West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-08-15

e-'hA tthSh ~ dS accompanied Nv TWO
armed gendarmes. From Keith TO Eca-
terinburg we had no chance TO look
upon the world except through iron bars
and nets, but now we could enjoy the
view with no obstacle before our eyes.
What a JOY il was for me! felt as il
freedom was returning to me. True,
since the first day of my arrest the idea
OF attempting To escape never left my
mind. But now that looked upon the
free wide world the thought turned into
n burning desire which controlled all
my actions. Once in the night. while
the gendarmes were asleep at my side,
| took the cap from one of Il on, and
tried To pull out his pistol. III / had
| succeeded in getting that pistol would
have tried my legs, but the gcndarme
awoke, and parted for the time with
my happy dream.
We made two hundred miles and
reached Tiumen. From that town up
Iomsk we were taken along with hun
dreds of common criminals i'm barge
We ran up the Oh The prisoners
called our barge a poultry house. be-
cause II was covered with solid iron
net. The prisoners were packed in the
barge like behring's in n box. We. the
| political prisoners were allowed 10 walk
occasionally on the deck. In this man
ner we journeycd two thousand seven
hundred vcrsts. From Tomsk To Kras-
noiarsk we travelled five hundred
versts on the troikas. and from there to
lrkutsk we had to go by the etdpe sys-
tenn. One thousand versts were thus
| journeyed in two months In our party
there were one hundred and seventy
| persons. There were robust men,
hearty women, babies and the aged.
The ctdpe system is arranged in this
way: All the prisoners were put into
two lines. Then followed wagons with
the women and children and the prison
| ers' luggage. Then followed two troikas
OF the noble eXiles, and three troikas of
the political criminals closed the pro-
cession. An officer and thirty soldiers
| formed n kind of chain around our
| party. Fifteen miles was regular
day S tramp. Then all stopped in the
| prison for the night. After two DAYS of
walking day was allowed for rest.
! The houses are divided in four unequal
parts, to-wit: large hall for male
prisoners, n family room, 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 men play an important role in the
| prisoners life. Each group of prison.
ers elects from among themselves the
elder, who serves in the common inter
est, representing the others before the
authorities, and keeping the prisoners
funds. That elder is kind of a guard
ian angel to the prisoners. But then
there is an angel of quite different
character. This is the tradesman who
keeps n store and n club for the prs-
oncrs. He is prisoner who outbids his
competitors for his privilege. He keeps
for sale tea, sugar, tobacco, candles,
cards, etc. Each prisoner receives ten
copecks, or five cents each day. The
officer turns the money over to the
elder, who distributes it among the
| prisoners. On entering the ctap house
and being counted over the prisoners
are let free. Whercupon they make a
lively rush, each one scrambling for n
good place. He who gets bed OF plain
boards is deemed lucky, and whoever
secures place under such bed is also
contented. The remainder sleep on the
! floor
Before bedtime the prisoners make
fires in the yard and prepare their por-
ridge and tea. This forms a unique
scene. Scores of wood-pilcs burn
brightly in the yard, and around each
the prisoners swarm, adjusting their
! iron tea kettles and stirring porridge.
Here and there men are taking of their
WORKOUT boots, unwrapping their feet,
and examining their chains, which often
causes bad sores. Some of the prison
ers deity remove their irons altogether
andothers assisted by specialists, try to
! smoother theleg rings or even to stretch
them so much that the foot will easily
pass through. Here are two men ready
To fight, and there is group cautiously
Whispering, discussing some conspiracy
/ Presently song, Down the Mother
Nolga, is heard. A young prisoner
possessing a melodious and strong voice
pours his very soul into that fayorite
Russian ballad. The prisoners camp
is hushed at once. Everybody drinks
in that melody, and happy reminis-
ccnces OF the past, of wives, sisters,
sweethearts, mothers, companions. and
children, chase one another through
these saddened minds Some of the
men though rough looking, show tear
dampened eyes 1t is n sacred moment.
Even the guard sent to order the pris-
oners to bed. stops rs if pctrifcd, his
heart melted by the familiar air.
Many of them do not care TO sleep.
Here and there they light their candles
and play cards. But the tradesman's
corner is the liveliest spot. There piles
of coppers constantly appear on the
table and as rapidly disappear The
prisoners play for cash and occasion
ally the tradesman advances few
copecks, under the guarantee that he
will get the prisoners share next dav.
Sometimes the play is for the Govern
ment things. that is 90 say, the prison
clothes are pawned, and the wretched
man sacrifices bis necessities to his pas
sion. The further we went into Siberia
the harder u was TO move on. The
men grew tired. and many fell sick.
Bread was dear. and the "hunvcr
/ typhus' was spreading i'm our party.
As the etap hospitals were far apart.
we were compelled 10 carry our sick
and dying patients Now there were
stranger scenes in the resting places.
In one corner men gambled. i'm another
4 story teller provoked paroxysms Of
laughter: here was heard q merry song.
and there came forth the last gr0ans of
a dying man. But 10 was only the
I world on q minute scale.
On The route we often met with run
eWaNS. The guards did NOT botbar