Arizona weekly citizen., 1882-04-09
RUSSIAN JUSTICE.
Account of tho Execution Of Lieutenant Souka-
 nof the Eihilist.

Account of tho Execution Of Lieutenant Souka-
 nof. the Eihilist.
 The New York Herald's Petersburg special says: Lieutenant Sukanoff was shot Friday morning at Cronstadt. He had written to the Emperor, saying that he would rather die than endure the life of convict. He only begged that he might be spared the shame of dying at the hands of a hangman, and might be allowed to fall like a soldier. His request was granted, ani on Thurs day he was told to prepare for execution. He answered, simply: "It IS well; l am ready" At , the next morning he left Fortress of St. Peter and St. Paul, whither he had been transported after the trial, with nine other Nihilists sen tenced to death with him and since re- prieyed. The day was just dawning as he crossed the Neva in an enclosed am bulance carriage, on his way to Peter hOf Station, escorted by three gen darmes.
 During the journey he maintained ab- solute silence. He was dressed in the prisoners suit, wearing gray trousers and jacket, and cap with sort of peak at the back covering his neck. A rough coat was thrown over his shoulders The city was quite hushed at this early hour of the morning, and SoukanofTs passage was not remarked. At the station train composed of two first-class and two second-class carriages was waiting. They got into the second-class carriages with the gendarmes. Major General Jomaroff, the Chief of the Gendarmes Brigade, and several other officers and soldiers, entered the frst-class' carriages and the tram started on its dismal jour ney. At ten minutes past seven o'clock the train reached OriOuenbaum, where the party alighted ard walked about one hundred steps to the steamboat pier, where two small steamboats were wait ing to take them across the ice-encum bered rlver. In half an hour they reached the Custom House on the other side. SOukanoff still made no sign. All was silent, and the scene was very solemn. The sun began to rise over the distant Baltic. The gendarmes gave General Jomaroff a receipt for the prisoner, and the Generals mission terminated. The deacon of the Cronstadt Church was awaiting the prisoner on the landing stages. Soukanoff, the priest, and two gendarmes got into another ambulance carriage aad drove of, escorted by the rest of the gendarmes. At quarter to nine they arrived at the fortress bar racks, and were greeted by loud four ish of trumpets. An enormous crowd had collected to see the execution. The roofs and ramparts were black with hu- man beings. The military element, how ever, was predominant. The place ofexe- cutiou was occupied by detachments of naval forces, before whom the prisoner walked with hands unfettered, accom- panied by the priest. The attitude of the troops was respectful. A solemn silence prevailed. The prisoner halted a few paces distant from the black post '''-i- V0 idsteneu, ana awaited the platoon told off for the exc cntiOn. It consisted of two non-commis- stoned officers and ten marines. Behind these were stationed another marine and nOn-commissiOned officer, who were to give the coup de grace should the first discharge not kill the prisoner instant aneously. Behind these again were three soldiers to receive the body, and one nOn-commissioned officer who was to bind the prisoners eyes. A delegate of Procureur Mouravief and surgeon were also on the ground. The reading of the sentence occupied twenty minutes. The priest was praying the whole time. When the reading was over. Soukanof said to the priest that he implored Gods pardon for his sins, and then he twice devoutly kissed the Bible and the cruciix rendered to him. The priest then withdrew. The prisoner was bound to his post; his eyes were bandaged, and a sort of white garment was thrown over hlm.
 Soukanoff calmy said, Raise the bandage, so that I can see"
 The twelve men then silently levelled their pieces at him. The officer dropped a handkerchief, and twelve shots fol lowed together, and the unhappy man fell He was killed instantaneously The body was thrown into a hollow grave. dug in advance. The trumpets sounded and the troops filed off to their quarters, while the crowd quietly dis persed. It was at first said that Sou kanOfFs mother was present at the execution. This, however, is not so as she only heard of it Tn the evening