Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-11-25
4 Terrible Death

Apropos of the condcmnationsato Siberia
so numerous Of late years. it will interest
our readers to remember how Russia pun
ished the authors of one famous conspiracy
in that hideous colony. Sierocinsk, the H.
lustrious Polish poet, with three comrades,
had formed project to excite Il vast revolt
and escape. The mutineers many of whom
| belonged TO the army, were to fight their
way to India. where they would find liberty
and safety. The plot was betrayed by some
one
At last, in 1887, the horrible sentence came
| from st. Petersburg. Several Poles and
Russians were condemned to receive seven
thousand blows without mercy, with
out the omission of one; the rest
were to receive three thousand which
are sufficient to kill. General Gata-
tiejeif had been sent on expressly to super
| intend the execution of the sentence His
ierocity made even the Russians indignant
At daybreak two full battalions, each con-
sisting OF one thousand men-so that the
blows could be more easily counted-were
drawn up in line outside the city. Gatafie-
jetl took his place III the centre. Sticks
were substituted for rods and tho soldiers
were placed close together, that the blows
inlSll DC Dcltcf lalu on.
1t was very cold-Narch in Siberia!
sierocinski was stripped. He was tied to
the barrel of rifle, with the hayonct press
ing against his chest, according to custom.
Then two soldiers led him between the
ranks of the soldiers at q regular pace, SO
that he could advance neither too quickly
nor too slowly. Then the regimental ply
sician advanced to strengthen the victim
with a few drops of liquor, for his feeble
constitution had been exhausted by three
months Of prison, and he seemed rather q
shadow than Il man; but he had preserved
all his strength Of soul and force Of will
Hc turned away his head when the doctor
presented the stimulant. and replied,
Drink your blood and my own have no
need OF your drops" Then when the signal
was given he repeated the AIsercrc aloud.
GatafCeil shouted three times with fury.
Strike harder strike harder! strike har-
der!" The blows wswere so furious that when
he had passed once between the ranks. after
having received a thousand blows, upon az
irving 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 lie
could not keep himself upon his feet 4 little
framework was ready, upon Il slcdgc. Sicrocinski
was placed upon it on his knees, with his hands
tied behind him and his body bent forward. Thus
all movement was impossible. rs he was fastened
upon the slcdgc. Then they recommended to drag
him between tEc ranks. Gltafiejcf' continued to
shout: Harder! harder At first Sierocinsti
continued TO utter groaiIS wrcStcd from him by
agony. These became weaker and weaker and
AT last ceased altogether. After having received
four thousand blows he still breathcd. Then he
died. The remaining three thousand blows were
nevertheless counted upon his dead body. or rath-
Sl.n1,. IL,
he, were so worn out with blows. that, according
to the testimony OF eycwitncsscS. shrcds of flesh
were scattered in the air at every blow--nothing
but broken bones could be seen at last