The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-07-19
An Execution in Russia.

spectator Of the execution of Solo
yietf, the young Russian who attempted to
assassinate the Car, sends to the London
Nelos the following description
A platform something less than three
feet 10 height, had been erected In the
field about one hundred yards from the
Great Prospect. On this were placed two
upright posts, aud eross-bar was affixed
to these, with duplicate arrangements Of
ropes, which certainly seemed very slight.
The second was evidently provided in case
OF any accident with the other. Toward
the back part Of the platform, and in the
middle, was third upright post, against
which subsequently the prisoner stood.
IL Is called By the Russians the "post Of
shame" There was also block Of wood,
two to three feet in height, on which it was
evidently intended the prisoner would be
placed. AT "a. NJ. probably some fifteen
hundred people had assembled, mostly
from the immediate neighborhood, attract
ed BY the preparations that had been 10
course Of completion through the light
summer night. No soldiers had arrived
up to this time, nor any large number Of
police. These gradually increased, and
\ about z O'Clock two prison vans arrived,
containing two ccnyicts in prison dress,
brought from the fortress, whose functions
were to assist the executioner as he might
require assistance. By 8 O'Clock con.
siderable body Of troops had arrived. Al
together three batalions of infantry, two
sotnias Of Cossacks and large body of
mounted gendarmes were on the ground.
These and the police kept the Great Pros.
pect clear Immediately and for some little
distance in front Of the field where the
scaffold was erected, and also guarded the
'lines" at right angles as well as the ground
behind. At 0 o'clock the general in com.
mand arrived, and at halfpast the Minis.
ter Of Justice, the Governor General Of
St. Petersburg and the Police Project.
SAT ten minutes to 10 the condemned
man and his escort appeared, the Cossacks
leading, then company ofgrenadiers, and
then cart (''telega, as it Is called, sur.
rounded by mounted gendarmes. The
prisoner was seated on an elevated bench
with his back to the horse and his hands
tied to rods fixed in the cart. He was in
the ordinary dress Of a criminal of the
privileged class-black coarse cloak, black
cap, without peak, and white trousers
On his breast was large black board;
with the words estate Criminal" written
in white letters. The executioner at once
approached and assisted him to alight
The prisoner then with firm step ascend
cd the platform, standing at the post o.
shame with his hands tied The ordel
was given to "present arms, the execu
toner took off Soloviefi- cap, and the sen
tence was read. During reading the pri
soner appeared unmoved, and looked re
pcatedly on the crowd from side to side
, Immediately the reading of the seutenc.
was finished, priest assembled the steps o
the platform with cross in his hand an,
advanced toward the prisoner, who move,
his head and said 81 do not wish It
do not wish it. The priest bowed as b
retired, and the prisoner acknowledged hi
farewell greeting in the same way. Tn
placard was then taken of, the drum
rolled, the hands Of the prisoner were un
tied, the exeeutioneer put on long whit
dress which covered his head and reaches
to his feet, the hands being wrapped |
underneath. lie then conducted tie oor
dcmned man to the block, where he stoo,
after the cord was adjusted, aud In fev
seconds all was over. About half an hou
afterwards black coffin was brought +
the platform The assistants helped tn
executiOner to place the corpse in it, tn,
medical officer Of the police certified as /,
the death, and, under an escort of Cos
sacks and mounted gendarmes, the coti
was carted away to DO inferred, as | an
Informed, In the burial ground for sui
cides