Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-08-30
Miscellaneous.
All For Loving 4 Princess.
Why A SWISS PROFESSOR WAS SENT A. An
EXILE TO SIBERIA


ofChicago and earning a modest income a.
a teacher Of music and languages, is a
gentleman who. if he be not a full -blown
Whilst, has 1T least good reason for svrn-
pathizing with the objects and aims Of the
nihilistic organization. lie il now an old
man, counting By years. though his eye is
80 bright, his frame 20 robust and his step
so firm that stranger meeting him tor
the first time would never suspect that he
had passed middle life. But he comes OF
a hardy race-the Sgiss-aud was nurt-
ured in the e-oiying atmosphere Of the
Alps. In his youth he must have had a
constitution Of iron. else he could not have
survived the sufferings and privatiOns
which have been his lot.
Although sociable in the bighes; degree.
he rarely in the course Of conversation
touches upon his past. The subject Is a
painful one, and it is Only when he is
deeply moved that his reticence gives way.
Little by little in the last four or five years
a Chicago Herald reporter has learned
much OF his history; but there is doubles
much more which has never been told.
The assassination Of the Gar was an
event which had the effect OF loosening
his tongue, and during discussion Of the
causes Of the tragedy he narrated an in
teresting incident OF his life.
What horrible. what useless muir
der the reporter had exclaimed alter
reading aloud some of the dispatches.
HORRIBLE No. Useless, That re
mains to be seen" he replied. IL was
the logical consequence of the Russian
domestic policy. and may be productive of
great good to the Russian people"
What good can ever come of an assas
sination?''
Assassination Well it is an unpleas-
ant word. admit. but II means nothing
more than bloodshed, and what great re-
form was ever accomplished without
bloodshcd. II cost rivers of blood to eman-
cipate the negro slaves Of America
"True. in that ease. but the serfs Of
Russia were liberated without the sacri-
flee Of single life =
''Do you think the people of Russia are
free to-day? No Why, even 4 foreigner
loses his freedom the moment he sets foot
on Russian soil. DO you think all exiies
are Russian subjects No. /, Swiss,
was in Siberia"
You in Siberia 30 An exile p
Yes"
'liow could that happen
II will tell you. because it will show
You how great il the power of the Gar
and how defenseless are the people. My
case was one in thousands. and my sui-
ferings nothing as compared Ia those
which many exiics endured.
81 was soldier in my youth. and served
in many parts of the world. In my last
engagement was severely wounded. II
is nothing now. but for a time | was in
capaciated for active military service. |
had always had q taste for music. and had
received y good musical education When
retired from the army. therefore. sought
to support myself by teaching. St Peters
burg seemed to present u good field. So |
went there. | was well supplied with
letters OF introduction. which procured for
me the influence of some of the most impor-
tant personages in Russia. and | had no
difficulty in obtaining pupils of high rank
AT first taught music only. but | soon
found that could add to my income by
teaching the English. French and Italian
languages. of which had n thorough
knowledge. Within IL year | was well
established and had even laid by little
money. | had every reason to congratu-
late myself upon my position.
but an evil day came. | was sitting
alone in my little library one evening when
two agents of the police entered aud
placed me under arrest"
For what cause p
"For what cause' That was the ques-
ton myself asked, but il was many
long day before it was answered The
police would tell me nothing. They sim
ply hurried me of to prison No formal
oh Pevp me ,eotn
was no trial. but in two weeks | was on
the way 10 Siberia. Ii was winter. and
the journey was terrible one. Think OF
it, Thousands of miles in an open sledge
was taken TO the Oukboul mine. and there
in the dark. breathing poisonous exhala-
tons, worked with convicts OF the loves.
class. while guard. armed with whip.
stood ready TO lash us if we relaxed our
efforts. This lasted tor six months. |
could not have stood IL much longer
Already my strength was beginning To
tail, although when entered the mine |
was strong as three men. | determined
to escape. but before | had decided how
or when | was transferred to IrkoutSk.
The Government was building roads and
needed laborers. 1t was hard work in
the burning sun. but child's play as COM
pared to the mine. After while they
found was an engineer. and that they
could make better use of my head than OF
my hands
One day l found an opportunity to
escape Il was in winter-my second
winter in Siberia-A courier was to be
sent to the Gar. He was going in a
sledge, and was to be accompanied part
of the way by a guide. had made good
use of my time in the engineering depart |
mont, and knew the route from Irkoutsk !
to the frontier ~ well as it could he
learned from maps. | resolved. ii posi- |
BILE. to take the place of the guide. For |
tune favored me. The night before | !
found the guide. piled him with brandy. |
and LETT him in y drunken stupor. Before |
daybreak | returned and aroused him |
He was still intoxicated and very thirsty |
A few more drinks Of brandy sufliced to |
stupefy him. Then took his clothes. his |
horse and his sledge, went tor the courier. |
and in an hour we had left Irkoutsk Far
behind US. The courier suspected moth |
ing. He had never seen the real guide. |
and had therefore. no reason to suppose | |
vas an impostor. accompanied him rs !
~ as Omsk, where he procured another |
feitle and another vehicle. You may be |
sure was not sorry to part with him. for /
- every posting house since we LEFT |