New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-15
THE NEUS FROM RUSSI1.

The news coming in daily from Russia dur
ing the last fortnight has as usual, an unreal
atmosphere of mystery, vastness and ghastly
horror about 1t which makes it read like trag-
ments out of some Middle-Age romance rather
than the ordinary progress of events IN
civilized nation. The Nihilists have used their
sole weapon, the torch, with frightful eject
since the middle of July. Village after VII
lage lying isolated on the great steppes, con-
sIsting of the establishment of rich land
holder and the cabins of his former serfs, has
sent no its little shaft of flames into the
night, and before morning been only heap
of ashes; large towns holding as important
a place in Eastern Russia and Siberia as
Pittsburg and Cincinnati III our inland States
Orenburg, Irkutsk Perm and Wralkk-are
burned to the ground.
Another and new phase Of horror is added
in the disclosure of atrocities among the
monks. The Lebradyn coster recently found
tardy courage to complain of their prior,
who, it appears, has for years compelled them
to provide food from their congregations for
his beastly passions of all kinds, and has
forced them to do this, when unwilling by
secret torture. Eight of the number have
been murdered or driven to suicide during the
last year, one having been. fiayed alive.
The case has been brought before the
Car, and it is expected that he will
look into the dark secrets of the mon
asteries, which are said to be nameless III
their horror. and clear them out as soon as
he has suppressed the political troubles
There is still, however, the same absolute
veil of secrecy wrapped about the peculiar
methods of suppression now being used by
this great Father of all the Russias. That
they are terrible and merciless is matter OF
fact, which cannot, however, be kept quiet.
Ivan the Terrible himself, IN the latter half
of his life, when he gave himself
over to the worship of the devil would have
approved of them. The Nihllists on their way
to the island of Saghalien were literally
packed IN iron cages, under the deck of the
ship, without ventilation, in the highest heat
of midsummer. Both men and women, many
of the latter possessing rank and culture,
were chained down in these cages. In the ship
Mini -NovgOrod, $50 of these political cOnyicts
were thus packed; in another, $50. They
were to remain chained in their cages during
the passage of the tOrrid heats of the Suez
Canal, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Two hundred and fifty died before reaching
Suez, and $50 were taken out dying. 1t is
stated, too, that the Cossacks are being driven
latter our manner with the POncas), whole
villages at once. from their homes to the
Chinese frontier to establish Gordon of mill
tary posts. Both these statements are denied
by the organs of the Government. Mr..
Corwin, Radical member of the House
of Commons, as our readers know, gave no.
tice that he would call upon the Foreign
Office Tor information, and request the English
Government to interfere on behalf of humanity
if the reports proved to be true. 1t is not at
all likely that Lord Beaconsfeld will be per-
suaded to put his cautious hand into so very
muddy pool as Russian politics just now,
simply for the humane purpose OF dragging
out some miserable Nihiists, who are being
done to death TOO hurriedy.
No phase in history equals in secrecy, dark
ness and vague horror the glimpses of life in
Russia opened to us this Summer.