, 1879-10-02
The Horrors of Siberian Exile.

OF the treatment of political eNlles in
Siberia, have before me a thrilling de-
scription from the pen of Robert Lemke,
German writer,whO has visited the va
rious penal establishments of Russia
with an official lcgitimation. He had
been to Tobolish; after which he had to
make u long, drcary iourneyin wretch
ed car, until high mountain rose be-
fore him. In its torn and craggy flank
the mountain showed a colossal opening
similar to the mouth of a burnt out era
ter. Fetid vapors, which almost took
away his breath, ascended from it.
Pressing his handkerchief upon his
lips, Mr.. Lemkc entered the opening Of
the rock, where he found a large watch
house, with a picket of Cossacks. Hav-
ing shown his papers, he was conducted
by guide through q long, very dark
and narrow corridor, which, judging
from its sloping descent, led down into
some unknown depth, In spite of his
good fur, the visitor felt extreme " cold.
After walk of ten minutes through the
dense obscurity, the ground becoming
more and more soft, vague simmer Of
light became observable. 1--WE are in the
mine !" said the guide, pointing with a
significant gesture to the high iron
cross bars which closed the cavern before
them
The massive bars were covered with q
thick rust. A watchman appeared, who
unlocked the heavy iron gate. Enter
ing room of considerable extent, but
which was scarcely mans height, and
which was dimly lit by an oil lamp, the
visitor asked "Where are wel" "In
the sleeping room Of the condemned !
Formerly it was productive gallery of
the mine; now it serves for shelter"
The visitor shuddered This subter-
ranean sepulchre, lit by neither sun nor
moon, was called sleeping-room. AL
cove-like cells were hewn into the rock
Here, on couch Of damp, half-rotten
straw, covered with sackcloth, the un-
fortunate sufferers were to repose from
the days work. Over each cell cramp-
iron was fixed, wherewith to lock up
j. the prisoners like ferocious dogs. No
door, no window anywhere.
Conducted through another passage,
where few lanterns were placed, and
whose end was also barred by an iron
gate, Mr.. Lemke came to large vault,
} partly lit. This was the mine. A deaf
ening noise of pickaxes and hammers.
There he saw some hundreds of wretched
figures, with shaggy boards, sickly faces,
redeemed eyelids, 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 dripped from the stones the
tatters of the convicts were thoroughly
wet. One Of them, tall man of suffer-
ing mien, labored hard with gasping
breath, but the strokes Of his pickaxe
were not heavy and firm enough to
loosen the rock.
"Why are you herep Mr.. Lemke
asked. sf,'
The convict looked confused with an
air almost of CONSERVATION, and silently
continued his work.
ait 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 ?" Mr. Lemke
asked the guide, with low voice.
SIT is Number ll4!" the guide re-
piled, laconically
"This l see," answered the Visitor !:
"but what are the mans antecedents ;
To what family does he belongT
"He is Count" replied the guide !;
"a we'll known conspirator. More, I re-
gret to say, Icannot tell you,about Num-
Der ll4p IIr %
The visitor felt as if he were stihed in
the gravelike atmosphere-as if his
chest were pressed in by a demonical
nightmare. He hastily asked his guide
to return with him to the upper world
Meeting there the commander Of the mil
titary establishment, he was obligingly
asked. by that officer: S,sAa
swell, what impression did our penal
establishment make upons%up
MIR. Lemke stiay bowihg in silence,
the officer seem to take fhisas a lind nf