The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-30
Siberian Exlles.


convicts are divided into three classes.
First come those condemned for the
foulest crimes known to the Russian
law, such as would In England entail
on tho criminal penal servitudc for life
or for long term Of years. These cul-
prits arc doomed to work in tho mines,
and usually have hard lot. Such OK
Ties are called in Siberia Katorshuiki-
term no doubt derived from kateron,
the name given to a galley by tho By
zantine historians. as we'll as by the
Greeks Oh the Black Sea al tho present
day. Next come the Loslannyje ma ro-
botto, or eXlles condemned for shorter
periods and for minor offences. Va
grants at large, rogues worthy Of
longer term OF punishment than i'm
prisonment, prisoners sentenced by the
communal courts, and in former days,
serfs condemned as refractory laborers
by tho government, on application by
the proprletors of estates OH which they
lived, rs minor political offenders who
are we'll out of harms way, comprise
the bulk of these "unfortunates." The
place they are sent to is proportional
| to their turpitude--the worst Offenders
being despatched farthest from the.
boundaries Of Russia, In Europe-for
instance to the shores Of the Arctic sea
and the eastern provinces, while the
lighter culprits are permitted to settle
down In western Siberia, Immediately
to the west Of the Urals. This class of
cohvicts are usually condemned only
for short terms, and are designed for
colonists on the expiration of their
term Of forced labor. Even before that
dato they are often employed lin the
government service, more like ordinary
laborers thon as legal slaves. The third
and highest class Of exiles are the LOS
lannyJe na poselenye, who are con-
demned for mild crimes. In fact, they
are considered to have expiated their
offences as soon as they arrive in the
country, and are at once established as
proper colonlsts, sometimes In villages
already existing, at another time in
now ones already laid out for them.
Siberian society, constituted to great
extent Of such elements as these des-
cribed, ls very genial, and frequently
refined, but not moral. Many Of the
convicts are political offenders, some
of the highest education and nobllity of
character; but vast number who have
gained certain amount Of freedom or,
whose sentences being expired, have
settled down In the country, are Of
quite another class. Actual criminals
have. no place left for them for repent
ance; they are always under the Jail
ban. But Offenders Of the higher class
and especially political exiles, arc rare
ly scowled on. Russian society is the
most tolerant In tho world, and since
political exiles have increased, tho front
Of their offending has ceased to be WIS.,
ible. They are, after year or two re-
ceived into the best company, and in
every way receive the treatment their
rank and education would have en-
titled them to at home. 1t Is only the
worst offenders who are not allowed to
be accompanied by their wives and fam
lilies; and, rs many Of them are people
Of rank, the balls, clubs and card par
ties Of Tobolsk or Tomsk are very diff
ferent from what similar social gath
ering chosen from the dctenus Of Port
Arthur would have been.