The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-06-29


KieT and his Esespe In 1rkWt-h.
At midnight on Fob. II, 1870, In tho city Of
Kieff. Mrs. Kossarovsky's house. then occupied
by tho Nihi,ist brothers Ivichovitch. was roRu-
larry besieasd and captured by tho gendarnes
nj the point OF bayonsts. They fought des-
perately ON both sides. The gendarmes were
ordered to take tho conspirators' Headquarters
ut any cost. and the Nihilists woro determined
TO defend themselves to tho last shot. One
door after another was broken in. but not be-
fore each was turned into o sieve by tho shots
fired from both sides. Capt. SudeikIn and his
men wore suits Of chain mail. yet gendarme
was killed on the spot. and several were wound
cd. Both brothers Ivlchevitch were MORALLY
wounded. N. Brnntner and another friend
were seriously wounded. Tho conspirators
were overpowered. arrested. and brought to
the police headquarters.
On the Same night In another house was
arrested and brought to the same police build
INK. In what plight beheld my comrades
there! N. Posen and d. Steblln- X amensky
were standing with their arms tightly bound
behind their backs and hold by gendnrmes. In
corner Of tho same room were sitting Miss
Armfeld. Misc Patalitzin. and p. Saraudovitch
all bound and helpless. The room was fllled
with policemen and armed gendarmes. Amid
q roar Of voices there suddenly appeared the
gigantic figure Of our bravo comrade. known
under the assumed name Of AntonofY. 10 wus
dragging behind him two policemen who tried
to hold him BY his arms. Never cnn forget
his appearance. Pale was his face. sparkling
his eyes. disordered his black. curly hair. and
trembling his franc from head to foot.
What is that ?" he Numbered. pointing at
Posen aud Kamepsky. Arms tied2 Away
with the ropesl'
Please calm yourself" said the police Cap.
tain. We will unto them."
Instantly the ropes were taken away.
Water! want drink" roared Antonoff
Bring water at once" commanded the Cap
tain. Presently Colonel Of geudnrmes APP
pearod. and ordered that each Of US should DO
taken to q separate coll.
Use your swords and bayonets In case Of
need." said the Colonel to the gendarmss.
On the next day we were transferred to tho
fortress where scores OF our friends had been
pining for years. waiting for tho quick and
Just trial" which has been solsmnly promised
by tho Gar Alexander. OF course. we we're SUBJ
jccted to solitary confinement. However. We
kept UP lively correspondence. We tele.
grabbed to one another by rapping on the wall.
Occasionally We shouted to each other in our
cipher The fortress authorities tried In vain
to hinder US from talking in one way or an
court. As we were not allowed though we. had
the right by law. to choose our own counsel. we
decided not to take any part whatsoever in the
tn; Three OF our, party Of fiteen-Antonotf.
Brantner and Ossinsky.,weIe eondemnsd to
aaa hna s hs
When the sentence OF death was announced a
lady prisoner swooned. The spectators who
SCa 20 ns
n %sEs st ss s sns hs sH Dssp i
fell back and turned to the exit.
After the trial We condemned prisoners-
day sosetSsr Il is impossible s to describe our
three friends we babe them the iast good-by. i
must shy that on that momentous evening the
three who were about to die tried their best to
would not be diseovered He loved his mother
noasnt Of HIS ns IL hardly
say that the three died bravely. 49,,
0 TSa ha vs. t. Ssons
lnpriyilrsed criminals. Their heads were half
feet. According to tho law. the nobieInen do
not lose their privileges until they re"eh their
in rude wagons. Our heads We're not shaved.
were dressed alike: We had caitans Of . coarse
TO hsa LABOR he
EeiY we wentby railroad in a special prison
car accompanied by Rendarmes; Thus we
passed orel Moscow. and rsGched Nijni-Noy-
w Was lowed BY steamer to Perm Fhsn again
We went by railway up to Ecaterinburg; After
that there was before us the famous Siberian
road. It is a common post route. with three
telegraph wires stretched on ono side. These
saa to s ssr shafs 81 .hs
From Kieff to Ecaterinburg We had no chance
bars and nets, but now We could enjoy, the view
with NO obstacle t before 9nr eyes; What aloy
ing to me. True. siuce the first day OF my ar
my mind, But now that ! looked upon the free
desire which controlled all my actions. Once
| In tho night. while tho gondarmes where asleep
to oSs his
legs. but the. esnd nrme awoEe. and parted iol
We made two hundred miles and reached
Tiumen. From that town up to Iomsk We
In a bage up the o. ST TRe
prisoners called our barge poultry house be.
cause 1t was covered with solid iron net. The
wore allowed to walk occasionally on the deck
From TomsK to Krasnoiarsk we travelled 5Oi
versts on the troikas, and from there to IrkutsE
We had to so by the otdDe system. One thousand
versts were thus journeyed in two months. In
our party there were 40 persons. There, were
robust men. hearty women. babies. and the
aged. The etdpe system is arranged in this
| way: All the prisoners were put into two lines
| Then followed wagons with the women AND
| children and tho prisoners luggage. Then fol
| lowed two troikas OF the noble lies and three
troikas Of the political criminals closed the
| procession. An officer and thirty soldiers form
ed u kind Of chain around our party Fifteen
miles was q regular days tramp. Then al
stopped In the prison for the night. After two
days, OF walking a day va. allowed for rest
| The houses are divided in 70 four unequal parts
to wit. n large hall for male prisoners q famli,
room. a room for noblemen. and the guards
| room. OF cleanliness and comfort in any OF the
rooms there was absolutely none.
Besides the officer and the soldiers two mer
| play an important role In the prisoners life
Each group Of prisoners elects from amons
| themselves tho elder. who serves in the com
mon interest, representing the others before
the authorities, and keeD!ng the prisoners
funds. That elder IL q kind OF a guardian an
gel to the prisoners. But then there f. an ange
| OF quite q different character This is the
| tradesman who keeps q store and u club fo
the prisoners. He 10 q prisoner who outbids
IT, a.,