Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-12-01
A Terrible Death.

Apropos of the concentrations to Siberia
30 numerous of late years, it will interest
our readers to remember how Russia pun.
ished the authors Of one famous canspira-
cy in that hideous colony. Sierccinski, the
illustrious Polish poet, with three COM
rades, had formed project to excite a v"st
revolt and escape. The mntineers. many
of whom belonged to tbs army, were to
fight their way to India, where they would
find liberty and safety. The plot was be-
trayed 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,
without the omission OF one; the rest were
to receive three thousand which ala stiff
Gent 10 kill. General Gataii-j # had been
sent on expressly to superintend the exc
cution of the sentence. His ferocity made
sven the Russians indi. nant. at day
break two full battaliODs, each consisting
Of one Thousand men-so that the blows
could b. more easily counted-were drawn
up ia line outside the city. GatafieJaf
took his place in the centre. Sticks were
substitut, for rods and the soldiers were
placed close together, that the blows
might be better lald on.
1t was very cOld-March in Siberia! Sic
rocinSki was stripped. He was tied to the
barrel Of rife, with the bayonet press
ing against his chest, according to custom.
| Then two soldiers led him between the
| ranks Of the soldiers at a regular pace, so
| that he could adva.ce neither too quickly
nor too slowly. Then the regimental ply
slcian advanced to strengthen the victim
with few drops of liquor, for his feeble
| constitution had been exhausted by three
months OF prison, and he 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 stimulant. and replied,
''Drink your blood and my own; have no
need of your drops" Then when the sig
nal was given he repeated the Miserere
aloud. Gata6ejeff shouted three times
| with fury, "Strike hardell strike harder!
strike harder" The blows were so furi.
oas that when he had passed once between
the ranks, after having received thous-
and blows, upon arriving at the other end
of the battalion be fell upon tn snow,
covered with blood and tainted,
| They tried to make hir1 stand up again
but he could not keep himself upon his
feet. A little framework was ready upon
IN his knees, with his hands tied behind
him and his body bent forward. Thus all
| movement was impossible. as he was fas.
tened upon the sledge. Then they recon-.
menced to drag him between the ranks
Gatafejeff continued to shout: ''Ha, der
hardell'' A; FIRST Sierocinski continued to
utter groans wrested from him by agony
These became weaker and weaker, and a,
last ceased altogether. After having re-
ceived four thousand blows he still breath
ed. Then he died. The remaining three
thousand blows were nevertheless counted
upon his dead body, or rather upon biz
skeleton. All the victims, espe cially he
were SO worn out with blows, that, &C
cording to the testimony of eye-witnesses
shreds of flesh were &C altered in the air a
every blow-nothing but broken bone
could be seen at last.