The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-05-19
A Dramatic Career.

A Dramatic Career.
That these prosaic days are not wholly
without their thrilling romances and
hairbreadth escapes is shown by the re-
mafkable career of Prince Krapotkine,
the Russian Nihilist.
Prince Krapotkine now lies in prison
at Lyons, France. having been recently
condemned to five years imprisonment
as an anarchist.
Russia has produced, in this genera
ton, few men more learned, more elo-
quent, or more accomplished than this
man Of princely rank, doomed to soli-
tary confinement in foreign country.
Prince Krapotkine traces his descent
from Rurick, the first ruler of Russia;
and claims. indeed, that he has better
claim to the Russian throne than the
reigning Gar himself. Belonging to q
family not only noble, but very rich, he
early manifested q craving for knowl-
edge, and in his youth devoted himself
to scientific studies. He became, while
yet q young man. noted geologist,
geographer and traveller; and wrote sew
eral scientific works ON subjects Of physi-
cal science, which won for him wide
reputation.
Outraged by the despotism of the Rus
sian rulers, Prince Krapotkine, in spite
of his wealth and his fame as . man of
science, about ten years ago joined the
revolutionary society of Nihilists, de-
voted to the destruction OF the Empire;
and from that time he became one of its
most active and energetic members.
Prince Krapotkine, besides being
learned, Is an orator of high order.
His bold and vehement eloquence, cleo
trifying those who heard him, rapidly
made converts wherever he went. Atlast,
however, he was hunted down by the
Cars police. He was arrested and
thrown into the dungeon of the fortress of
Peter and Paul. at st. Petersburg. These
dungeons, gloomy to the last degree,
extend beneath the ice-cold river Neva.
No ray of light from heaven relieves
their darkness. No wonder that the
prisoner was attacked by deadly ILL.,
ness and had to be removed to the Nicho-
las hospital near by.
As the Prince gradually recovered his
strength in the hospital he began to plan
his escape. BY some means he managed
outside. Having received permission to
walk three times week in the hospital
yard. he one day observed . cart laden
with wood enter by gateway. This
gave him hint of q method OF escape.
He co1trived to convey message to the
Nihilists, asking them to have . carriage
with swift span of horses, stationed on
the outside. near the gate. every day
from noon till four o'clock.
One day . wood-cart again passed
through the gate, which was left open
and unguarded. Krapotkine did not lose
an instant Throwing OF his prison
coat he darted through the gate, holly
pursued by the guard who always closely
watched him in his walks. The carriage
was waiting outside, as it had been ev-
cry day for four months. He leaped
into it unhit by the balls of the soldiers.
and pushing aside one who reached him
just as he was getting in. The carriage
drove off at lightning speed, and within
two days the Prince was safe in Switzer-
land.
Ever since his daring escape until his
trial and conviction at Lyons few weeks
ago, Prince Krapotkine has been living
in Switzerland, busily involved in the
plots of the Nihilists, and in close CO.
operation with the revolutionists of Ger
many, France and other countries.
There can be no doubt of his sincerity;
since he chose to give up rank, fortune,
position, scientific fame and even liber-
ty, in adopting what he regards as the
cause of oppressed people, and his his
tory shows us how despotic the Russian
political system must be to drive men Of
the learning, eloquence and courage of
Prince Krapotine into the ranks of con-
spiracy and revolution HoHth's Com
pGnion.