The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-10-24
A Polish Lady Knouted.

/ NOsAA
thought themselves secure from the in.
trusion Of any of the numerous spies
who keep the Russian officials informed
of the msloontents among them, Alex
andrina Kossowitz, young lady, whose
father, the younger son of 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
oil present were known to be Poles, and
firm haters of the harsh rule under
which they then lived. Still, as the
young girl, in her passionate remem.
brance of fathers love, deplored his
death, expressed her sympathy with re-
bellion and her detestation Of her on.
pressors, she was cautioned lest her loud
tone should enable people at the window
to hear her. With q TASTY 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 10 O'Clock
arrived, the latest hour OF Polish gather.
lngs, the company separated, and Alex
andrina Kossowitz, ACCOMPANIED by her
afianced, Julian Temensky, went to her
home
If, in passing from the house of the
gathering, she had been mere observ-
ant, Alexandrina would have seen the
mallciously triumphant glances cast after
her by Catherine Merdoff, a woman
about thirty-6ve years, Pole by birth,
and o sympathizer with her own un-
happy countrywomen whenever her own
passion was not concerned, and from
subsequent proceedings it seems that in
this case she had been superseded in the
affections of the young DR.. Tamensky
by the more beautiful and younger Alex
audrina Kossowitz.
On the following day, shortly after
rising, Ale1andrinR was seized in 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, hand
some and trembling, produced no feeling
OF pity. Having at first denied the ao-
cusation, she was confronted with Oathe-
rine Merdoff, and then acknowledged her
offence. In passing sentence, the petty
Judge said her seditious ntterances might
have warrs nted him in sending her be-
fore higher tribunal, where the penalty
would be death; but in view of her
youth and contrition, he would 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
Russia 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 200
men were ordered into the garrison
square, and the e1ecutioner of the
troop was called upon to be ready to
carry 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 centre of which
had been placed scaffold, standing on
four legs, the top of which was an in
clined plane. Beside this stood the exc
outioner, having in his muscular hand
the knout. This weapon consists of
stick or handle two feet long, with lash
four feet long of sole leather. to the end
OF which is attached, by loop, piece
Of fat raw hide two inches wide and two
feet long. In the hands of an expert
enced man, tho piece of raw-hide can be
made to cut like knife.
As the executioner stood facing the
scsfold, Alexandrina Koseowitz was
brought to him by her guard, and in
few moments her clothing was removed
to her waist, despite her almost mute
appeals to be spared the shame. As she
pleaded she was bent on the plane, her
hands strapped to the two upper cor.
ners, and her ankles secured nt the foot
of the structure. One of the execu-
toners assistants held her head, and the
petty judge gave the order for the whip.
ping to commence. Twirlipg the long
lash in the air. the executioner stepped
suddenly backward, and with sharp
crack the thong fell on the back of the
sobbing girl, cutting livid streak from
her right shoulder to her waist. A ter
rible tremor passed over her, and q
quick, low cry escaped her lips; but it
was the only sound she uttered, and
were it not for the blood, which soon
commenced to Aow, it might have seemed
that the whipping was being done on
the naked back of corpse. When the
last lash had beon given, the young lady
was unfastened, and with her clothing
rudely thrown over her, she was taken to
a