Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-10-03
SemInofi-s Terrible Vow.

| n CurlOuS case lQNOlVluS Ill the leat'
ures of the Corsicau vendetta has come
to hight at Reeds Station, North Cum
berland county, Penna.. through the
deathbed confession of Alex Seminoff,
a young Pole, vino died last week. For
some time past Seminoff, who wss an
educated man, but considered morose,
misanthrOpical and cynical by his
countrymen, was noticed to be in fail
ing health, and on Wednesday a physi-
can was summoned at his request.
Being told that ne could not live until
daylight, he desired those present to
listen to the following confession: In
1853, when he was boy OF about
years he resided with his father IN the
Polish village of Setomir, on the Russ
ian frontier. His fathers sister. young
married woman, lived IN the same town.
Her husband was in the army at the
time, and she resided with her maids.
In the fall OF the year young man
named Romanoff, son OF the project of
the district, and captain of regiment
OF Cossacks, came home on furlough,
and during his stay became intimate
with the Ssminofls. and finally betrayed
the woman. She, as II result. ended
hei career at Baden Baden in a noted
resort. Upon hearing the news of her
betrayal Seminoff took his young son
upon his knee and made hum swear to
ayenge the wrong by killing the entire
RomanOf family. Soon after, the vii
lage project was found lying dead by the
roadside. but in such a manner as to
give the idea that he had committed
suicide. Seminofrs father had shot the
ROmanof and hid the pistol by his
side. Soon after, young Ssminoff left
Setomlr, and the father enlisted AMI
we.it to the scene of the Crimean war
Two of the Romanoffs were others III
the Russian army and one night both
were discovered murdered in Their tents.
No cine could be found to the murder
ers. Soon after the elder Seminoff de-
serted and WAS unhsard OF for some
time. During his absence N the CrImea
ana elsewhere the son was pursuing a
course of study IL tue Cracow Universi.
ty. For period OF ten years he never
saw his father, till one night the latter
appeared aud requested that he follow
him. The next morning they started
for Italy and welt to Fiorelce. There
a brother Of Romanof was an attache
OF the Russian Legation, and the father
and son determined to slay him.
One night as they were walking along
the ArnO theJ espied the object OF their
search, accompanied By another gentle
man. Following in pursuit they soon
deliberately murdered him in sight of
the companion, whom Old Seminole held
IN his grasp. While they trusted to the
masks which they Wore, and went bold
ly back to the city, Old Seminof was
subsequently arrested for the crime,
and was shortly afterward executed. A
few weeks after young Seminoff escaped
and joined a brigaud band which he
soon left, and gong back to Polan
found that all the Romanoff family had
LETT, some being exiled to Siberia. Some
had died from the hardships OF that
cline, an the rest had gone to America.
Young Sem n1f then came also. After
searching few years he found taat they
had gone to the Mining regions, and
that all had died exceptone. This one
he found near Reeds. Living alone
and Disgusting himself, S.minof took
quarters and soon perfected his plans.
OAe night LobOsky, tue last OF the R1-
manoff tribe, disappeared. No notice
was taken OF it by ais snelgabors, sudden
disappearanceS being common.
SemlnoH then came to Reeds, his
vengeance satiated. He became
gloomy, morose man, and took up quar-
ters with the rest OF his countrymen.
He gave description OF the spot where
he had buried Lobosky two years ago,
and following the account, party went
to the place and dug 10 the skeleton of
a man. with large knife still sticking
IN the body. Tue curious story has
caused good deal Of excitement, and
there is no doubt of its truthfulnsss.
The singular manner of the man, to-
gether with his remarkable education,
proved that he WAS more than an ordi-
nary labOrer.