Louisiana capitolian., 1880-03-20
II, !,,'s,, d sIlt|.. Exile.
Contemporary Review.

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Contemporary Review.
OF the treatment Of political exilcs
in Siberia have before me thrilling
description from thepen 70 Mr.. Robert
Lemke, u German writer, who has
visited the various penal establish
ments Of Russia with an official
legitimation. lie had been to Tobolsk;
after winch he had to make q long,
drcary journey wrctcl'ed car, until
u high mountain rose before him. IN
its torn and cragged flank the noun
tain showed n colossal opening simi-
lar to the mouth Of q burDt-Out cru
ter. Fetid vapors, wllicl, almost
take away the breath, ascend from 1t.
Pressing his handkerchief upon his
lips, Mr.. Lemko entered the opening
Of tho rock, where he found large
watch house, with picket Of Cossacks.
Having shown his papers, l.e WAS
conducted by a guide through long,
very dark nnd narrow corridor, which,
Judging from its sloping descent, led
down into sun,e unknown depth. In
spite Of his good fur, the visitor felt
extremely cold. After n walk Of some
ten minutes through the dense OBJ
scurity, the ground becoming more
and more soft, q vague simmer Of
light became observable. 1--WE are in
the mine I" said the guide, pointing
will, u 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 unlocked the heavy iron gate.
Entering Il room of considerable size,
but which was scarcely y mans
height; and which was dimly lit by an
oil lamp, the visitor asked "Where
arc wei' Tn the sleeping room Of
the condemned! Formerly it WAS II
productive gallery Of the mine; now
it serves as a shelter"
The visitor shuddcrcd. This subter-
ranean scpulchre, lit by neither sun
nor moon, was called aSlceping room.
Alcove-like cells were hewn into the
rock here, on couch Of damp, half
rotten straw, covered with q asackcloth
the unfortunate sufferers were to
repose after the days work. Over
each cell clamp lrUn was fixed,
wherewitl, to lock up the prisoners like
terecious dogs. No door, no window
anywhere.
Conducted through another passage,
where few lanters were placed, and
whose end was also barred by an iron
gate, Mr.. Lemkc came to large
vault, partly lit. This was the mine.
\ deatcning noise Of pickaxcs and
hammers. There he saw some hun
drcds of wietched figures, whose
shaggy boards, siclsly faces, rcddencd
cyclids; clad in tattcrs, some Of them
barefoot, Others in sandals, fettered
will, heavy foot chains. There were no
songs, no whistling. Now and then his
they shyly looked at the visitor and
his companion. The water drippcd
from the stones the tatters Of the
convicts were thoroughly wet. One
of them, q tall man Of suffering micn,
labored hard with gasping breath, but
the strokes of his pickaxe were not
heavy and firm enough to loosen the
rock.
"Why arc you hcrer' Mr.. Lemke
asked.
The convict looked confused, with
an air almost of CONSERVATION, and
silently continued his work.
"It is forbidden to the prisoners"
sad the inspector, "to speak Of their
banisl,ment,"
Entombcd alive forbidden to say
why!
''But who is the convict7" Mr..
Lemke asked the guide, with low
voice.
"It is Number ia" the guide
replied laconically.
"rhis sce," answered the visitor,
"but what arc the mans antecedepts!
TO what family does he belong y"
"IIe is a Count" replied the guide,
"a well known conspirator. More, !
can not tell you about ia"
The visitor telt as if he were stifed
in the grave-likc atmosphere-as if
his chest were pressed in by a demon
iacal nightmare. He hastily asked
his guide to return with him to the
upper world. Meeting there the com
mander of military establishment, he
was obligingly asked by that officer:
"Well, what impression did our pc
nal establishment make upon you 2"
Mr.. Lemke stifly bowing in silence,
the officer seemed to take this rs a
kind of satisfied assent and went on:
every industrious people, the men
belOw--are they not p
"Bnt with what feelings" MI.
Lcmke answered, "must these unfor-
Inmates look forward to day of rest
after the weeks toll ~
"Rest!" said the officer, "convicts
must always labor. There is no rest
for them. They are condemned to
perpetual forced labor, and he who
once enters this mine never leaves it. :"
"But this is barbarnus !"
The officer shrugged his shoulders
and said, "The exi!el work daily for