The weekly Butte record., 1863-06-13
NO.322

tee. Those who were 50 fortunate as to be
released from prison. cauld only be set free on
taking a solemn oath to reveal uothiug they
bad suffered or seen dariog confinement. nor
were they ever after allowed to leave the coun,
try, even though they were not Rassian sub
jects; this At least held good where Prussians
were concerned. PrisouecS were further requj-
rej, whea no trial bad taken place, TO sign ar
acknowledgment Of their cnlpable iadi>cre'ion
Papers were delivered to all bousehoier~ wih
blanks for the humber Of the persons uajer
their roofs their professions, etc; these had to
be sent daily to the police. Constantine set
spies upon his spies, who again set spies upon
him; he even had the Emperor and Empress
watched by his agents during their stay at
Warsaw, The graves Of the famous writer,
Staszc aud Colonel Godelski, one Of Napo-
Icons braves, officers, offered rich harvest
for the Gragd Dukes underiiugs The name
Of every person visiting them was marked
down, especially Of snca as stopped to pray, or
to place a few flowers in honor of the dead.
When the Grand Duke was leniently disposed.
the perpetrators of such crimes as these were
made to work chained to a barrow or roller
in his pleasure gardens, OF sweep the streets
and market places of Warsaw in letters Often
an enthusiastic exclamation, the refrain of an
Old Polish song, thoughleSs word. or the
possession Of some book distasteful to Czarism,
was Sufficient to furnish the denouncers with
material from which to fabrcate deadly con-
spiracY. The victim was nearly always ar
rested at midnight Before he had time to
recover from the terror of the first moment, he
was hurried away before the secret tribunal.
though not before the usual garot,ecollar had
been secured round bis throat. His conductor.
bound to silence, led him through a secret door
into the Bevedere, then descended with him
down the dark stairs and long vaulted passa-
ges, in which no sound was heard but the duh
echo Of their own footsteps. At length their
destination was reached. The prisoner stood
in the Judgment hall 1t was large, and seem,
ed still larger, for the darkness was bat faulty
dispelled by the few candles that burnt sickly
and dimly in the damp, unwholesome atmos-
phere. The silence was unbroken for some
minutes save by the grating of pen over the
leaves of the black book as the name of
the prisoner was registered.
In the chief seat at the central table There
was no other furniture in the place) sat the
president, Roznicski, with cadaverous, wrnkled
face, blanched hair, and hands trembling from
age and debauchery; near him, Karouta, the
keen eyed, eager Greek Kochauowski, the
Grand Dukes valet perlumed and dressed to
perfection; Birmbaum, the Jew, gloating with
/ fierce delight on the misery of the Polish no.
/ bic, whose fathers had doubtless. thousand
times, given bitter insult to bis own. even
whilst granting them protection. If the priso-
ner was Of Importance, all the members of the
tribunal would have been summoned but We
/ need not recapitulate their names.
The scene in the subterranean chamber of
death was well fitted to wiring from the victim
some sign Of terror or hesitation. If he replied
with self command and dignity he was con
demned for contumacy if he hesiiated, he was
suspected if silent, then clearly guilty. The
mtormer never, or very rarely, appeared he
had but to furnish his report and proceed to
other business Witnesses were easily obtain
ed The cheapest and most efeetual plan was
TO seize some poor jew, who, though he might
never have seen the prisoner in his life, was
soon taught, under threat Of the knout. to
swear whatever was required against him. AT
midnight the kibtka arrived the condemned
was carried out loaded with chains the doors
turned heavily and noiselessly on their we'll
worn hinges be was borne away never to re
turn his name perished from among The living
or could be whispered only at the risk Of shar-
ing his fate
As Constantine carried his system ever
wider. the prisons in Warsaw soon proved in-
sufficient to contain all the accused so that
hospitals and converts and monasteries had to.
be employed in the service. The vaults below
the Czarowicz's own palaces were retained for
those whose tortures be wished to superintend
personally.
When a prisoner could not or would not i'm
plicate his friends, he was generally consigned
to certain dungeons thirty feet below the sur
face Of the earth; there, prey to deadly
miasma and the horrors of perpetual darkness
and hunger, he was left to writhe in hopeless
misery. Gereral Karouta discovered rapid
way Of making the most obstinate break ST.
leDce. He allowed him no other nourisbment
than salt herrings; the torments of thirst soon
drove the poor wretch 10 the verge Of insanity,
and be vainly sought relief by licking the
moisture impregnated with salt -petre, from
the walls Of bis dungeon. Then, when burning
with the fever and deirium Of approaching
death. ii be uuconsciously pronounced some
beloved name his words were a death warrant;
bis door was Immediately opened, and or other