The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-09-27
HonnOns OF SIBERIAN EMILE.


"
HORRORS OF SIBERIAN EXILE.
OF the treatment of political exles In ST.
IBERIA | have before me a thrilling description
from the pen Of Mr.. Robert Lemke, a Ger
man writer, who has visited the various
penal establishments Of Russia with an of.
fetal legitimation. He had been to Tobolsk;
after which he had to make long, dreary
journey in a wretched car, until high
mountain rose before him. In its torn and
craggy flank the mountain showed colos-
sal opening similar to the mouth of burnt
out crater. Fetid vapors, which almost took
away his breath, assembled from it.
Pressing his handkerchief upon his lips,
Mr.. Lemke entered the opening of the rock,
where he found large watchhouse, with
picket of Cossacks. Having shown his pa
pers, he was conducted by guide through
a long, very dark and narrow corridor,
which, Judging from its slipping descent,
led down into some unknown depth, In
spite of his good fur, tie visitor felt extreme
ly cold. After walk Of some ten minutes
through the dense obscurty, the ground be-
coming more and more soft, a vague shim-
mer of light became observable. ave are
in the mine p' 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
thick rust. a watchman appeared, who UNI
locked the heavy iron gate. Entering
room of considerable extent, but which was
scarcely mans height, and which was
dimly lit by an oil-lamp, the visitor asked
"Where are we? ?" "In the sleeping room of
the condemned Formerly it was produce
tive gallery of the mine now 1t serves as
shelter"
The visitor shuddered This subteran-
can sepulchre, lit by neither sun nor moon,
was called sleeping room. Alcove-like
cells were hewn into the rock here, on
couch Of damp, halfrotten straw, covered
with a sackcloth, the unfortunate sufferers
were to reposo from the days work. Over
each cell a cramp-iron was fixed, wherewith
to lookup the prisoners like ferocious dogs.
No door, no window, anywhere.
Conducted through another passage, where
a 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 deaienng noise of pickaxes
and hammers. There he saw some hl n
dreds ofwretched figures, with shaggy bealds
sickly faces, Redeemed eyelds clad in tat
tiers, some of them barefoot, others in suI d.
ais, fettered with heavy foot chains. No
song, no whistling. Now and then tley
shyly looked at the visitor and his comIan-
ion. The water drpped from the stones
the tatters of the convicts were thoroughly
wet. One of them, a tall man of suffering
men, labored hard with gasping breath,
but the strokes of his pickaxe were not hea-
Wy and firm enough to loosen the rock.
"Why are you here ?" Mr.. Lemke usked.
The convict looked cofused, with an air
slmost of Transformation, and silently continu-
ed his work.
at is forbidden to the prisoners" said the
inspector, "to speak of the cause Of their
banishmentW
Entombed alivei forbidden to say why
"But who is the convict2" Mr.. Lemke
asked the guide, with low voice.
at is Number ll4I' the guide replied la
conically.
"Ths see," answered the visitor but
what are the mans antecedents? To what
family does he belong?"
"He is count" replied the guides "a
well known oonsprator. More, | regret TO
say, l cannot tell you about Hal"
The visitor felt as if he were stiaed in the
grave like atmosphere. lie hastily asked
his guide TO return with him to the upper
world. He met the military commander
who asked
"Well, what impression did our penal es'
tablishment make upon your Very indus
trious people, the men below, are they not p
"But with what feelings" Mr.. Lemke an
swered, "must these unfortunates look for
ward to a day of rest after a weeks toll !"
Crest" said the officer, "there is no rest
for them. They are condemned to perpet'
ual forced labor. Once in the mine, they
remain"
"But this is barbarous I"
Said the officer, "The exiled work daily
for twelve hoursj on Sundays too. They
must never pause. But no, am mistaken
Twice year rest is permitted them-at
Easter and on the birthday of his Majesty
the Emperor"