The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-11-13
The Horrors Of Siberian Exile.

The Horrors OF Siberian Exile.
Of the treatment of political exiles in
Siberia ] have before me thrilling de-
scription from the pen of Mr.. Robert
Lemke, German writer, who has Wis
tied the various penal establishments of
Russia with an official legitimation.
He had been to Tobolsk; after which
he had to make long, dreary journey
in wretched car, until a high mount
ain rose up before him. In it's torn
and craggy flank the mountain showed
a colossal opening, similar to the mouth
of burntout crater. Fetid vapors,
which almost took away his breath, as
cended from it.
Pressing his handkerchief upon his
lips, Mr.. Lemke entered the opening of
the rock, where he found large watch
house, with picket of Cossacks. Hav-
ing shown his papers he was conducted
by guide through 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 extremely cold.
After walk of some ten minutes
through the dense obscurity, the
ground becoming more and more soft,
vague simmer of light became OBJ
servable. "We are in the mine - said
the guide, pointing with significant
gesture to the iron cross-bars which
closed the cavern before them.
The massive bars were covered with
thick rust. A watchman appeared,
who unlocked the heavy iron gate.
Entering room of considerable ex-
tent, but which was scarcely mans
height, and which was dimly Lit by an
oi-lamp, the visitor asked: "Where
are wei" "In the sleeping-room OF the
condemned Formerly it was a pro-
ductive gallery of the mine; now it
serves as a shelter"
The visitor shuddered. This subter-
ranean sepulcher, Lit by neither sun nor
moon, was called sleeping room. Al
cove-fke 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 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 hundreds of wretched
figures, with shaggy boards, sickly faces,
Redeemed eyelids; clad in tatters, some
of them barefoot, others in sandals, fet-
tered with heavy foot-chains. Nc song,
no whistling. Now and then they shyly
looked at the visitor and his companion.
The water dripped from the stones; the
convicts were thoroughly wet. One Of
them, tall man with suffering mien,
labored hard with gasping breath, but
the strokes of his pickax were not heavy
and firm enough to loosen the rock.
"Why are you here?" MIR. Lemke
asked.
air almost Of CONSERVATION, and silently
continued his work.
at is forbidden to the prisoners"
said the inspector, "to speak of the
cause of their banishment!"
Entombed alive; forbidden to say
whyl
asked the guide, with low voice.
"It is number 114l" the guide re-
piled, laconically.
"This I see," answered the visitor
but what are the mans antecedentsp
To what family does he belong?"
"He is Count" replied the guide;
"a well-known conspirator. More, I re-
gret to say, I cannot tell you about
Number 114l"
The visitor felt as if he were stifed
in the grave-like atmosphere-as if his
chest were pressed in by demoniacal
nightmare. He hastily asked his guide
to return with him to the upper world.
Meeting there the commander of the
military establishment, he was obhging-
ly asked by that officer:
swell, what impression did our penal
establishment make upon your"
Mr.. Lemke stiffly bowling in silence,
the officer seemed to take this as kind
of satisfied assent, and went on:
Every industrious people, the men
below; are they not?"
"But with what feelings" Mr.. Lemke
answered, must these unfortunates
look forward to day of rest after 6
week of toil?"
"Restl" said the officer; aconvicts
must always labor. There is no rest fol
them. They are condemned to perpet
ual, forced labor; and he who once en-
ters the mine never leaves it'll
"But this is barbarousl"
The officer shrugged his shoulders
and said: @The exile works daily fo'
twelve hours; on Sundays, too. The.
must never rest. But, no; am mis-
taken. Twice a year, though, rest i
permitted them-at Easter time and OF
the birthday'of his Majesty the En-
peror." Karl Blind, IN the Co1etenlpo
Yaru Reuie,U.
a Novel Cure for Bright's Disease
About twenty years ago daughter
of mine-then about 6 years old-wa
given up to die by the family physician
who said that the disease was incura
BILE, and that it was never known to b
cured, either in Europe or Americs
The physician, on giving the case uI
told nv wife to give the child anythin