The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-25
NIHILIST HARTMANN.
Adventures in EurOpe-Making Paper Bombs
PLANS of the Three EmperOrs.
New York Tribune.

New Fork Tribune.
In a company of young Russian refugees gath
cred in room at 224 Clinton street, on the east
side of New York city, few nights ago, was
man of about thirty -four, who appeared to be
somewhat restless while the general converse
tion was going on. Suddenly he got up on his
feet and called for some common salt and alco-
hol, saying that he would like to anuse the
company by doing something" When the ar
ticles named were procured, he set fire to the
alcohol, which he kept stirring in hollow dish,
and went on dashing spoonfuls OF salt into the
fame. The lurid glare lit up the mobile features
of the young man, who was no other than Leo
Hartmann, the Russian Nihilist HIS face
cleaned with an expression of satisfaction, such
as one might fancy he would show if he should
see the Car of Russia blown up, or the imperial
household of St. Petersburg coming down with
a crash. He appeared to have no other object
in making the flame than as he said, to amuse
the company, and the experiment was carried
no further But presently he took pair of
scissors and some paper, and while he con
versed, industriously clipped away until he had
constructed camplete model of a bridge, with
a mine underneath it Every motion showed
the restless disposition of the man.
Hartmanns Temperance in New York has
been surprise to the few friends of his who
have learned of it Many of them had lost track
of him. Among his friends he is exceedingly
liked for his genial qualities and admired ana
respected for his courage and devotion to unset
fish aims. For the sake of quiet he is at present
keeping as much secluded as possible. Well
marked lines on his face show clearly that his
surroundings and pursuits since the time he was
last missed from here have been none OF the
quietest though the ever varying expression OF
lola aff hat
his Characteristic elasticity of spirit is undated.
An increase of nervousness over what was habit
ual with him before the railroad explosion at
Moscow is, however, noticeable
Everybody thought you were in the cell OF
some European prison, suffering for the making
of dynamite for importation into Russia, or, per
haps, despatched to the other world" said one of
the company to Mr.. Hartmann.
Nothing of the kind, my dear friends" was
Mr. Hartman's reply II don't believe l am 60
ing to be made an end of so speedily or so easily
have been very careful to avoid the neighbor-
hood of prisons lately, and to my manutac-
turing dynamite outside of Russia for the use of
our Terrorists, why, that is one of the craziest
stories any one could possibly invent Of course,
] know all about making dynamite, and have
had my hand in the manufacture of a little; but
tell you they make it IN Russia as easily as
bread is cooked. The idea OF sending dynamite
across the frontiers through the hands of
hundred gems d armes when every single letter
lis scrutinized! The Terrorists would do mighty
little II they were to wait Tor that
Mr.. Hartman told me that he was not at all
shv of having the fact known that he is staying
here now, as there are neither Gar nor spies to
be looked out for in this country, of which he
will be naturaliZed citizen before long. But he
said he would not like to have stories told about
him that had no foundation in fact not that he
was overanxious for his sake, but because
such stories only added to the many unnecessary
misappreheEsions about the so-called Nihilistic
movement and the Nihilists
/ asked him if he had any objection to giving
some facts as to his whereabouts and doings for
the last two years so, during which 1t
was known by some that he had started for
RusBia
II think | can give you some particulars" he
replied, but not all, and you must excuse me if
cannot be minute to names, dates and
places for many reasons, one of which is that
they are connected with persons and circum-
stances outside of my present self. i left this
country with the view of going back to Russia
and Joining my comrades, about the close of the
year 1881, and went first to London, where saw
some friends, and stayed for a few weeks. l
then crossed over to the continent, and through
Paris made my way to Switzerland Euro
pean headquarters. There it was decided that
some one should go in advance of me and feel
the way, as there were spies hunting for me
everywhere along the frontiers. Mr.. M,
literary man and poet, the former editor of Zem-
Iva Volya (Soil and Liberty was sent on this
errand. This worthy gentleman came to
grief in this way He fell into the
hands of a police sergeant but was not sus
pected, and was detained merely as a person
without passport He was allowed to send for
credentials, but the letters in which he applied
for them were opened on the way, and then his
identity notorious revolutionist was sus-
pected. Thereupon the officers in charge of him
were instructed to search him, and damaging
documents were found concealed in his boots
and other places He is now serving term of
twenty years at hard labor in Siberia"
Mr. Hartmann said this without showing the
eli oh act nc vnC an Op1l at
- Of daily life which would not in the least
! rise or dishearten him if it should come
IS him in his own person the next day
ne next messenger we sent" he continued
young lady, who was more successful
netrated into the interior, saw our Friends
ought back word that it would be ex-
dangerous and altogether useless for me
| at that time, for everywhere there were
I ting to pounce upon me- so that / could
even if l got into the country. l
I quarters the German Russian
the exact place L cannot give
J ~, and remained there number of months car
rying on an interrupted correspondence with the
interior, three out of every four letters being
suspected and intercepted. Thence went back
to London, stopped there a short time, and ar
rived in this country few months ago. | have
been in New York some weeks only. That is all
can tell you. The rest l must keep to myself
for the present"
'It would be interesting, Mr.. Hartmann to
know your views about the late conference at
Skiernewice, and how the Nihilists feel about it,
if you have heard from them since" suggested
ut has been said that the Gar intends reducing
his army, which is an increasing burden upon the
people, and that one of the objects of the confer
ence was to negotiate with the neighboring EN-
perors upon this point"
GOOD God!" Mr.. Hartmann exclaimed laugh
ing, ''what tender carefulness about the peoples
comfort for our Gar to exhibit! That is good
guess, though in one sense for 1T is quite posi-
bic that the number of Russian soldiers may be
reduced in order to be replaced by higher paid
Germans and Austrians on account of the spread
of the revolutionary spirit in the Russian army,
The government is forced to conclude that the
native militia can no longer be trusted. There
are three very important points about the con
ference which was very significant as a
result of the state of things in Russia