The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-12-06
SENTENCED TO SIBERIA.
A NihiI:st's Experience Between Hi
Arrest in k1eff and his Escape Ii
Irkutsk.

A NihiI:st's Experience Between H1a
Arrest in Kieff and His Escape In
Irkutsk.
At midnight on February II, 1879,
in the city of Kieff, Mrs. Kossarovsky's S
house, then occupied by the lJihilist
brothers Ivichevitch, was regularly be-
sieged and captured by the gendarmes
at the point of bayonets. They
fought desperately on both sides. The
gendarmes were ordered to take the
conspirators' headquarters at any cost,
and the Nihilists were determined to
defeld themselves to the last shot. One
door after another was broken in but
not before each was turned into sieve
by the shots fired from both Sides
Captain Sudeikin and his men wore
suits OF chain mail, yet a gendarme
was killed on the spot, and several
were wounded. n. Brantner and an
other friend were seriously wounded
The 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 building. In what a plight
behed my comrades there! N. Posen
and B. Steblin-Hamenskv we're stand
ing with their arms tightly bound be-
hind their backs and held by gen
darmes. In a corner of the same room
were sitting Miss Armfeld, Miss Pat
alitzin and p Sarandovitch, u bound
and helpless. The room was filled with
policemen and armed gendarmes.
Amid Il roar of voices there suddenly
appeared the gigantic figure of our
brave comrade, known under the as
sumed name of Antonoff. He was
dragging behind him two policemen
who tried to hold him by his arms.
Never can forget his appearance.
Pale was his face, sparkling his eyes,
disordered his black curly hair, and
trembling his frame from head to foot.
What is that?" he thundered, point
ing at Posen and Kamensky. ''Arms
tied? Away with the ropes!"
please calm yourself" said the
police Captain - 1--WE will unite them. y
Instantly the ropes were taken away.
Water. | want a drink roared
Antonoff.
Bring water at once" commanded
the Captain. Presently o Colonel OF
gendarmes appeared and ordered that
each of us should be taken to a separate
CELL
"Use your own swords and bayonets
in case of need said the Colonel tc
the gendarmes.
On the next day We were transferred
to the fortress where scores of oul
friends had been pining for years,
waiting for the ''quick and just trial!''
which has been solemnlv promised by
the Gar Alexandria. OF course We
were subjected to solitary confinement
However, we kept up a lively CORE
spondence. We telegraphed to one an
other by rapping on the wall. Occa
sionally we shouted to each other in
our cypher: The fortress authoritie;
tried in vain to hinder us from talking
in one way or another. In April we
were tried by the military court. As
we were not allowed, though we haC
the right by law, to choose our owr
counsel, we decided not to take any
part whatsoever in the sham trial.
Three of our party of fifteen-Anto
noff, Brantner and Ossinsky-were con
demned to death, and the rest to hare
labor in the Siberian mines for fourteen
years and ten months. When the sen
tence of death was pronounced LADY
prisoner swooned. The spectators wht
packed the hall were greatly excited
curiosity prompted some to stand up Oh
the benches.
''What do you stare at?" thunderet
Antonotf with his eyes flaming. $50
shame, to make spectacle of thi
thing!' The people fell back ant
turned to the exit.
After the trial we condemned prison
ers-those who were to die and thos
| destined for Siberia-were allowed t,
pass part of every day together. |
is impossible to describe our feelings
! On the eve of the execution of Ou
three friends we babe them the las
goodbye. must say that on that mo
mentous evening the three who wer
about TO die tried their best TO chez
| the rest of us Antonoff was anxiou
about only one thing that his prope
name should not be discovered. Fl
loved Lis mother dearly, and wishe
that she might remain ignorant of hi
fate. lis hardly necessary to say tina
the three died bravely.
Soon after that we were sent to East
tern Siberia. The two of us who di
not belong to the nobility were sent o
foot like the rest of the unprivilege
criminals. Their heads were hal
shaved. and heavy chains were put O.
their feet. According to the law. tn
noblemen do not lose their privilege
until they reach their destination in s.
1 - ~