Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-27
Boston, Sept. %, 1872.
A Polish Eady Knou,ed.

At a gathering of Poles ia the little village of
kernst, on the southern Nneman, on the Doth
Of July last, when all thought themselves Sc.
cure from the intrusion of any of the numerous
spies who keep the Russian officials informed
of the indictments among them Alexandria
KOssOwitz, a yOnng lady whose father the
younger son of former noble Polish family.
was killed in the recent troubles in Warsaw, eX-
pressed her sympathy with the unfortunates
whom Russian severity had murdered or sent
into exile The meeting was a 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 the young girl III her passionate
rcidcmbrances Of a fathers love deDlored bis
death, expressed her sympathy with rebellion
and her detestatiOn Of her oppTessors, 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 excavations and relapsed into
silence When ten O'Clock arrived the latest
hour Of Polish gatherings, the company SEN
arated, and Alexandria Kossowitz accom-
panied by her aftianced, Julian Temensky, went
TO her home
If, in passing from the house of the gathering
she had been more observant Alexandrina
would have seen the maicously triumphant
glances cast after her by Catherine Merdoff, a
woman Of about thirty.fye years, a Pole by
hlrth, and sympathiZer with her uuhappy
countrywomen whenever her own passion was
not concerned, aud, from the subsequent pro-
ceedings, it seems that in this case she had been
superseded in the affections Of the young Dr.
IemcnskY by the more beautiful and younger
Alexandria Kossowtz
On the following day, shortly after rising,
Alexandria was seized in her own home n
short distance from Kernst, by two Cossacks of
the guard at the garrison, and taken before the
petty Judge
The young lady Of nineteen, handsome and
trembling, produced no feeling OF pity. Having
az first denied the accusation she was confronted
with Catherine Merdod, and then acknowledged
Der oilense. In passing sentence the petty Judge
said that her seditious utterances might have
warranted him in sending her before higher
tribunal, where the penalty would be death but
in view Of her youth aud cOntrition, he should
merely order her TO receive thirty.hye lashes of
the kuout. 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 com
handing the troops, guard of two hundred
men was ordered into the garrison square, and
the eXecutioner OF the troop was called upon to
be ready TO carry out the duties of his office. In
hall an hour after the sentence had been given
the tfOoDs had been formed in a hollow square,
~ the centre Of which had been placed a seal.
loiuj stauulug on louf legs, the top of which
was an inclined plane. Beside this stood the
eNecutoner, having In his muscular hand the
knOut, rms weapon consists Of stick, or han.
de two feet long, with lash four feet long of
soft leather, to the end Of which Is attached by
a loop piece Of fiat raw hide Two inches wide
aud two feet long. In the hands of an experi
enced man the piece of raw hide can be made TO
cut like a knife.
As the execulioner stood facing the scairold.
Alexandrina kossowtz was brought 10 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