Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-08-15
RUSSIAN HORRORS.
Inhuman Treatment Of Nihilist Prisoners
.--Caged Like Wild Animals.

LONDON, July 29, l019.-A cry of
horror has gone up from every part of
civilized Europe at the sickening cru
city of the Russian authorities toward
the wretched Nihilists on their way to
Saghalien. 1t seems impossible that
the officers of the holy czar could be
so barbarous as to pack political pris-
oners in rows of iron cages, like wild
beasts, under the deck of convict
ship in such weather that the wretches
we're nearly roasted to death. Yet
such is the fact, vouched for by eye
witnesses. The Telegraph tells the
story this morning. It's Vienna cor
respondent says:
A SCENE OF HORROR.
During the second fortnight of last
month a person whose testimony is
above suspicion visited a ship at
anchor at Odessa fitted out for the
transport of Nihilist convicts to the
island of Saghalien. He describes it
as a man-of-war of about four thou
sand tons, freshly painted white. On
going below deck he found that on
either side of narrow passage iron
barred cages had been constructed,
which he says were exactly similar to
those used for wild animals. These
cages were of different sizes, and con-
tanned from four to twenty convicts
each. The rule observed was that
such among them as showed any dis
position to be unruly were confined in
the smaller cages so as to be more cas-
lily watched. The gentleman who vis-
tied the ship estimates the number of
these wretched people at $50, most of
whom have come by rail from the in
terror heavily chained together by
small groups. They were to keep
their chains during the journey, and
my informant says the sinister noise
they produced was distinctly audible
long ere he reached the ship. Unable
to control his feelings he observed to
the officer in command that his closely
packed cargo, chained together in a
place where there was absolutely no
ventilation, would never survive the
passage of the Suez Canal, the Red
Sea and the Indian Ocean. To which
the Russian officer cynically replied.
Well, so much the better for all par
ties if they do not" He accompanied
this astounding remark by significant
glance, which his interlocutor took ia
imply, Don't you understand that is
precisely what we expect ?"
ROASTING ALIVE.
The same ship was visited at anoth-
er place on her outward voyage, and
on competent authority it was ascer-
tanned that not one-third of the un.
fortunate prisoners on board could
possibly reach their destination alive.
But my information is not confined tc
this one instance. The Niihi-
Novgorod, formerly known as the
Saxonia, Of the Hamburg and New
York line of steamers, but since pur-
chased for the Russian volunteer feet,
arrived at Port Said. under Russian
colors and manned by Russian sailors.
at the end of last month. She had
$50 convicts on board, for the most
part Nihilists condemned to be trans
ported to the island of Sagnalien.
The Suez Canal Company raised the
question as to whether this ship.
which was known to have sailed
under merchant colors on her last
journey from Marseilles to Odessa,
and which belongs neither to the
Russian government nor to the Rus
sian transport service, but which was
freighted for the volunteer feet,
should be considered as a ship Of war.
The discussion resulted in the Nijhi
Noygorod being treated as man of
war, under protest of the Russian
consul. Now, the question just
raised caused a stoppage of three
days, during which the convicts on
board were literally left to roast in
the heat, which, at this time of the
year, is terrible. Their torture was
prolonged for seventy-two mortal
hours, because the Russian authori.
ties hoped to deceive the Suez Canal
! Company. But this is not ALL The
same vessel is to perform the same
voyage with similar cargo four times
in the course of the present year, and
be it observed that other ships are
engaged in the same traffic.
1t has been reported since the above
was written that $50 persons had died
on one of these ships, and that $50
had been landed in a dying condition.
Mr.. Cowen asked Mr.. Bourke about
it yesterday in the house of commons.
but, of course, the foreign Office had
no information. He was asked if the
English government had demonstrated,
and to this the secretary sardonically
intimated that the government was
not in the habit Of Interfering with
other governments unless they had
reason to believe that their remon-
strances would have some effect. But
the subject is creating much indigna-
tion in England. lit must be added
that the Daily News correspondent at
st. Petersburg telegraphs that the
above story Is greatly exaggerated.
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