The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-09-22
A Russian Adventure.

oome years ago business of Importance
called me to st. Petersburg. Boing unwill.
ing TO go alone, I succeeded in inducing my
friend Savile to accompany me. I men,
tlon him, poor follow, as he formed a yer,
prominent feature in tho little adventure /
am about to relate. I will pass over tho in.
cdonts of our journey until we arrived at
ST. Petersburg, when, having transacted my
buriness, l, to favor Savillos wish. deter
minod to proceed to Jaroslcy, where he bad
rotations. Instead, however, of going the
direct route, wo visited Keriloy, a small
town on the Scboksma, branch of the Vol
60, for the purpose of socipg q renowned
hermit, who, We were told, was an English.
man. This was inducement enough for us,
and, circuitous as was the route, we went.
Arriving late at night, we with consider.
able difficulty succeeded in getting lodgings,
which though very mean aud wretched, we
at last entered.
The landlord, q talkative man, told us,
during our repast, oil the news and scandal,
which in email town generally aboands.
Among other things he told US, that the
next morning tho punishment of the knout
was to be performed-for there tho horrid
barbarity is considered quito spectacle. to
see which people flock 10 from all parts.--
Tho culprit was young Jewess, remarkable
for her beauty, and her crime was the mur-
der of her father. Ifthe punishment Of the
kncut did not end her existence, the wheel
was in readiness to complete the scene of
blood.
From his account IL appeared that the
whole circumstance was yelled in no slight
obscurity, inasmuch as the only evidence
against the poor girl was that, when ques-
toned as to whore her missing father, was,
she shed floods Of tears and was SILENT
This, in Russia, was enough to seal her fate.
She was accordingly condemned, and was In
prison when we arrived. .s
Being much interested for tho poor girl,
We [Saville and determined to see her. -
We went--and by means of handful of sil.
yer We succeeded In bribing the gaoler to
admit Us. The prison was gloomy to a de.
gree; and never did see 80 lovely crea.
ture as mot our eyes. She seemed scarcely
above twenty, If so much. She. like the
most Of her race, was dark with intensely
bright eyes. which even her misery could not
quench. She spoke to us in Fronch, and in
piteous accents protested her innocence
Her story was soon told. Beloved by q
Russian and Protestant, her heart would
not obey the stern commands of that father
with whose murder she was charged. Her
farher reviled her, and hero she stopped
and burst into tears. More We could not
elliott Even the gaoler stern as be was
seemed touched by something like pity.
Savi!le hasty in verything, determined tc
assempt to- save her. Hurryiug off, he hast
ened to the head Sbirri or police, and in
was referred. to higher authority at st. Pc
tersburg. Thither, then, regardless of being
in time, be hurried that very evening. re-.
mained to try to console the victim. Never
shall forget the splondor Of those dark,
swimming eyes, when cast upwards 10 fer.
vent prayer for the success of her antici.
pated delivery. The night passed heavily
enough. She shuddered ~ sbe drew her
slight shawl over her exquisitoly moulded
shoulders,so so soon to be lacerated by the un.
plying strokes of the lashi The gray morn
chill and comfOrtless, came at last, and with
It the fatal hour of the victims punishment
Thoughialmost senseless when led out, q
faint blush, and one wild expression of ter.
rOr, fiittedsover her features as the rode
hand of her executioner tore the upper GOV.
ering from her neck and shoulders. She
was tied to the scaffolG, and-but why pro-
ceed-nay, ! cannot proceed to describe the
disgusting and horrid ceremonials. 1t is
enough to say that, though no sound Of ag.
ony escaped her, as the white and quivering
flesh was torn from her beautiful back, yet
when, after nearly fifty strokes of the lash,
human nature gave way, she sighed forth,
Mon pere, mon pere, vous etes trop tard,'
and expiredl My poor friend saviile. worn
out by hs.fruitless eIortions, fell a victim
to fever then prevalent, but not before he
had brought to Justice her inhuman father
who was alive, and had thus sacrificed his
daughter. because she refused TO marry q
mercenary villain of her fathers choice. He
had first bound her by most solemn oath,
not to reveal bis place of concealment, and
then left her, having taken care to fix sus.
picion on her, bis only and beautiful child.