The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-02-15
Russian Exiles to Siberia,

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parture from Moscow of party of exile:
destined for Siberia, describes the scene
as follows:
'The departure of the exiles for Siber.
ia is scene which should not be missed
by the traveller; but in order to let him
enjoy it at his ease, one thing is necessary
to be understood. The mere fact of trans
portation is not looked upon as severe
punishment; for the great body of the
criminals consists of persons who have
been accustomed all their lives to COM
pulsory servitude as severe as that which
awaits them beyond the Ural mountains.
Condemnation to the mines in Sirberia is
what they dread-and with great justice;
for this is a substitute for capital punish
ment, and answers the same purpose, on
ly extending the time occupied by the act
ofdying, from few minutes to few years
"In temporary depot, erected on the
summit of the Sparrow hills, I found the
destined .wretches about to commence
their march. A long chain secured both
legs at the ankles and to prevent it from
incommoding them in walking, was fas-
tened to their belt, or sash. A great
many are Jews, most of them naujikS and
all, with the exception of one man were
free from those pbysiognomical marks of
atrooity which are commonly supposed to
distinguish the guilty. Some carts were
near, filed with their wives and children,
and some of their male relations stood
beside them unmanacled, who had like
wise petitioned to be permitted to share
their exile. In the middle stood
man who had good deal of the air of
an English dissenting clergyman; but the
shape of his clothes and hat, and the large
buckles on his shoes, seemed to belong to
the fashion of an earlier day. His ap-
pearance inspired me with instructive re-
spect, and his face seemed absolutely to
beam with the purest and noblest philan-
thropy. He was occupied in distributing
moral and religious books to such of the
prisoners as could read, and in hearing
patiently, and often redressing instantly,
their complaints. The exiles on their
part, seemed to look upon him as a friend
"a father; but their affection was min
gled with the deepest respect, Many
prostrated themselves at his feet, as be-
fore holy image, and touched the ground
with their forehead. On taking leave he
embraced and kissed them all, one by one;
and the rattle of their chains, as they be-
gan their march, was mingled with sobs
and blessings. DR.. Haas, for this was
in a kind of official situation, acting as
the secretary of charitable body; and
be passed his life among the sick and the
captives, in the double capacity of physi-
clan to the soul and body.
The journey lasts seven months. In
the Asiatic portion of it, the comfort of
the exiles is far less cared for; while
wearied out with their protracted travel;
their powers of endurance are proportion
ately lessened, and there is often great
mortality; between 1923 and 1882 it a
haunted to about one fifth, and the aver
! age neunber Of exiles was ten thousand
year. Oh their arrival, the worst SUBJ
Jects are sent to tho mines; and in former
times, they hardly ever again saw day
light, but by the regulations of the EN-
peror Nicholas, they are not kept more
than eight hours day, and on Sunday
all have undisturbed freedom. Others of
this class are confined to north eastern
Siberia, the climate of which is especial
ly severe. Those of less heinous stamp
are employed on public works for some
time and then allowed to become colonists.
The least serious offenders are at once
settled as colonists, in southern Siberia,
and henceforth may be considered as
quite free, except that they cannot quit
their location. In such soil and climate,
it is asserted by Haxthausen, that with
industry that they may within two or
three years, find themselves established
in good houses of their own, amid fields
supplying every want of rising family.
1t is also affirmed, that the young people
reared in these abodes turn out on the
whole, of most respectable character, and
are associated with accordingly on the
kindnest terms by the neighbors of other
classes-especially by the peasants ofna-
tive Siberian race, who, by the way: are
all entirely free and many of them very
rich.
As above remarked, with the exception
of what the nature of their crimes may
impose, no restraint is laid upon their
freedom, or precautions taken to prevent
their leaving They possess no passports,
and is extremely difficult to travel twelve
hours anywhere in Russian dominious
without them. But in spite of the neces-
sary papers, many exiles, after longer
or shorter stay in Siberia, manage to slip
away to more congenial climes.
Singular Emotion.