Today, as part of the 100×100 action, we present Henry Baron (1887-1907), ps. “Slender” - 1 of the heroes of “Blood Wednesday”, or the celebrated pogrom of Russian police, made by the Combat Organization of the Polish Socialist Party. erstwhile a banner symbol of the conflict for independence, unfortunately present a completely forgotten figure.
Over the years the Tsarist torturers have been a real nightmare of the tormented Polish population. But erstwhile fearless fighters like Baron went out into the streets, the life of the oppressors became a nightmare.
The Baron himself personally eliminated 8 officers of the Russian repression apparatus. His feats during the alleged “Blood Wednesday” passed to legend. At 10 a.m., on 15 August 1906, he shot Optułowicz in broad daylight on Solne Street in Warsaw. Nothing to do with the danger of capture, at 11am he found 2 another Russian policemen on Dzika Street, on whom the death conviction was besides issued by the underground PPS. A minute later, they were both dead. As if nothing had happened, at 12.30 p.m. “Sleek” approached the police circus on Coolna Street and dropped 2 bombs inside. A massive detonation ripped off respective officers, and the Baron himself was hit with shrapnel. “Sleek” calmly got into the carriage and drove towards the city center. However, the sight of a bloodied young man raised interest in the police. The Baron was arrested, but someway he managed to convince the officers that his wounds were the consequence of... a fight at a restaurant. He immediately found polite witnesses who confirmed his words. After an hr he was out.
The Baron, whose courage was bordering on madness, did not live to see his 20th birthday. Arrested a year later by the Czarski authorities, he was sentenced to death and hanged on the slopes of the Warsaw Citadel.
Before the judgement was pronounced, he gave a celebrated speech before the court, in which, alternatively of repenting, he ruthlessly violated the Tsarist regime, announcing its imminent destruction:
“Do not justice that we are men greedy of blood and death. On the contrary, we value life, we want it to flow for us all in the weather and happiness. But she pushed us on this road with a bloody necessity. Only those who are defeated, and in an armed clash, will give way to the people. And the bloodier the fight, the greater your fear and defeat, the sooner we scope the goal, to an independent democratic Polish republic. In the face of death I say to you, it will not take many years for you to sit on this bench! You shall sit as defendants, and the victorious people shall justice you. And nothing can defend you from his wrath. And his judgement will strike you, you and your Tsar. You will cease to exist, and the people will go to your grave and spit.”
