Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-01-26
What Hauishment to Sib sria
Means,
ICinolnnatl Commercials

Some of those liberty-loving
Russian students who insisted on
the right of petitions are to be ban.
ished to Siberia for their impudence
in thinking they had rights the
authorities should respect.
In order that foreign nations
might no longer call the subjects of
the Gear barbarous people, capi-
tai punishment was abolished; but
in its stead was substituted a sys-
tenn that, to the victim, is more
painful. With few exceptions,
Punishment to Siberia Is slow but
nevertheless certain death.
Strangers are informed that arbi-
trary transportations ceased long
ago. The Russians will, however,
admit the truth when they are
aware that the truth is known.
They will then say that nearly
every person transported to Siberia
admits the justice of the punish-
ment. This is doubtless true, for
the only chance Of obtaining par
don, or of being allowed to cOmmu-
nicate with friends, lies in writ
ten confession of guilt. The poor
fellows who refuse to give this are
never heard of afterward. They
do not even have the satisfaction
of informing the world that they
suffer unjustly.
Convicts are sent to Siberia by
sentence of the Courts, or by an
Imperial decree. When 1t is the
latter, the convict is said to be
"waiting the Czar's pleasure" and
none except the authorities ever
knows OF his fate, unless, as Is oc.
casionally the case, some tender
hearted police official, taking pity
on the bereaved wife, tells her to
hope in the Czar's clemency; in
other words, tells her that she is
widow. The convicts, except where
a sufficient bribe is offered, are for
warded In conveys, which start on
their way soon after the SHOWS
have disappeared in the Spring.
The whole journey is made on foot.
They are escorted by mounted Co.'S
sacks, all armed with pistols, lances
and long whips. Behind them jolt
a long string of tumbrils without
springs, in which are placed those
who become too lame or sick to
walk. They always start in the
night, and pass through towns
only after dark. Each con-
vict wears sheepskin bonnet,
knee boots and gray caftan, fas-
tened to the breast. In addition
lie carries rug, a mess.tin and q
wooden spoon. The women wear
black cloaks with hoods, and
march in gangs by themselves.
They have an escort of soldiers,
who ride In carts. When the con-
victs leave large cities like st.
Petersburg they are chained with
their hands behind their backs.
Except in the case of those marked
dangerous" as soon as they get
outside the city their fetters are
removed. The dangerous ones are
compelled to wear four-pound leg
chains all the way, and those who
are desperate are yoked by threes
to a beam of wood that rests on
their shoulders and Is fastened to
their necks by iron collars.
In the procession no distinction
is made between one class and an
other. Murderers, thieves, Mill
lists, clergymen, doctors, mutinous
soldiers and loyal Poles, are all
hurried along as fast as they can
60. AT the first church outside the
city they are driven into the build
ing and attend mass for the last
time, and hear q sermon, in which
the goodness of the Gar Is always
extolled. Then their chains are
removed, and they are allowed to
! ronvr-sc for the rest # the way ex-
cept whom passing through towns.
They sometimes sing nd endeavor
! 70 drown their misery in plaintive
cries about .ue homes left behind
I hem.
sympathy for them is universal.
| ~ only r00Ges were Oh as punished
! 30 wosld be otherwise. Villagers
viii bring 0ut thell last crust to
feed one of the fortunates. -
! The Oossacks, even. sGmetimes man
ifest q rough sort Of sy mpathy, and
faiiow them TO lake whatever the
| villagers, having hoard that they
would pass that way, may have set
b. the roadside for them. This
/ usgaily consists Of tureens ol
steamiug N5hi, piles of newly
baked bread, ana lugs of vodki.
The guards make use of their whips
!. only IN case OF nslbordination.
FregnontIy tho dsiirilm Of fever Il
.--s.. ~. ..s......ussion, and del.
icate men and women are brutally
/ v ghifld that Others may taks
. Z ... l.