The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-06-21
EXILES In SIBERIA.

EXILES In SIBERIA.
Chief Engineer MeIviIle's Encounter with
the Russian Victims of Tyranny-Lesves
from an Unpublished Record of Arctic
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Experience.
Chief-Engineer Melville's new book,
which his nephew, Melville Phillips, is
now preparing for the press, contains
the narrative of his Polar experience on
the voyage of the Jeanette and after
the abandonment of the vessel. Among
the many interesting episodes is an ac-
count of his meeting with the Nihihst
exiles at Verkeransk in the Government
of Yakutsk, Eastern Siberia, in the
winter of 1881. and of their strange adj
ventures us related by themselves. Mel
vile was delayed at Verkeransk await
ing the arrival of the rest of his party
from Belun, as the posting facilities in
Siberia only admit of two or three per-
sons travelling at the same time. What
follows is. taken from his forthcoming
book:
'.Directly after my arrival the esprav-
mix, or Cossack commandant, sent for
a Mr.. Leon, one of the political exiles
in his keeping, to act as interpreter be-
tween us. Leon came and introduced
himself as the gentleman who had
written the letter for the espravnik to
me while / was at the delta, and now,
while he interpreted for us, he managed
to interpolate for my benefit part of
his history. We had a capital dinner
together of teal duck, snipe and other
game, which Kasharoflski, the esprav-
mix, kept frozen in his cellar all the year
round. Leon told me that he had never
before eaten at his table, though often
at first invited to do SO, for Leon was
very bitter Nihlist, and would not fra
ternize with his keepers. Kasharoffski
had a son, whom 1 named the smalinki
soldat' Qittle soldier), to the great de-
light of both. Mrs. Kasharoffski was q
pleasant, fair-haired good looking
woman, seemingly quite contented to
spend her days in this remote wilder
ness of snow, cooking and caring
for her house and spouse and little son.
She waited on us at table, and did not
sit. down until we had done. Itwas the
first good meal had eaten since leav-
ing San Francisco We remained at
table in conversation until four o'clock
the next morning.
"Leon informed me that he had
never heard of the Jeannette eXpedi-
ton unttlwe actually came to the polar
sea to visit them. | could see his eyes
brighten when | spoke of the facility
with which could navigate the coast
of Siberia in q vessel as small as our
whaleboat Kasharotlski was anxious
to learn all about the clothing and pro-
visions necessary to undertake journeys
such as we had been making, and
Icons face flushed with hope and Joy
while opened to his glistening eyes 9
glorious vision of escape from an odiouS
Imprisonment"
Leon continued to act as interpreter
during Melville stay in Verkeransk
and told him that in putting Kasharof1,
skis questions he would take the liberty
of asking some on his own account.
Leon now urgently invited me tC
visit his comrades in exile. l asked
Kasharoffsk whether he had any OBJ
jections, and he said: oh no! do mo-
believe nihilist can hurt Republican.
So he sent me to the hut of the exile
in his sleigh, which returned agar
for Leon and myself at dinner time.
Leon was sienderly built, dark anC
cadaverous-looking man with Jewisl
features, though when / asked him HI
said he was not Hebrew. His hal
was long and black, reaching to hi
shoulders. He had been student o
law, he told me, and was arrested il
students street row. He had beer
brought afterward before three separat
tribunals, not one of which, however
had been able to lind anything irregula
in his habits of life, and so, indeed
his final commitment papers expressl
stated. While on his way to Siberi
the good-natured Cossack officer il
command of his guard permitted hir
to look over these papers. and Learned
that he had been sent out, after tire
different tribunals had acquitted him
on what is known as a 'Governmen
orders most remarkable instrument
which closed with the followin
specimen of legal logic; We can prov
nothing against this man, but he is
student of law, and no doubt yer
dangerous man. And banished fc
life he accordingly was. Leon had pre-
served copy of his commitment paper