The sun., 1883-12-23
HORRORS OF RUSSIAN PRISON.
How the Accused NIhlIIsts are Treated by
their st. Petersburg JaIlers.

FroM the London TtfNeS.
A short time ago some officials employed
at the fort and prison OF Peter and Paul at st.
Petersburg were arrested on suspicion OF COM
plicity with the Nihiists Corresponding with
this occurrence. but not necessarily connected
with 1t. is the recent OF two letters from poiti
cal prisoners confined in this fortress.
The second document. OF great length. though
written throughout with the prisoners blood.
has Just been communicated to us by one OF the
most prominent and influential Nihist lead
S by %a se @
hard labor and confined in the Troubetskoi
ing on the horror OF the call. its damp walls. the
little iron table. the bed. consisting Of n sack Of
ad fSg S nr the
the jug Of bad water on the, other. And worse
there is absolutely nothing to do nothing to
relieve the. complete solitude and silence. In
the prison rules. These. however. bear no sig.
aG'st sre sns ss %shnn %
tIons were established The inspector states
tho last ak Years and the Third % Section tic s secret
policel were held RESPONSIBLE for the actual
maintains that no one is sent to this bastion
exGept at tho express coImmand I OF the Car,
known at court. The III treatment which he
proceeds to describe hs attributes to feelings
hatred ais asaihst @ the Nlhst chiefs
10 state OF plrefaction. and never sufficient.
Dysentery and scurvy soon ensue. reducing
tion. But there is no difference of treatment
in favor OF the sick. OF the two doctors attach
cells. but he is afraid to touch the patients: he
dare not feel their pulses. and the few mrdica-
oountermanded by the senior surgeon. To the
complaints OF the prisoners he generally an
sTers that There there is mo no remedy possible
annmic. and those who aro too feeble to rise
for the common necessi,ies Of llfc are not pro-
sick and therefore waIlow Tor days in the most
reppls;iye il'th Thus hamnn a ld, bsngs re- away
is extinct. Even those who become mad under
the stress OF this fearful suiIrring and solitude
no, rss sh s' tho ssS nrS
their herce yes resound through the prison.
,L ana ther tn number Is daily ncrsasng as s also
| oil the names. but he mentions lssaiev as hav-
ing eompletely lost bis reason, and Nine.
1t is said that she was, outraged and then
| poisoned. SO as 70 hide tho crime, the Doctor
mistake hut no inquiry has been Instituted or
Another lady; is now dying of .phthsis. con-
sunlight never enters, where offensive water
ali sides, Here -" lived kiVa,koVsii t. Pressnia, % la.
kov. and Suchanov bsfore they were hung. In
these dungeons the rats are the worst enemies.
| and yet IL IL In ono OF these cells that Nine.
Jakimoya and her infant child are now con :
fined. Day and night this lady has to watch
| and fight SO that the rats should not deyour
| her baby. There is little or nothing that she
can eat. yet she has to feed her child and in
| spite OF all. has not lost courage.
The treatment is arranged so as TO omascu.
late the prisoners. The body is soon bent and
deprived OF its strengt h. the face puhed out
the gloom and the atmos phers are so diseased
that they can hardly be opened. The prisoners
being deprived OF soap. their bodies are soon
covered with layers OF dirt. Combs are alst
forbidden, and u Ia fortunate that the males
hair for years without its being cnnIbcd o
brushed. they are literally deyourel by lice
The men suffer In this respect with the
allowed to cut their nails Tho only good thin
about the prison 10 the clothes of the prison
ers. These were selected someefifty yeisfs ag
for ordinary criminals, and are well suited /
] resist the damp and cold.