The Sentinel. [volume] (Trenton, N.J.) 1880-1882, 1881-04-23
THE CARS ASSASSINS.
Their Execution In It. Petersburg.

The New York telegram has the following
particulars of the Nihiist executions in ST.
Petersburg: On Thursday Russakoff asked
for three wax tapers such as are carried to
church, a copy of the New Testament and one
of the small consecrated loaves made and sold
by the monks. When not praying he smoked
cigarettes. In the course of the day he Of
fered his services to the government as a spy.
Naturally enough he met with refusal, for he
belonged only to the outside circle and could
be of little use. Jeliadof spent his time in
debating page after page about the trial, and
committing TO paper what he would not be
allowed to utter in speech. Sophie Peroffsky
wrote 10 her mother to waste no time or trouble
in assuaging the wrath of her father for what
had been done. He would never forgive.
kibaltschitisch, the maker of the bombs
and in some respects the most remark
able figure among the condemned, de-
voted his last hours to drawing up a
memoir on the subject of his pacific
discoveries, which he addressed to the high
court of justice. In the document he avowed
his desire that his name should be immortal
lied, and he made gift of his invention to the
state, on the condition that all the profit should
go to the amelioration of the lot of the children
of political criminals.
The execution took place at O'Clock on
Friday morning on Simonofsky Plain, the same
spot on which Molodetsky was executed. The
Il STRUCTURE.
black, consisting of high platform, upon
which were three posts, each with a chain and
mancles, and one long horizontal beam, with
iron rings for ropes, supported by two perpen-
dlcular posts. In front was a low platform for
the officials. The large plain around was COW
cred with snow and ice, which was melting in
the warm sunshine. BY s O'Clock many
thousands of people had collected around the
plain and swarmed in the various streets lead
th0uSapd l-prrt tbafl
back and formed two squares around the gal
lows. First were the Cossacks with couched
lances and then detachments of the guard
The infantry was massed in deep columns, leav-
ing one side of the inner square open for the
passage of the condemned prisoners and escort.
The cortege entered the eastern side of the
plain few minutes before 8 o'clock, having
passed through some of the principal streets on
the way from the fortress.
The condemned criminals were seated high
in the center of two-wheeled platforms tightly
strapped to iron rods, with their backs toward
the horses, and having on their breast large
cards with the word sTsareoubiest' murderer
of the czar) in black and white. Surrounding
them was a strong escort of Cossacks and in
fantry, with drums and flies playing lively
time and preceded by mounted gendarmes.
The condemned persons We're dressed in black
and wore a sort of black hood covering their
heads and shoulders. On the first t,lmbril sat
Russakoff and geliadoff, both of whose features
were nearly concealed by heavy hoods Jelia-
dotf7s dark, piercing eyes seemed to shine with
even intensified brilliancy and defiance as he
looked ON the scene around him. On the second
tumbril were seated kibalschitisch. SOPHIE
Peroffskv and Michailoff, the woman occupying
the middle seat. Of these three the features of
Sophie Perohslly were alone distinctly visible,
her extraordinary high and broad forehead
being unshrouded by the hood Her slightly
flushed face betokened great mental excite
ment, but there was no sign either of fear or
remorse. General Becanoff, with the execu-
toner and his four assistants, was waiting
under the scaffold.
The condemned were unbound and led up tbs
steps. With the exception of Russakoff, who
seemed very feeble, all showed remarkable
frmness and resignation. Sophie Peroffsky APP
peared the calmest of all the five prisoners.
They were then placed in front of the three
posts with their heads bare, the woman being
in the middle. While the clerk of the senate
read the sentences the civilians uncovered and
officers saluted. During this formality five
priests in purple caps mounted the scaffold and
presented the cross, which all the condemned
reverently kissed. The prisoners were then al
lowed to kiss each other, and word or two
passed between them, but the beating of the
drums, which now began and lasted until the
execution was finished, drowned every other
sound. The prisoners were then placed under
the beam. Each prisoners head was covered
with white hood attached TO kind of sack
Each one, beginning with Russakof, was led to
the top of a small stool with steps.