The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1879-10-22
RHE MORRIOTOWN GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. p, 1879.
THE HORRORs OF SIBERIAN EXILE.
A Thrilling Description OF the Shocking
Karl Blind IN the Contemporary heVIe"'I

A Thrilling Description OF the Shocking
scenes.
Karl Blind in the Contemporary Reviewl
OF the treatment of political exiles in
Siberia I have a thrilling description
from the pen of Mr.. Robert Lemke,
German writer. who has visited the
various penal establishments OF Russia
with an official legitimation. lie had
been to Tobolsk; after which he mad 10
make a long, dreary journal ID IN
wretched car, until high mountain rose
before him. In its torn and craggy flank
the mountain showed colossal opening
similar to the mouth OF burned out era
ter. Fetid vapors, which almost TOOK
away his breath, assembled from 1t.
Pressing his handkerchief upon has
lips, Mr.. Lemke entered the opening Oh
the rock. where he found large watch
house with a picket of Cossacks. Iiav-
inc shown his papers, he was conducted
by a guide through long, very dark
and marrow corridor, which, Judg-
ing from its sloping descent, Led down
into some unknown depth. In spite OF
his good fur, the visitor felt extremely
cold After walk of some ten minutes
tnrouph the dense obscurity, the ground
becoming more and more soft, vague
Skinner of light became observable.
1--WE are in the mine" said the guide,
Dointing with a significant gesture to the
bioh iron cross bars which closed the
cavern before them.
The massive bars were covered with
thick rust. A Waterman appeared, who
unlocked the heavy iron gates. Enter
inn a room of considerable extent, but
which was scarcely. a mans height, and
which was dimly lit by an oil lamp, the
visitor asked:
"Where are we2
"In the sleeping room OF the con
demnedl Formerly it was productive
gallery of the mine; now 1t serves as
shelter"
The visitor shuddered. The subter-
Yannean sepulchre, lit by neithersu nor
moon, was called sleeping room. Al
cove-iike cells were hewn into the rock;
here, on a couch of damp, half rotten
straw. covered with a sackclOth, the I'M
fortunate sufferers were to repOse from
the DAYS work Over each cell cramp-
iron was fixed, wherewith to lock up
the prisoners like ferOcious dogs. NO
door, no window anywhere.
Conducted through another narrow
passage, where a few lanterns were
placed. and whose end was also barred
bv an iron gate, Mr.. Lemke came to a
large vault, partly lit. This was the
mine. A deafening noise of pickaXes and
hammers. There he saw hundreds OF
wretched figures, with shaggy boards,
sickIy faces, redeemed eylids; clad IN
tatters, some of them barefoot, others IN
sandals, fettered with heavy foot chains.
No song, no whistling. Now and then
they shyly looked at the visitor and his
companion. The water dropped from the
stones; the tatters of the cOnVlcts were
thoroughly wet. One of them, tall
man of suffering mien, labored hard
with gasping breath, but the strokes OF
his pickaxe were not heavy ana nrn
enough to loosen the rock.
Why are you hereT Mr. Lemke
asked.
The convict looked confused, with an
air almost of CONSERVATION, and silently
continued his work.
"It-is forbidden to the prisoners, =
said the inspector, " to speak OF the
cause of their Punishment"
Entombed alive; forbidden to say
why! -, -,
Lemke asked the guide, with a low
voice.
"Itis Number Hap the guide replied
laconicslly.
"This I see," answered the visitor
"but what are the mans antecedentsl
To what family does he belOngW
"He is a count" replied the guide
ga well-knOwn conspiratOr. More, l re-
greet to say, I can not tell you about
Number Hap
The visitor felt as if he were stifled II
the gravelike atmosphere-as if his ches
were pressed in by demOniacal night
mare. He hastily asked his guide to re
turn with him to the upper world
Meeting there the commander OF tn
military establishment, he was obllglngl.
asked by that officer:
"Well, what impression did our pena
establishment make upon your
Mr.. Lemke stiffiy bowling in silence
the officer seemed to take this as kin
of satisfied assent, and went on:
every industrious people, the men b'
low; are they notP
{" But with what feelings" Mr.. Lemk
answered, "must these unfortunate
look forward to day of rest after tn
weeks TOLL"
Restp said the officer. "COnvict
must always labor. There Is no rest IL
them. They are condemned to perpetu;
forced labor; and he who once enters Ii
mine never leaves it!'
"But this is barbarOusW
The officer shrugged his shoulders, an
said: "The exiled work daily for lively
hours: on Sundays too. They mu
never pause. But, no; I am mistaken
Twice a year, though, rest is peTmittC
TO them-at Easter time and on Il
birthday of his Majesty, the Emperor