, therefore, he demanded of the population that on this same day by 8 P.M. all bolshevik agitators should be handed over to the authorities. If not, the most decisive measures would be adopted. At the same time he again demanded that all shops should be opened immediately under penalty of 6,000 rubles fine for each merchant.' The Jews saw a new provocation and a new threat in this proclamation. To pacify Semosenko they collected a sum of 300,000 rubles and decided to offer it through the local government for the needs of the garrison. The mayor, Sikora, took it upon himself to present this sum, but managed it so badly that Semosenko, though knowing that the money had been collected by Jews alone, issued a proclamation stating that he had received 300,000 rubles "from the entire population of Proskurov," which he thanked for properly appreciating the labors of his Cossacks.
To the central authorities he announced that the inhabitants of Proskurov, in gratitude for the keeping of order in the city and for saving them from the bolsheviks, had presented him with 300,000 rubles for the needs of the garrison.
On February 27, Semosenko issued a proclamation which begins with these words: "Jews, I have heard that yesterday you wanted to hold a meeting in Alexandrovskaya street in order to seize the power, and that you are preparing in four days to start another such revolt as occurred on February 14-15." After this follow corresponding threats. (See vol. III.)