Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-08-22
TO SIBERIA.

NAOy ~ IAN q JS0A
-Lilie E. Bdrr, in N. Y. Ledger.
-
SENTENCED TO SIBERIA.
A Nihilist,s Experience Between Hit
Irkutsk.
At midnight on February II, 1879,
in the city Of Kieff, Mrs. Kossarovsky's
house, then occupied by the Nihilisa
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
defend themselves to the last shot. One
door after another was broken in but
not before each was turned into a 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 . plight
behold my comrades there! N. Posen
and B. simultaneously were stand
ing with their arms tightly bound be.
hind their backs and held by gen.
darmes. In o corner of the same roo
were sitting Miss Armfeld, Miss Pat
alitzin and p. Sarandovitch, all bound
and helpless. The room was filled with
policemen and armed gendarmes.
Amid a a of voices there suddenly
appeared the gigantic figure of our
brave comrade, known under the as
sumcd name of Antonoft. He was
dragging behind him two policemen
who tried to hold him by his arms.
Never can I forget his appearance.
Pale was his face, sparkling his eyes,
d%isordered his black curly hair, and
trembling his frame from head to foot.
''What is that?' he Numbered, point
ing at Posen and Kamensky. 'Arms
tied? Away with the ropes!"
"Please calm YOURSELF" said the
police Captain" 1--WE will unite them"
Instantly the ropes were taken away.
Water! [ want a drink" roared
AntonoH.
Bring water at once,' commanded
the Captain. Presently a Colonel of
gendarmes appeared and ordered that
each of US should be taken to a separate
cell.
''Use our own swords and bayonets
in case of need" said the Colonel to
the gendarmes.
On the next day we were transferred
to the fortress where scores Of our
friends had been pining for years,
waiting for the "quick and just trial!''
which has been solemnly promised by
the Gar Alexandria. OF course we
were subjected to solitary confinement.
However, we kept up a lively CORE
spondence. We telegraphed to n an
other by rapping on the wall. Occa.
sionally we shouted to each other in
our CIPHER: The fortress authorities
tried in vain to hinder us from talking
in n way or another. In April we
were tried by the military court. As
We were not allowed, though we had
the right by law, to choose our OWL
counsel, we decided not to take any
part whatsoever in the sham trial.
Three of our party of fifteen-Anto'
nof, 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 who
packed the hall were greatly excited
curiosity prompted some to stand up OF
the benches.
''What do you stare at?:" thunderet
Antonof with his eyes flaming. $50
shame, to make a 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 a part of every day together. l
is impossible to describe our feelings
On the eve of the execution of GU
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. Antonotf was anxiou
about only one thing-that his prope
name should not be discovered. H
loved his mother dearly, and wishe
that she might remain ignorant Of hi
fate. 1t is hardly necessary to say tbs
the three died bravely.
Soon after that we were sert to Easi
tern Siberia. The two of us who di
not belong to the nobility were sent o
foot like the rest Of the unprivllege
criminals. THAR heads we're ha'
shaved, and heavy chains were put o
tnei. feet. According to the law. tn
noblen,un do not lose their privilege
until they reach their destination in S:
ber.a, and SO some cf las drove in rud
wagons. Our heads were not shaved
and we were free from chains. AL