The National tribune., 1882-04-08
HOW A BRAVE SOLDIER DIED.

special dispatch from ST. Petersburg gives
the following details of the execution of Lieu
tenant S6ukanoff at Cronstadt last Friday He
had written to the Emperor, saying that he
would rather die than endure the life of a con-
vict. He only begged that he might be spared
the shame of dying at the hands of the hang
man. and be allowed to fall like soldier. His
request was granted On Thursday evening he
was told to prepare for execution. Heanswered
simply, 1t is well; am ready" At five next
morning he left the fortress Of st. Peter and
st. Paul, whittier he had been transported after
the trial with the nine other Nihilsts sentenced
to death with him and since reprieved. Tho
day was Just dawning as he crossed the Nev2
in closed ambulance carriage on his way to
the PeterhOff station, escorted by three gems
darmes. During the journey he maintained abb
solute silence. He was dressed i'll prisoners
suit, wearing gray trousers and jacket, and
cap with a sort of peak at the back, covering
his neck. A rough coat was thrown over his
shoulders At the station a train, composed of
two ffrst-class and two second-class carriages,
was waiting. The prisoner got into second
class carriage with the gensdarmes.
At 7:10 the train reached Orianenhaum,
hundred steps, starting from the steamboat pier,
where two small steamboats, were waiting to
take them across the ice-encumbered river. In
half an hour they reached the custom-house on
the other side. SOukanof still made no sign.
All was silent, and the scene was very solemn.
The sun began to rise over the distant Baltic.
The gensdarmes gave General Jomaroff a re-
ceipt for the prisoner, and the generals mission
terminated. The deacon of Cronstadt church
was awaiting the prisoner on the landing stage.
Soukanoff the priest and gensdarmes got into
another ambulance carriage and drove off. es-
cOrted by the rest of the gensdarmeS. At S:45
they arrived at the fortress barracks and were
greeted by loud flourish of trumpets.
An enormous crowd had collected to see the
execution The roofs and ramparts were black
with human beings. The military element,
however. was predominant. The place of exc
button was occupied by detaehments of naval
forces, before whom the prisoner walked with
hands unfettered, accompanied by the priest.
The attitude of the troops was respectful. Sol
emn silence prevailed. The prisoner halted at
n few PAGES distance from the black post to
which he was to be fastened, and awaited the
nlatoon told off for the execution. 1t consisted
of two non n-commisSioned officers and ten ma
rines. Behind these were stationed another
marine and a oa-commissiOned officer, who
were to give the coup de grace should the first
discharge not kill the prisoner instantaneOusly.
Behind these again were three soldiers to re-
ceive the body, and one nOn-commissioned offi-
Ger, who was to bind the prisoners eyes. The
reading of the sentence occupied twenty min
utes. The priest was praying the whole time
When the reading was over SoukanOfr said to
the priest that he implOred Gods pardon for
his sins, and twice devOutly kissed the Bible
and cruciix rendered him. The priest then
withdrew. The prisoner was bound to the post.
His ewes were bandaged and sort of white
chemise was thrown over him. Soukanofr
calmly said, Raise the bandage; can see."
The twelve men then silently leveled their
pieces at him. The officer dropped handker-
chief and twelve sharp reports followed to-
gether, and the unhappy man fell. He was
killed instantaneously. The body was thrown
into shallow grave, dug in advance. The
trumpets sounded and the troops filed off to
their quarters, while the crowd quietly dis
persed.