Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-08-25


: has to make recommendations to Congress
with much more care than he can possibly
give to them under the existing system.
|
ALL FOR LOVING A PRINCESS.
Why Swiss Professor was Sent as on Exile
To Siberia.
Occupying humble furnished lodgings in
one of the large buildings in the heart of
Chicago, and earning modest income as a
teacher of music and languages, is gentle
man who, if he be not full-blown NihiIist,
has at least good reason for sympathizing with
the objects and aims of the nihilistic organi-
zation. He is now an old man. counting by
years, though his eye is so bright, his frame
30 robust and his step so firm, that stranger
meeting him for the FIRST time would never
suspect that be had passed middle life But
he comes of hardy race-the Swiss-and
was nurtured in the life giving 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 highest 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 Chicago Herald
reporter has learned much of his history but
there is doubtless much more which has new
er been told.
The assassination of the Car was an event
which had the effect of looseniDg his tongue,
and during discussion of the causes OF the
tragedy he narrated the following interesting
incident of his life:
II was soldier in my youth, and served
in many parts of the world. In my last en-
gagement I was severely ly wounded. 1t is
nothing now; but for time was incapaci-
tated for active military service. had al.
ways had taste for music, and had received
good musical education. When l retired
from the army, therefore, soug ht to support
myself by teaching. St. Petersburg seemed
to present good field, so | went there. /
was well supplied with letters of introduction,
which procured for me the influence of some
of the most important personages in Russia,
and 1 had no difficulty in obtaining pupils Of
high rank. AT first l taught music only,
but soon found that could materially add
to my income by teaching the English,
French, and Italian languages, of which |
had thorough knowledge. Within year |
was we'll established and had even laid by
little money. l had every reason TO congrat-
ulate myself upon my position.
"But an evil day came. l was sitting
alone in my little library one evening, when
two agents of the police entered and placed
me under arrest"
"For what cause?"
"For what cause' That was the question
I myself asked, but it was many long day
before it was answered. The police would
tell me nothing. They simply hurried me of
to prison. No formal charge was preferred
against me there was no trial, but in two
weeks I was on the way to Siberia. 1t was
winter, and the journey was terrible one.
Think of it =! Thousands of miles in an open
sledge l was taken to the Oukboul mine,
and there in the dark, breathing poisonous
exhalations worked with convicts of the
lowest class, while a guard, armed with a
whip, stood ready to lash US if we relaxed our
efforts. This lasted for six months. could
not have stood it much longer. Already my
strength was beginning to fail, although when
I entered the mine | was as 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 childs 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.
From that time my situation was much pleas
anter.
"One day found an opportunity to escape.
1t was in winter-my second winter in ST.
beria A courier was to be sent to the Car.
He was going in sledge, and was to be ac:'
companied part of the way by guide. |
had made good use of my time in the engin-
eering department, and knew the route from
Irkousk to the frontier as we'll as it could be
learned from maps. I resolved, if possible,
to take the place of the guide Fortune fa'
vored me. The courier was to start early in
the morning. The night before l found the
guide, piled him with brandy and left him in
drunken stupor. Before daybreak re-
torned and aroused him. He was still intox-
icated and very thirsty. A few more drinks Of
brandy sufticed to again stupefy him. Then
| took his clothes, his horse and his sledge,
went for the courier, and in an hour we had
left Irkoutsk far behind US. The courier sus-
pected nothing. He had never seen the real
guide, and had therefore no reason to suppose
I was an imposter. l accompanied him as far
as Omsk, where he procured another guide
and another vehicle. You may be sure l
was not sorry to part with him, for at every
posting house since we left Irkoutsk had ex-
pected arrest. I felt that I would be safer
without him. There was no difficulty, how
ever. 1 had very little money-scarcely
enough to keep me in food until should
reach the frontier. But fortune again favor
ed me. A merchant bound for Perm required
conveyance and guide, and as l protessed
to know the country, he employed me. 1t
would take too long to tell you all the Incl
dents of the journey. We arrived at Perm,
not without some difficulty, to be sure, (for |
was very uncertain of the route,) and | was
we'll paid for my services. From Perm pro-
ceeded, alone and, although 1 was without
passports or papers of any kind, managed
to complete my journey.
81 shall never forget the day l arrived in
St. Petersburg. 1t was still winter, and l
was penniless, hungry and in rags but l was
happy. formed the intention of presenting
myself at the Swiss Consulate and claiming
the protection of the Swiss government. |
was on my way thither when l was accosted
by two policemen. Not satisfied with my re-
plies to their questions, they arrested me. An
attempt had been made the day before to as
sassinate high official, and all suspicious
characters we're being taken into custody.
What there was in my appearance to excite