The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-05-12

The following is graphic and exciting account OF
the fate Of some soldiers who were not long since
convicted Of high treason in Russia They had been
sentenced be hanged but the day before that Tor
which the execution was appointed the prisoners re-
ceived notification that the Emperor with IA view
of diminishing the degradation Of their punishment,
had commuted it to shooting. This was but very
slight comfort to the condemned. They knew that
they had passed out Of the hands Of the common eH
ecutioner, into those of the soldiers, and, il pan
were to be badly aimed, that the death Tor any c"'
among the doomed might he considerably mo'e -"
full than it was otherwise likely to have P[o'cu
That was all that concerned them e~ceP: ~. I'm
parative ignomny Of the resPec.se ~ hi, 80.
lions. might think differently. military execution
once ,ot mace in the south OF France, under circ,m-
stances that reflected much honor-doubless that Is
che word-on the sentiments Of kindred. An uufor-
tunate soldier had committed a crime, for which he
was condemned to the galeys for life. He had
relative high in the army; and this relative learning
the facts Immediately and successfully used all his
interest to have the sentence committed, which, as It
STOOD was so disgraceul to every one connected
with the criminal. To have a cousin in the hulks
was too bad. The result Of the great knsman's in
tercesson was Communication of this isnominious
iu,lg nent; and the soldier accordingly s.ot
But to return. The culprits at St. Petersburg
heard in their prison the gracious tidn5s that the
musket, not the rope, was the next day I" terminate
their existence. On the morrow, they we've led out
TO an open space, not far from the Neva, and there
thew were ranged in line, with the requisite number
of soldiers in front of them. Then an archiman-
drite, or some sort Of Greek priest, advanced be-
tween those who held the loaded muskcts and those
with chains, and. turning his back to the former, adj
dressed the latter, telling them he was come to
preach the death sermon. And he preached it accor-
dinghy, :lating with great junction. on the enormity
of their offence, and the necessity of submitting TO
their richly merited fate. lie passed from that topic
to a laudaiion of the Empcror's cemency, who, when
havo od t,. tho tribunals Of their
country to he hanged like the vilest class OF crlm
mails, changed their death that Of soldiers and
of condition. He need not have moved in the mat
ter-he had only to let their lawful sentence take e-
feet, and their degraded end would have been his
work. His work it was, however, and his own
spontaneous act, that they released from that
additional shame; and therefore their second last
thought should be of deep, fervent gratitude
considerable and kind sovereign. lie now came to
the last thought Of all, to which he urged them to
turn-the thought of their almost instantaneous APP
pearancc before the judgment seat of yet create,
and mighter Sovereign. And with that Impressive
peroration, the archimandre. (if archimandrte he
was) left one of the miserable auditories that
preacher address, to bear best they might
what was to follow.
And what pas to follow! An officer told the SOL
diers to he in readiness. Another and lower, func-
tionary proceeded to bandagc the eyes Of the con-
demned, who, with their last Iight-to use tho fine
old classic wOrd-saw that their fatal friends, the
soldiers, had carried the m,sket stock the shout
der. The barrels had disappeared, leaving visible
that small round orifce which only the keen eve of
condemned men, the point Of suffering, could dis
Contrary to the usual rule, the signal for firing was
no secret signal preconcerted, but given by the
voice. and loudly gven, and that terrible 'One'
uttered, which the victims Of Justice and every one
else present knew nstinctvcly would be followed but
by two other words, the numerals "twO,' "thrce."
OF course, these fatal syIal'es pronounced in
Russ-adyen, drah, dree. At the third number, with
great precision, fash darted from every musket
the report of the voey and the roll of the drums fol-
lowed snultaneo, sly. What followed next was the
agonizing cries which proceeded from the poor Grim
inals. But, strange to saw these did all fall. On
the contrary. some remaining upright on their knees,
were seen struggling with their chained hands, to
tear the bandaScs from their eyes.
Every eye riveted upon the conSpirators, and
when the smoke cleared away, half of them were
still upright, and. singular still, some of
those that had fallen observed to rise again.
The horrible expectation that second volley would
be necessary, began to fill every mind when the ar
chimandrite advanced again, and assumed his form
er station.
ssWretched criminals said he, addressing the
consprators, syou have Of you felt wound, for
your lives have been AIRED by the ccmcncy of the
Emperor, and the soldiers who have fired at you have
been ordered to this ground to-day with muskets |
which contained only blank cartridges. The form of
execution has been exhibited, but the reality, which
you have amply merited, has been iorbidden.-
Recognize, then, the character of the sovereign
against whom you have plotted, and 60 according to
his decree, to expate your crime, by oiling for the
remainder of your days in Siberia. cannot hold
out to you hope that you will return; all l
dare assure you is that, with perseveriny good
duct. it is not absolutely impossibIe.''
He then retired. and the prisoners were again con-
signed to their guards in order that the real sentence
of the Emperor mig be duly executed and that they
might be conveyed formally to their destination.