More than one hundred Jews have applied for treatment for injuries sustained in anti-Jewish disturbances which began yesterday and continued throughout the day and today as anti-Semites sought revenge for the death of a Polish student killed when he and a party of five other drunken revellers began to attack Jewish passersby early Sunday morning.
The student, Jan Gratkowski, twenty-two years old, succumbed to knife wounds after he and his companions had met with resistance from Jews who sought to defend themselves.
The College of Commerce of the University of Lemberg was closed this afternoon when the excesses spread to the University.
Reports received by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency indicate, however, that the number of the injured in the past two days is considerably higher, as many have not informed the authorities of their hurts.
Among those most gravely injured are a Dr. Hellman, an attorney Rawicz, Kaufman, Jehuda Ostrower, an engineer Meilbum and his wife.
The Jewish business section is half deserted, many of the Jewish stores are closed and the streets empty of Jews, who are fearful of making an appearance.
The jewelry shop of a Jew, named Perlman, on Boimowstrasse, was attacked today, its furnishings demolished and the merchandise looted.
Police reinforcements have been summoned from the adjacent towns.
Polish students, augmented by mobs, are attacking individual Jews.
The Jewish Community has appointed a special committee, which is sitting day and night, to receive reports concerning the situation in the Jewish quarter. This committee is also in constant communication with the authorities, which keep it informed of the places where trouble is breaking out.
The Executive of the Jewish Community has resolved to protest to the authorities against the effort to fasten upon the Jewish population as a whole responsibility for events which occurred in the habitats of alcoholics.
The police today confiscated an appeal prepared by the National Democratic Party calling upon the workers to join with it in action against the government for siding with the Jews because the alleged government favoritism enabled the Jews to murder Polish sons without punishment.
Ulation to such a pitch of anxiety that they feared to be seen on the streets and strong police guards were ordered to patrol the Jewish quarters.
The riots were the result of an incident which occurred when anti-Semitic students returning home drunk from an all night revel early Sunday morning began to attack Jewish passersby. Among those with whom they entered into a clash were five Jews and a woman. The Jews sought to defend themselves and in the affray which ensued, knives were brought into play. Three Polish students were wounded, one of whom succumbed to his wounds in a hospital.
The dead student is Jan Gratkowski, twenty-two years old. Three Jews were arrested by the police and gave their occupation as bakers. A police communique, however, identifies them as members of the underworld with criminal records. The arrested Jews are M. Katz, S. Keller and N. Schmer. Katz is believed to be responsible for the death of the student. One of the arrested is in a critical condition as a result of the wounds he received at the hands of a student.
Of the 46 Jews wounded yesterday, three Chalutzim are in a serious condition in a hospital. A Jewish engineer, Rauch, sustained a broken hand.
Throughout the day yesterday students massed in the Jewish quarters, striking fear into the hearts of the inhabitants. The situation was particularly tense in the old city. Police were constantly on the watch, endeavoring to disperse the throngs.
The Jews are fearful of what may transpire tomorrow when the funeral of Gratkowski takes place.
The District Governor of Lemberg has advised leaders of the Jewish Community to issue a declaration condemning the occurrences.
The head of the municipality of Lemberg assured the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that measures to restore peace and order would be undertaken.
The official police communique dealing with the early Sunday morning events declares: “A night clash occurred between drunken student revelers and underworld characters during which a student, Gratkowski, was killed.”
The rector of the University of Lemberg has issued an appeal to the students to remain calm. He terms the occurrences a criminal act which carrits neither a political nor national character.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
