Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-07-24


wires stretched on one side. These wires
lead to the very shore of the Pacific.
Each of us noblemen had a troika, ana
each was accompanied by two armed
gendarmes. From Kief to Ecaterln-
burg 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 JOY
it was for me- / felt as if freedom was
returning TO me. True, since the FIRST
day of my arrest the idea of attempting
10 escape never left my mind. But now
that | looked upon the free wide world
the thought turned into burning de
sire which controlled all my actions.
Once in the night, while the gendarmes
were asleep at my side, / took the cap
from one of them. and tried to pull out
his pistol. If had succeeded In getting
that pistol l would have tried my legs,
but the gendarme awoke, and l parted
for the time with my happy dream.
We made two hundred miles and
reached Teumen. From that town up
to Tomsk we were taken along with hun
dreds of common criminals in a barge.
We ran up the %. The prisoners called
our barge poultry house, because it was
covered with a solid iron net. The prls-
oners were packed in the barge like her
rings in box. We, the political pris-
oners, were allowed to walk occasionally
on the deck In this manner we jour
neyed 2,700 versts. From Tomsk TO
Krasnoiarsk we travelled 500 versts on
the triokas, aud from there to Irkutsk
we had to 60 by the etape system. One
thousand versts were thus jouTneyed IN
two months. In our party there were
17S | ersons There were robust men,
hearty women, babies and the aged. The
etape system is arranged in this way All
the prisoners were put into two lines.
Then followed wagons, with the women
and children and the prisoners baggage.
Then followed two troikas of the noble
exiles, and three troikas of the political
criminals closed the procession. An
officer and thirty soldiers formed kind
of chain around our party. Fifteen miles
was a regular days tramp. Then all
stopped in the prison for the night. After
two days of walking day was allowed
for rest. The houses are divided into
four unequal parts, to-wit, large hall
for male prisoners, a family room, a room
for noblemen, and the guards room. OF
cleanliness and comfort in any of the
rooms there was absolutely none.
Beside the officer and the soldiers two
men play an important role in the pris
oner's life. Each group of prisoners
elects from among themselves the elder,
who serves in the common interest, rep
resenting the others before the authori-
ties, and keeping the prisoners funds.
That elder is kind of guardian angel
to the prisoners But then there is an
angel of quite a different character.
This is the tradesman who keeps store
and club for the prisoners. He is a
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 older, who dis
tributes it among the prisoners. On
entering the etap house and being
counted over the prisoners are set free.
Whereupon they make a lively rush,
each one scrambling for a good sleeping
place. He who gets bed of plain boards
is deemed lucky, and whoever secures
place under such a bed is also contented.
The remainder sleep on the floor.
Before bedtime the prisoners make fires
in the yard and prepare their porridge
and tea. This forms a unique scene.
Scores of woodpiles 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 off their WORKOUT boots,
unwrapping their feet, and examining
their chains, which often cause
bad sores. Some of the pris-
oners deity remove their irons alto
gether, and others, assisted by special
lists, try to smoothe the leg 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 a song,
Down the mother Volga," is heard.
A young prisoner possessing melodious
and strong voice pours his very soul into
that famous Russian ballad. The pris-
oners' camp is hushed at once. Every
body drinks in that melody, and happy
"reminiscences of the past, of wives, sis
tiers, sweethearts, mothers, companions
and children, chase one another through
these saddening minds. Some of the
men, though rough looking, show tear
dampened eyes. 1t is a sacred moment.
Even the guard, sent to order the pris
oners to bed, stops as if petrifed, his
heart melted by the familiar air.
Many of them do not care to sleep
Here and there they light candles and
nj ~, cardc Ruf tho tradoSmapsc cornar