Brookings County sentinel. (Brookings, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1890, 1882-09-28
DEATH OF SIEROCtNSkt.
The Polish Post sisia BY Seven Thessssd Biews-
Brutal Murder.


Michelet =" Martyrs de Ia siber1a."I
Apropos OF the condemnations to ST.
IBERIA, 40 numerous OF late years, it will
interest our readers to remember how
Russia punished the authors OF one
famous conspiracy in that hideous col
ony. Sierocinski, the illustiious polish
poet, with three comrades, had formed
project to excite a vast revolt and es-
cape. The mutineers, many Of whom
belonged 10 the army, were to fight their
way to India, where they would find
liberty and safety. The plot was be-
trayed by some infamous rascal.
At last, in 1887, the horrible sentence
came from st. Petersburg. Several
Poles and Russians were condemned to
receive 1000 blows, without mercy,
without the omission OF one; the rest
were to receive 5000. which are suffi.
cient to kill. General Gataiejeff had
been sent on expressly to superintend
the execution of the sentence. His fer
ocity made even the Russians indignant.
At daybreak two full battalions, each
consisting of 1000 men,--so that the
blows could be more easily counted
we're drawn up in line outside the city.
Gatatiejeff took his place in the center.
Sticks were substituted for rods; and the
soldiers were placed close together, that
the blows might be better laid on.
1t was very cold-March in Siberia!
Sierocinski was stripped. He was tied
to the barrel of rife, with the bayouet
pressing against his chest, according to
custom. Then two soldiers led him be-
tween the ranks OF the soldiers at regu-
lar pace, so that he could advance neither
too quickly nor too slowly. Then the
regimental physician advanced to
strengthen the victim with a few drops
Of liquor, for his feeble constitution had
been exhausted by three months OF
prison, and lie seemed rather a shadow
than q man; but he had preserved all his
strength Of soul and force of will. He
turned away his head when the doctor
presented the stimuiart, and replied,
Drink our blood and my own; | have
no need OF your drops" Then when
the signal was given he repeated the
miserere aloud. Gatafieietf shouted
three times with fury, "Strike harderl
strike harder! strike harder!" The
blows were so furious that when he had
passed once between the ranks, after
having received thousand blows, upon
arriving at the other end of the battalion
he fell upon the snow, covered with
blood. and tainted They tried to make
him stand up again, but he could not
keep himself upon his feet. A little
framework was ready, upon a sledge.
Sierociuski was placed upon it on bis
Ennaa he Inn.la t,nl Iah,.I L,r,
and his body bent forward. Thus all
movement was impossible, as he was
fastened upon the sledge. Theu they
recommended to drag him between the
ranks. Gatafejeff continued 70 shout
.. Harder! Harder!" At first Sierocins
XII continued to utter groans wrested
from him by agony. These became
weaker and weaker and at last ceased
altogether. After having received
1000 blows he still breathed. Then he
died. The remaining 1900 blows were
neverthele ss counted upon his dead
body, or rather upon his skeleton. All
the victims, especially he, were so worn
out with blows, that according TO the
testimony Of eyewitnesses poles aud
Russians) with whom | have spoken,
shreds OF flesh were scattered in the air
atevery blow-nothing but broken bones
could be seen at last.
The Poles were afterwards allowed to
place cross upon the tomb of these
martyrs; and that tall cross of black
wood remains, rising above the solitude
OF the steppe. extending its protecting
arms above the grave Of the victims as
though imploring the mercy of God.