The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-10-15
Siberian Exile.

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Siberian Exile.
Mr. Lemke had been to Toboisk /;
after which be had to make a long,
dreary journey in wretched GER, un-
I'll high mountain rose before him.
In It's torn and crsggy flank the
mountain showed colossal opening
similar to the mouth of a burnt-out
crater. Fetid vspors that almost
took away his breath, ascended from
it.
Pressing his handkerchief upon his
lips, Mr.. Lsmke entered the opening
of The rock, where be found large
watch-house, with picket of Co.'S
sacks Having shown his papers. be
was conducted by guide through &
long, very dark and narrow corridor,
which, judging from its sloping de-
scent. led down into some unknown
depth In spite Of his good fur, the
visitor felt extremely cold. After a
walk of sumo ten minutes through the
dense obscurity, the ground becoming
more and more soft, a vague simmer
| of light beceme observable.
1--WE are in the mine,n said the
guide, poiating with a significant
gesture to TIE high iron cross-b bars
which closed the cavern before them.
The massive bars were covered
with a thick rnst. A wetehmsn ap-
peared, who unlocked the heavy iron
gate. Entering room of considera-
BILE extent, but which was scarcely q
mans height, and which was dimly
lii by az oil-lamp. the visitor asked !:
Where are We 2"
"In the sleeping room Of the con-
Gemned. Formerly it was produc.
tive gallery of the mine; now il serves
as shelter
The visitor shudGered. This sab
.erraneaa sepulchre, lit by neither
sun nor moon. was called o sleeping
room. AlcoTe-like celia were hewn
into the rock; here, on q couch Of
damp, 'hasf-rotten strasF, eeyeresi<xi:h
q saescioth, the unfortunate sufferers
were to repose from the days work.
Over each cell cramp-iron was FIX
ed, wherewith TO lookup the prisoners
like feroeious dogs. No door, 10 win
dow anyw here
Conducted through another pas
sage, where few lanterns were
placed, and whose end was also bar.
red by an iron gate, Mr. Lemke came
TO large vsult partly lii. This was
the mine a desfening noise of pick
axes and hammers. There be saw
some hundreds OF wretcheG figures,
with shaggy boards, sickiy faces, red
dened eyelids; clad in tatte-s, some
of them barefooted, others in sandals,
sei;eEed with heavy foot chains. No
song, no whisiling Now and then
they shyly looked at the visitor and
his companion The water dripped
from the stones; the tatters of the
eonvicts were thoroughly wet One
OF them, tall man Of suffering mien,
Isbored hard with gasping breath,
but the strokes of his picksxe were
not heavy and 6rm enough to loosen
the rock.
"Wby are you here z" Mr. Lemke
asked.
The convict looked confused, with
an air alrios: OF CONSERVATION, snd
silently continued his WORK.
at is forbidden to the prisoners. !"
said the inspector. "to speak OF the
cause OF their banishment."
Entombed alive: forbidden TO say
why,
"But who is the convict 2" Mr..
Lemke asked the guide, with a lew
voice.
II, is Nc. ill.," The guide replied,
laconically.
This | see," answered the visitor;
'but what are the mans anteee-
deais? To what family does be be-
long ?1
"He is a count" replied tie guide;
"a well-known conspirstor More, i
regret TO say, cannot tell you about
No. ia"
The visitor felt as # be were s;ifed
at the grsvelike atmosphere-ss if
his ches, were pressed in by demon
iacal nightmare.
He hastily asked bis guide TO re-
turn with him to the upper world.
Meeting there the commander Of the
military establishment, be was OBJ
ligingly asked bT,that officer
"Well, what impression did our
penal establishment make upon your"
Mr.. Lemke stifly bowed in silence,
and the officer seemed TO take this as
a kind of satisfied assent and went
on
VERY industrious people, the men
below are they mott "
But with what feelings" answer
ed Mr.. Lemke, "must these unfortun-
stes look forward to day Of rest af-
ter the weeks toll ~
Resin said the officer; coaricts
must always labor. There is 10 rest
for them. They are condemned to
forced labor; and be
who once enters the mine never leavcs
i.,r
aBut this is bsrbarous y
The officer shrugged his shoulders.
and said:
The exiied work daily for twelve
hours; ON Sundays TOO. They must
never pause. But, 10; / am mistaken.
Tsice 9 year. though, rest is permit
ted to the1-st Easter time and on
the birthday of his Majesty the En-
peror.
Virtue never grows old