Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-11-01
A Polish Lady KnOuted.

AT gathering of Poles in the little vii
lage of Kernst, in the Southern Nniemen,
on the Goth of July last, when all thought
themselves secure from the intrusion of
any Of the numerous spies who keep the
Russian officials informed of the malcOn-
tents among them, Alexandria Kosso-
witt, young lady whose father-the
younger son of a formerly noble Polish
family-was killed in the recent troubles
in Warsaw, expressed her sympathy with
the unfortunates whom Russian severity
had murdered or sent into exile. The
meeting was purely social one, and none
dreamed that anything said there would
reach the ears of spies, for all present
were known to be Poles, and firm haters
of the harsh rule under which they then
lived. Still, as thegoung girl, in her pas
siOnate remembrances of her fathers love,
deplored his death, expressed her sympa-
thy with rebellion and detestatlon Of her
OppressOrs, she was cautioned, lest her
loud tone should enable the people at the
window to hear her. With hasty glance,
as though to read in the faces of those
about her who should betray her, the
young lady ceased her execrations and
relapsed into silence. When ten o'clock
arrived, the latest hour of Polish gather
ings, the company separated, and Alexan-
drina KossowitZ, accompanied by her at
tianced, Julian Temensky, went to her
home.
If, in passing from the house of the
gathering, she had been more observant,
Alexandrlna would have seen the malic-
iously triumphant chances cast after her
by Catherine Merdoff, a woman of about
thirty-five years, Pole by birth, and
sympathizer with her unhappy country
women whenever her own passion was
not concerned, and, from the subsequent
proceedings, it seems that in This case
she had been superseded in the affections
of the young DR.. Temensky by the more
beautiful and younger Alexandria Kos
sowitz
On the following day, shortly after ris-
ing, Alexandria was seized at her own
home, short distance from Kernst, by
two Cossacks of the guard at the garri-
son, and taken before the petty judge.
The young lady of nineteen, handsome
and trembling, produced no feeling OF
pity. Having at first denied the accusa-
ton, she was confronted with Catherine
Merdoff, and then acknowledged her Of
Tense. In passing sentence, the petty
judge said that her seditious utterances
might have warranted hira in sending her
CCAO1S q pCu-
atty would be death but in view of her
youth and contrition he should merely
order her to receive thirty-five lashes OF
the knout. Almost benumbed with
shame and terror, the girl was led away
to be prepared for punishment, for in Rus
STA all sentences, save that of death, are
carried out Immediately after they have
been pronounced.
Word having been sent to the officer
commanding the troops, guard of two
hundred men was ordered into the garri-
son square, and the executioner of the
troop was called upon to be ready to car
nv out the duties of his Office. In half
an hour after the sentence had been given
the troops had been formed in hollow
square, in the center of which had been
placed scaffold, standing on four legs,
the top of which was an inclined plane.
Beside this stood the eXecutioner, having
in his muscular hand the knout This
weapon consists of astick, or handle, two
feet long, with lash four feet long, of
soft leather, to the end Of which is at
taohed by q loop piece of iiat rawhide
two iuohBs vide and two feet long. 10
the bands og 81 experienced men The