, 1881-05-11

loWed on the ground that no extenuaIlng clr-
eumstances could be taken into consideration
in q case so heinOuS as the assassination OF the
Gar. The same courtesy which the represent
atives of the Press net with at The FfIal was
extended to them to-day by General Barnotf,
the Prefect, in giving them admission to he
place OF execution on the SimonOfsky Plain.
The last public execution on the same spot
was that of Molodetsky, who shot at General
Melikof. The scaffold was a rough wooden
structure painted black. consisting of a high
platform, upon which were three posts each
with q chain and manacles, and one long borl.
zontal beam, with iron rings for the ropes, sup
ported by two perpendicular posts. La front
was a low platform for the officials. The
large plain around is covered with snow and
ice, melting in the warm Sunshine. by 50
clock many thousand people had collected
around the plain and swarmed 10 the various
streets leading to it.. Some nine or ten thou
sand troops kept them back aEd formed two
squares round the gallows first the Cossacks.
with couched ~lances, and then detachmenis OF
the Guard Infantry masssd in deep columos,
leaving Que side of the inner square open for
the condemned prisoners and their escort. Ihe
coYt6ge was seen entering the eastern side Oi
the plain a few minutes before 9, having pass
ed through some of the principal streets on
their way to the Fortress. The condemned
criminals were seated high in the centre Of two
wheeled platforms, tightly strapped to iron
rods, with their backs to the horses and haV-
ing on their breasts large cards with thu words
{. MuYdere.s of the Gar" in black and white.
Surrounding them was a strong escort OF Cos
sacks ard Infantry, with drums and MES play
ing a lively tune, and preceded by mounted
Gendarmes. On the 6rst Of the black cars
were hound Jelaboff and Risakoff on the sec
ond Kibaichich and Michailof, with Sophie
perofskaia between them. They were dressed
in the c0arse black robes and caps used on tbr
criminals condemned, with their arms plnloned
to their sides. They all looked ghastly pale,
especially Risakoh, who more than once showed
signs Of failing strength. They appeared to Oe
conVerslng with each other as they were driven
upto the soafOld. BY thistime the eH4cutiOnef,
a strongly built man Of the peasant class, bad
adjusted 1--WE ropes 10 The cross beam With The
aid of an assistant and f0uf prisoners, in white
sheepskin prison bo0ts, who had volunteered for
the work. The cars were brought between Inc
scaffold and The low platform, IN which now
stood the various officials, officers, Senators,
the Procureuf, General Baranof, and the OIL
GERS attached to him, and the members OF the
Russian and foreign Pr IS. The drums and
flies ceased playing and the troops under Gene
raj Driesen, commanding The I'd DIVISION oil tine
Guard, shouldered arms. This men were uu-
bound and led up the steps of the scsttold Wy
the executionar and his assistants. WITH The
exception CT R~isaGoff, who seemed very lee
bic, they all showed remarkable irmnesS and
resignation. The woman Perotskeja appeared
the calmest of all, and 1t WIS noticeable that
she even retained a slight colour IN Ter cheeks
to the last. All the FIVE prisoners were then
placed in front of the three posts With their
heads bars, Perofskaja being in the middle
while the clark of the Senate read the SEMEN
ces from the platform below. The civilians
uncovered and the officers saluted during this
fOrmalisy. Five priests in purple caps then
mounted the soaffold and presented q Gross,
which all the prisoners revsrentiy kissed, show
ing that all sense Of religion had not been ob.
liberated by THAR spbvefsiys theories. and
crimes. Many of the political criminals who
have been executed during the last few years
have, as. your readers are aware, persiStently
declined, the last consolation of their rational
Church. The prisoners were then allowed to
kiss each other. A word or two passed be-
tween them, but the beating of the drums,
which now began and lasted till the execution
was finished, efectually drowned every other
sound. The prisoners we're placed under The
beam, and each had his head covered with a
white hood attached TO a kind OF sack. Each
one, beginning with Kibaicbich and ending
with Risakoff, was led to the top. of a snail
stool with steps the rope was then drawn
tight round one of the supporting beams, and
the culprit was left to ~straDgle by the stool
being Withdrawn from under him. All the