From: Krasna, Bessarabia 20 March 1930

Dear Editor Brendel:

Let me report the following from here: There was a break in at the home of Heinrich Hinz where the crooks broke a window to get access to his home. They went through everything making off with two packs of tobacco. Hinz had sold a horse the previous day, but kept the money smartly on his person while he spent the night caring for his ill mother. M. Haag’s straw barn was set on fire the same night, but was quickly doused. A sheep was stolen from his barn the following night.

Deaths: Michael Winter died March 7, age 64. He left behind a wife, no children.

Philomena Ternes died March 2. She left behind her husband, Markus and five children. She was the daughter of the late Georg Steiert.

Sick List:
Susanna Hinz, wife of Wendelin and daughter of the late Michael Harsche. She has stomach cancer.

All our crops are in as of March 5. On March 12, we had a strong enough dust storm to drive the farmers off their fields. Barley fetches 25-30/Pud, wheat costs 100-105/Lei to purchase and oats cannot be sold.

The following families left for Brazil today:

• Johannes Ruscheinsky with wife Rufina, daughter of the late Franz Kuss with five children. Johannes is the son of the late Maximilian Ruscheinsky.
• Maximilian Söhn with wife Marianna, daughter of Konrad Folk, with three children.
  Max is the son of Anton, a son of Mathias Söhn.
• Simon Söhn and wife Rosa, daughter of the late Peter Speicher with two children.
  Simon is the son of Anton, the son of Mathias Söhn.
• Mathias Kunz and wife Maria, daughter of Philipp Harsche with two children.
  Mathias is the son of the late Christof Kunz.
• Erasmus Becker and wife Dorothea, daughter of the late August Kranich and one child. Erasmus is the son of the late Sebastian Becker.
• Georg Wuitschik and wife Nimfa, daughter of the late Martin Müller with five children. Georg is the son of the late Lorenz Wuitschik.
• Maximilian Dirk and wife Anisia, daughter of the late Martin Müller with one child. Maximilian is the son of Rochus Dirk.
• Joseph Wingenbach and wife Leogata, daughter of the late Heinrich Riehl with one child. Joseph is the son of the late Albert Wingenbach.

Also, two young bachelors, sons of Melchior Söhn. The oldest is Joseph who has served his mandatory military requirement as a soldier. The other, Anton is only 15 or 16 years old.

There are several other families leaving next week. We wish them all the best of luck and the blessings of the Lord in that warm country. Yesterday, March 19 was a church holiday commemorating St. Joseph, our church patron saint. The Holiest of Holies was brought out during High Mass and visible through the Vesper. A special prayer was offered for the Christians of Russia who are so cruelly persecuted. The Bolsheviks not only take their earthly belongings, but they want to also rob them of heaven. Will there ever be an end to communism? Will the crooks never be brought to justice?

Mathias Fenrich has recovered from his stroke, but the wife of Michael Ritz is still severely ill.

Greetings to the editor and staff, and all the readers!

Joseph Braun

*Editor’s Note: Received the continuation of the village description. It will be in print soon.