The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-04
USSIAH DEsPOTIsM,
Vast Dungeon that has Swallowed Many
Of the Cars Subjects.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Str: In the
past year or two the Russian Government, de-
string to eradicate every appearance Of liberal
ideas, has arrested in thirty-seven provinces
about 10000 young men and women, belonging
to the more cultivated classes. A part OF these
persons were exied to the most uninhablted
northern provinces, and put under strict sur
veillance OF the police; the rect were thrown
into prison. Thus all the prisons were over
crowded with so-called political criminals.
In St Petersburg the number OF these victims
was largest and adding to this the large num-
bers brought from the provinces, who were all
to await investigation In prison, IL was found
that the prisons OF 81. Petersburg were made
quate for their accommodation. Consequently
tho Government built IN the brief space Of one
month, on the banks of the Neya, and adjoining
the Criminal Court building, new dungeon Of
colossal dimensions, with dark cells for solitary
confinement, having round tubes running
through the walls, aud SO arranged that nothing
OF the conversation Of the prisoners with their
visiting relatives or friends should escape the
always listening ears OF prison wardens. After
having astonished the world with this MASTER
bloodthirsty animal. did not wait I'LL the
massive walls OF this dungeon, measuring over
filed with the bloom Of Russian youth, who
were not AS yet convicted Of any crime.
The heart sickensat the thought Of the terri
BILE fate Of these unfortunate victims OF despot-
isn't who, without being Informed OF the cause
81 their arrest, are often kept In this dungeon
two years before all Investigation Is granted
them. large building like this, erected In
haste and on damp, marshy ground; cannot dry
than ten years, II ever. To imprison men In
such n structure Is To murder them without
lawful conviction, innicting slow and tortur-
dividual the Car and that happens In this
civilized nineteenth century, other nations
apathetlc witnesses Of this barbarism. wa"
The evil Effects OF this damp dungeon were
soon evident, for the prisoners died In great
caused by the foul air and bad food. Seeing
this, the Government, fearing a possible public
outbreak and in order to avoid the frequent. ex-
port Of corpses from within the damp walls Of
this dungeon, pardoned and sent out those Of
the prisoners whose deblhtated condition pre-
cluded any possibility OF LIES long continu-
ance. clip the following correspondence from
~ Petersburg, AZ given In the Wpered (EorSpdrd)
OF May 10, 1875, published in London;
On March 30 TOOK place the funeral Of the rnedica
and T ana
maa1 na hs OF death cases in ne
ing Tue rainy weather, about two thousand students
Is sS s . .e nal 70 b s re S
along tue streets Of s.. Peter,bdy The passersby
themselves, bowling, aud nqurins whose funera It WIS
Willie short but most expressive c. mmenis were aided
On their way shpalcrnaia street 10 front OF the
after doing co. hid nmse Tsee ' proceson cd
bier lifted high enough so that the prosecuting IT.
torney VINO were looking out OF their windows might
see II, and then proceeded the cemetery WalkOWO
where tie deceased buried beside Blcnski. Dobro
lnoow ana flsarew Clterary critics. 4 present nlled
tne dear grave with their own hanGs and decorated II
pentnu with wresths aud nowers. At the same lime
several warm speeches made and the exclaula
tuns, down with the Car !" Live the Russian ma
ton y were met with unanimous approval; police.
man WHO happened to be present threw himself upon
one OF me orators, who had not confined his express
eons but IN consequence Of audible threats Ocer
found II best TO disappear without delay.
II Is matter OF course that this funeral was
followed 10y numerous arrests and II can be sur
missed that many Of the participants will have
to try the new, damp dungeon, r. there no end
to Russian cruelty and barbarismY A. 5.
NEW YORK, June 3, 1876.