o
whirl in the air. The din of broken window-panes and frames, the
crying, shouting, and despair on the one hand, and the terrible
yelling and jeering on the other, completed the picture which
reminded many of those who had participated in the last
Russo-Turkish war of the manner in which the Bashi-buzuks [2] had
attacked Bulgarian villages. Soon afterwards the mob threw itself
upon the Jewish synagogue, which, despite its strong bars, locks and
shutters, was wrecked in a moment. One should have seen the fury
with which the riff-raff fell upon the [Torah] scrolls, of which
there were many in the synagogue. The scrolls were torn to shreds,
trampled in the dirt, and destroyed with incredible passion. The
streets were soon crammed with the trophies of destruction.
Everywhere fragments of dishes, furniture, household utensils, and
other articles lay scattered about. Barely two hours after the
beginning of the pogrom, the majority of the "bare-footed brigade"
were transformed into well-dressed gentlemen, many of them having
grown excessively stout in the meantime. The reason for this sudden
change was simple enough. Those that had looted the stores of
ready-made clothes put on three or four suits, and, not yet
satisfied, took under their arms all they could lay their hands on.
Others drove off in vehicles, carrying with them bags filled with
loot.... The Christian population saved itself from the ruinous
operations of the crowd by placing holy ikons in their windows and
painting crosses on the gates of their houses.

[Footnote 1: The Russian nickname for a crowd of tramps.]

[Footnote 2: Name of the Turkish irregular troops noted for their
ferocity.]

While the pogrom was going on, troops were marching up and down on the
streets of the Podol district, Cossaks were riding about on their
horses, and patrols on foot and horse-back were moving to and fro.

Here and there army officers would pass through, among them generals
and high civil officials. The cavalry would hasten to a place whence
the noise came. Having arrived there, it would surround the mob and
order it to disperse, but the mob would only move to another place.
Thus, the work of destruction proceeded undisturbed until three
o'clock in the morning. Drums were beaten, words of command were
shouted, the crowd was encircled by the troops and ordered to
disperse, while the mob continued its attacks wit