The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-12-08
Write ' In Blood.

n 81. FCtcrsOurB dlapatch ol October ~
says that the new Nihlllst Journal. the
Messenger Of the WaU of the People,
contains letter from the NlhlIIsl prisoner
Netchai, II to the Car. The original letter
was written in blood. 1t says:
SIR: On taking charge OF the fortress;
the new Commandant Ganetsky addressed
tho subordinate officers In tho ravcln on
the event of March 10. The character of
the speech, and also tho fact that 1t was
made III tho hall not far from NY cell,
showed to me that 1t was intended for my
ears. And, indeed, heard every word Of
ltr But his intimidation did not reach its
aim. The indirect threatening OF General
Ganetsky did not frighten me. 1t showed
me only that, under the influence Of the
late events, even the highest representa-
tlves Of the Administration have lost their
heads and their feeling OF personal dignity.
would not mind tho trick Of His Excel
lcncy II, for NO fault Of mlnc, he did not
aggravate my lot, which has already OK
hausted my endurance.
''Inc Alexis ravolin is a secret prison.
No supervision ls allowed there. The late
Commandant, Baron Mcldel. used TO re-
strain, to a certain degree, the thicvsh
Warden Pnilimonoff. While fulfilling his
hard duty, he did not torture the prisoners
to crafty his personal cruelty. But after
na. speech H of Snncyh Us yht the 1 hsf sfu5 Rh Ii
bread, saying impudentIy that such wss
The order OF the Commandant; the officers
Of the ravolin have tried their utmost to
opprcss political prisoners IN all possible
ways. For months they have kept ME in
my cell without permitting me TO see day
light. GaZetsky ordered that even the
warming holes In my cell shC uld be closed
on the preteucc that might there get soto
and mako ink Of 1t. The upper pane Of
my windoS was clean and through 1t
could sec part Of the sky. 1t IL necessary
10 experience the horrors OF long solitary
confinement in order to understand what
relief q prisoner gots from the sight o!
passing clouds and shining stars, Ganetsky
closed that pane. The two Commandants,
six of the chiefs Of gendarmes. and even
tho chief of the Supreme Commission,
| General Melikoff, while vlslting me, eaw
the clean pane aud did not think the State
| was IN danger on account Of IL. (iiero the
letter was llleglble.) Ten years already
have suffered hero. Tho further Agra
vation of my lot cannot proceed from any
political consideration, but only from the
cruelty of tho man to whom you have en-.
! trusted tho iortrecss General Me2cnteeff
was my personal enemy. For two years
he kept mo IN heavy chains, and yet he
did not shut up out OF sight OF tho sky.
had another enemy, General Potapofl. lie
insuted mo In words and | slapped his
faco. Of course he hated me, yet no did
not take revenge. lie knew that to take
revenge upon man who Is bound arms
and legs would be au action flt only tor Il
wild beast, and Gen. PotapoH was man
anyhow. Ganolsky enjoys tho sight of
suffering prisoners, Perhaps he expecta to
bring me into state Of despair IN order to
see tears and tho passion Of helpless mad
ness, and to listen TO insane shouts cf rage
from me like those I hear from neigh
boring cell, where comrade, at the end Of
Il long confinement, hHs becunle u lunatic.
On, no, | will not treat q ibc,Bky to such q
pleasure. hope he viii preserve even O
hundredtL part Of the Cain and seli-cOntrOl
[ posscss, when he shall DO carried to a
scaffold.
"In 1876 the Governor requested inc 10
express my views on tho state Of affairs In
Russia. In my memorial sent to your late
father explained that the time Of absolute
power had gone; that the unlimited mon
archy was undetermined, and that liberal
constitution might Yet save Russia from
the horrors OF revolution. l insisted on
| the need OF liberal institutions, which, and
| which only, could stop the series of daring
attempts. I SAID then that In few yeara
even Consti utlon would bo too late.
Subsequent events havo justified my
views The rcnctlon which set IN after
The catastrophe Of March 18 was a matter
of course. 1t was in the nature Of things.
But, being carried too far, even tho raac-
ton will bring about quite unexpected re
suits. do not expect any roIief from the
new Ac miuistration. snail not be sur.
prised If my lot becomes stu harder on
account OF the present letter. LOUIS XVI.
realized the horrors to which the prisoners
Of the Bastlle were subjected only wher
he became himself political prisoner.
"SKKaE NRToHAr,IF.
~ write this with my nail IN my OWE
blood. ~. NJ"
In December, 1882, Netchaieff was tor.
turcd by tho Warden, and soon after was
found dead.