Connecticut western news., 1878-06-20
WHIPPED TO DEATH.
An Incident of Russian Life.


 called me to St. Petersburg. Being un- willing to go alone, I succeeded in in- ducing my friend Saville to accompany me. I mention him, poor fellow, as he formed very prominent feature in the little adventure am about to relate. l will pass over the incidents of our jour- ney until we arrived at St. Petersburg, when, having transacted my business, l, to favor Saville's wish, determined to proceed to Jarosley, where he had rela- tions. Instead, however, of going the direct route, we visited Keriloy, small town on the Shekana, branch of the Volga, for the purpose of seeing re- nowne6 hermit, who, we were told, was an Englishman. This was inducement enough for us, circuitous as was the route we went.
 Arriving late at night, we with con- siderable difficulty succeeded in getting lodgings, which, though very mean and wretched, we at last entered.
 The landlord, 8 talkative man, told us all the news and the scandal which in 8 small town generally abounds. Among other things he told us that the next morning the punishment of the knout was to take place for there this horrid barbarity is considered quite 0 specta- cle, to see which people flock in from all parts. The culprit was young Jewess, remarkable for her beauty, and her crime was the murder of her father. If the punishment of the knout did not end her existence, the wheel was in readiness to complete the scene of blood.
 From his account it appeared that the whole circumstance was yelled in no slight obscurity, inasmuch as the only evidence against the poor girl was that, when questioned as to where her miss- ing father was, she shed floods of tears, and was silent. She was accordingly condemned, and was in prison when we arrived.
 Being much interested in the poor girl, we determined to see her. We went, and succeeded in bribing the iailer to admit us. The prison was exceedingly | gloomy and never did see so lovely a creature as met our eyes. She seemed scarcely above twenty, if so much. Like most of her race, she was dark, with intensely bright eyes, which even her misery could not dim. She spoke to us in French, and in piteous accents protested her innocence. Her story was soon told. Beloved by Russian and a Protestant, her heart would not obey the stern commands of that father with whose murder she was charged Her father reviled her and here she stopped and burst into tears. More we could not elicit. Even the jailer, stern as he was, seemed touched by something into pity.
 | Saville, nasty in everything, deter. mined to save her. Hurrying off, he went to the head Sbirri of police, and ir vain tried to purchase her release. He was referred to higher authority at St. Petersburg. Thither then, regardless of the utter impossibility of being il time, he hurried that very evening. ] remained to try to console the victim Never shall forget the splendor of those dark, expressive eyes, when cast upward in fervent prayer for the success of hel anticipated delivery. The night passed heavily enough. She could not .bt brought to comprehend the awfulness o her situation. Yet she shuddered as sh, drew her light shawl over her exquisitel, moulded shoulders, so soon to be lacer ated by the unpitying strokes of tn, lash The grey morn, chill and comfort less, came at last, and with it the fata hour of the victims punishment.
 Though almost sensless when led out a faint blush and one wild expression O terror fitted over her features as tn, rude hand of the executioner tore tn, outer covering from her neck and shoul ders. She was tied to the scaffold, ant though no sound of agony escaped he as the white and quivering flesh wal torn from her beautiful back, yet when after nearly fifty strokes of the lash human nature gave way, and she sighet forth, My father, my father, you ar, too late !" and expired,
 My poor friend Saville, worn out by his fruitless exertions, fell victim to { } fever then prevalent, but not before ht had brought to justlce her inhuma1 father, who was alive, and had thus sac rifced his daughter, because she refused to marry mercenary william of hi choice. He had first bound her, by { solemn oath, not to reveal his place o concealment, and then left her, having taken care to fix suspicion on her, hi only and beautiful child. ,.-..