The Russian intellectuals of Slovechno were of peasant stock, and Petlurist in their views. They included a surgeon, a teacher, the postmaster, the members of the Executive Committee, the priest, and his son. Accustomed to work for their own race and
UKRAINE
on their own responsibility, receiving no directions from above, they now fell under the pressure of the Soviet regime, with which they had no sympathy. At the same time they clashed with the Jews as representatives of the Soviet regime, and this created in them a hostile attitude towards the Jews. A month ago a commander of militia who was a Polish noble arrived in the town. With his appearance rumors began to spread that he was an instigator of pogroms. The commander himself tried not to give himself away and to behave very carefully.
On Tuesday evening alarming rumors began to spread in the town, that an uprising against the Jews was being prepared. The Jews were greatly perturbed. Groups of excited people gathered on the streets; numbers of Jews stood outside the houses, discussing the situation in alarm. About nine or ten o'clock in the evening representatives of the Jews applied to the commander of militia asking him to organize a guard, and offering him the services of Jewish guardsmen. The commander reassured them, and declared that he would be able to cope with any outbreak. The Jewish militiamen went out to keep watch, but without any arms. About midnight the commander of militia with the militiamen came forth. The Jews at first were reassured, on seeing the armed men coming out to keep guard. But the militiamen paid no attention to the Jewish militiamen and started out of town, with the commander of the town militia. As they left the town the militiamen fired two volleys. About ten minutes after this there appeared, as if at the word of command, about thirty or forty bandits with ten rifles. They came with cries of "Hurrah, kill the Jews!" and began to break windows. Looting began and continued all night. Towards morning the looting ceased. The Jews came out of their holes and again discussed the situation, and decided to win the favor of the commander of militia so that he should guard the town. The sum of 15,000 rubles was collected, and receiving it, the commander promised to furnish protection.
But Wednesday evening looting began again, and also cruel murders. Not all the peasants took an active and conscious part. Many peasants took things which they most needed, saying that just now you could take, and that it was necessary to hurry, or next day it might be forbidden. On Wednesday the Jews began to flee from Slovechno; still more left on Thursday, mostly on foot; it was impossible to get carts anywhere. The Jews walked along with their wretched parcels of whatever things they happened to pick up, the women leading the children by hand. On the way the malicious joy of the peasants over
SLOVECHNO: LOCAL POGROMISTS 371
the unhappy fugitives was striking. Only in a few places peasant women shook their heads mournfully and murmured something sympathetic.