Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-10-08
EXHES In SIBERIA.

tho Russian Victims OF Tyrsnny-Leaves
from an Unpublished Record of Arctic
Adventures Romantic 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 ut Verkeransk in the Government
of Yakutslx, 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 csprav-
mix, or Cossack commandment, sent for
Mr.. Leon, one of the political oxiles
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 ut the delta, and now,
while he interpreted for us, he managed
TO interpolatc for my benefit part of
his history. We had capital dinner
together OF teal duck, snipo and other
game, which Kasharof1ski, 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 a
very bitter Nihilist, and would not fra
ternize with his keepers. Kasharoffski
had son, whom named the 'malinki
soldat' (little soldier), to the great de-
light of both. Mrs. Kasharoffski was
pleasant, fair-haired, good-looking
woman, seemingly quito 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. II was the
first good meal had eaten since leav-
ing San Francisco. We remained ut
table in conversation until four o'clock
the next morning.
"Leon informed me that he had
never heard of the Jeannette expedi-
ton until we 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. Kasharoffski 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 o
glorious vision of escape from an odious
imprisonment"
Leon continued to act as interpreter
during Melville's stay in Verkeransk,
and told him that in putting Kasharoff-
skis questions he would take the liberty
of asking some on his own account.
"Leon now urgently invited me TO
visit his comrades in exile. / asked
Kasharoffski whether he had any OBJ
jections, and he said oh no! I do not
believe nihilist can hurt q Republican. ,
So he sent me to the hut OF the exilcs
in his sleigh, which returned again
for Leon and myself at dinner time.
"Leon was slenderly built, dark and
cadaverous-looking man with Jewish
features, though when ] asked him he
said he was not Hebrew. His hair
was long and black, reaching to his
shoulders. He had been student of
law, he told me, and was arrested in
students street row. He had been
brought afterward before three separate
tribunals, not ono of which, however,
had been able to find anything irregular
in his habits of life, end so, indeed,
his final commitment papers expressly
stated. While on his way TO Siberia
the good-natured Cossack officer in
command of his guard permitted him
to look over these papers, and lcarned
that he had been sent out, after three
different tribunals had acquitted him,
on what Is known rs q Government
order'-a most remarkable instrument,
which closed with tho following
specimen of legal logic: We can prove
nothing against this man, but he is o
student Of law, and no doubt very
dangerous man." Aud banished for
life he accordingly was. Leon had pre-
served copy Of his commitment papers
and exhibited them with great deal OF
merriment at the peculiar philosophy Of
the administration.
In the hut with Leon Melville found
four other young mon, all political ex.
lies, the oldest twenty-seven and the
youngest eighteen years of age. They
were all professional men and spoke
French fiuently, some of them German
and others n little English. All were
Nihilists, though several said they hac
not been so until after their Danish
ment. Each one had a mournful story
to tell. They were from different parts
of the empire, had known the inside o
Russian prisons all the way from Arch
angel to the Crimca, and wcro finally
sent to the frontier for Bookkeeping
They questioned Melville eagerly in re.
gard to the navigation OF the Siberian
coast, and had number Of charts ant
maps. They had often talked ant
dreamed, they said, about making theil
escape, but a thousand miles Of rive
and two thousand miles of coast seemet
an impossible journey with the mean
at their command.
Melville continued his visits to tn,
exiles. ''In the evenings" he says
several parties were given, when tn,
men sang, played, ate, gambled, dranl
and smoked. The women did as mucl
in separate apartments of their own
and astonished the assembly by tell
ing them that never played cards, no
even in my own country. Leon, VIII
was present, told me that they woul'
think evil of me. They will say b
themselves, this Is queer man VIII
neither CANDLES nor smokes, he mus
be Away thinking, and q. man who doe
that Is dangerous BdS tbs was
speech OF poor exile. WHOSE life wa