News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-11-22
WRITTEN IN BLOOD.
NetChnicn's Letter TO the CZnr-IIOw n
Prisoner Valued Il Glimpse Ofthe sky.

A St. Petersburg dispatch of Oct %,
says that the new Nihilist journal, the
Messenger Of the WIZ Of the People,
contains a letter from the Nihilist pris-
Oner Netchaief1' to the Gar. The origin
al letter was written in blood. 1t says:
''tSIR: On taking charge OF the fort
ress, the new Commandment Ganetsky
addressed his subordinate officers i'll the
ravclin on the event of March ID. The
character of the speech, and also the
fact that it was made in the hall not far
from my cell, showed to me that it was
intended for my ears. And, indeed, l
heard every word of it. But this intlml-
datIon did not reach its aim. The indi-
rect tmcatcningo Of Gen. Ganctsky did not
brighten me- Tt showed me that, under
the influence Of the late events, even the
highest representatives OF the
Administration have lost their heads and
feeling Of personal dignity. IwoulI not
mind the trick OF His I1Ncellcncy II, for
70 fault Of mine, he did not agGra7ate
my lot, which has already exhausted my
endurance.
''The Alexis ravcln is a secret prison.
No supervision is allowed there. The
late Commandant Baron Meidel, used to
restrain to certain degree, the thleylsh
Warden PhilimonOf. While fulfilling
his hard duty. he did not torture the
prisoners to crafty his personal cruelty.
But after that speech Of Ganetsky, the
thief Philimonott took from us the last
| crust of bread, saying impudentIy that
such was the order of the Communicate
In order to get in favor with the new
| Commandment. the officers Of the raveln
! have tried their utmost to Cypress polIt1-
cal prisoners in all possible ways. For
months they have kept me in my cell,
| without permitting me to see daylight.
| Gmctsky ordered that even the warm
| ing-holcs in my cell should be closed, on
! the prctence that might there get SCOT
and make ink of it. The upper pane OF
my window was clean. and through it [
! could see Il part OF the sky. Il IS nee
! essary to experience the horrors OF q
| long solitary confinement in order toUn-
! derstand what relief prisoner gets from
the sight Of passing clouds and shining
stars. Ganetsky closed that pane. The
| two Commandments, six Of the chiefs OF
| oandarmes. and even the chief of the SIT
Dreme Commission, Gen. MeikOtT, while
visiting me, saw the clean pane and did
not think the State was III danger on ac-
count of it. Here the letter was iIlegi-
| BILE
Glen years already I have suffered
| here. The further aggravation Of my
| lot cannot proceed from any political
consideration, but only from the cruelty
! of the man to whom You have entrusted
| the fortress. General Mezentsotf was
my personal enemy. For two years he
| kept me in heavy chains. and yet he did
not shut me up out OF sight OF the SKY.
! [ had another enemy. General Potapotf.
| He insulted me in words, and / slapped
| his face. OF course he hated me, yet
| he did not take revenge. He knew that
! to take revenge upon man who is bound
arms and legs would be an action tit only
| for wild beast, and General Potapott
was a man anyhow. Genet8ky ENJOYS
the sight of suffering prisoners. Perhaps
! be expects to bring me into state OF
! despair in order to see tears and the pas
sion of helpless madness, and to listen
10 insane shouts OF rage from me like
those I hear from Il neighbOring cell,
where Il comrade at the end Of long
confinement has become a lunatic. Oh,
no. 1 will not treat Ganetsky to such a
pleasure. I hope he will preserve even
hundreth part of the calm and soIt-
control [ possess when he shall be car
Ticd to a scHtfuId.
In 1879 the Government requested
me to express my views ON the state OF
affairs i'll Russia. In my memorial sent
to your late father [ explained that the
time of absolute power was gone, that
the unlimited monarchy was undermined,