The Penn's Grove record., 1883-12-08
Written in Blood.

A St. Petersburg dispatch Of October %
saws that the new NihllIst journal. the
Messenger of the WlH of the People,
contains a letter from the Nlhihst prlsoRer
Netchaitf Il the Gar. The original letter
was written In blood. 1t says:
= SIR: On taking charge Of the fortress;
the new Commandment Ganetsky addressed
the subordinate officers in the raveln on
the event of March 10. The character of
the speech, and also the fact that 1t was
made IN the hall not far from MY 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 the trick Of His Excel
lency IL, for no fault of mine, he did not
aggravate my lot, which has already ex-
hausted my endurance.
zine Alexis ravelin is a secret prison.
No supervision IS allowed there. The late
Commandment, Baron Meidel, used to re-
strain, to q certain degree, the thievish
Warden Pnllimonoff. While fulfilling his
hard duty, he did not torture the prisoners
to CRAFTY his personal cruelty. But alter
that speech of Ganetsky, the thief PhilI-
monoff TOOK from us the last crust OF
bread, saying impudently that such WIS
The order of the ~Commandant; the officers
of the ravelin have tried their utmost to
Cypress political prisoners In all possible
ways. For months they have kept me in
ny cell without permitting me to see day
light. Gazetsky ordered that even the
holes in my cell she uld be closed
on the pretence that | might there get soto
and make ink of 1t. The upper pane of
nv window was clean and through 1t l
could see part of the sky. 1t Is necessary
10 experience the horrors OF long solitary
confinement in order to understand what
relief a prisoner gets from the sight OF
passing clouds and shining stars, Ganetsky
closed that pane. The two Commandments,
six of the chiefs Of gendarmes, and even
the chief of the Supreme Commission,
General Melikoff, while visiting me, saw
the clean pane aud did not think the State
was IN danger on account of it. (Here the
letter was illegIble.) Ten years already
nave | suffered here. The further aggra-
walton of my lot cannot proceed from any
political consideration, but only from the
cruelty of the man to whom you have en-
trusted the fortress. General Mezentseff
was my personal enemy. For two years
he Kept me in heavy CHAINS, and yet he
did not shut up out OF sight OF the sky. l
had another enemy, General Potapoff. he
insulted me in words and 1 slapped his
face. OF course ne hated me, vet he did
not take revenge. He knew that to take
revenge upon q man who is bound arms
and legs would be an action fit only tor a
wild beast, and Gen. Potapotf was a man
anyhow. Ganetsky enjoys the sight OF
suffering prisoners, Perhaps he expects to
pring ine into q stale OF despair In order 10
see tears and the passion OF helpless mad
ness, and to listen TO insane shouts Of rage
from me like those l hear from a neigh
boring cell. where a comrade, at the end OF
a long confinement, has became a lunatic.
Oh, no, | will not treat Ganetsky TO such a
pleasure. l hope he will preserve even a
hundredth part of the calm and s~eli-control
/ possess, when he shall be carried to a
scaffold. ta
..In 1875 the Governor requested me TO
express iny views on the state OF affairs IN
Russia. In my memorial sent To your late
lather | explained that the time OF absolute
power had gone; that the unlimited mon
archy was undetermined, and that a 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. 1 SAID then that in a few years
even q Constl ut,on would be too late
Suose quent events have justified my
views. The reaction which set in after
the catastrophe of March Is was a matter
Of course. 1t was IN The nature OF things
But, being carried too far, even the raac-
ticn will bring about quite unexpected re
suits. do not expect any relief from the
new AC miuistratioD. / shall not be sur
orised If my lot becomes still harder Oh
account of the present letter. LouiB XVI
the horrors to which the prisoners
the Bastlle were subjected only when
ne became himself a political prisoner.
..sERaR NRroaAIsFR.
81 write tins with my nail in my own
blood. rs NJ
In December, 1882, Netchsien was tor
tured by the Warren, and soon after was
found dead.
Why they sold well 7: '.Yes," said
the ~tobacconist, 81 thought at II
- 49,, oh1nIl - afnaR ON fhnca