The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-06-20
EXILES In SIBERIA.


Chief Engineer MeIviIle's Encounter with
the Russian Victims of Tyranny-Leaves
from an Unpublished Record of Arctic
observation-disclosures Experience.
Chief Engineer Melville's new book,
which his nephew, Melville Phillips, is
now preparing for the press, contains
the narrative of his Polar experience on
the voyage of the Jeanette and after
the abandonment of the vessel. Among
the many interesting episodes is an ac-
count of bis meeting with the NihilIst
exiles at Verkeransk in the Government
of YakutSk, Eastern Siberia, in the
winter of 1881, and of their strange adj
ventures as related by themselves. Mel
vile was delayed at Verkeransk await
ing the arrival of the rest of his party
from Belun, as the posting facilities in
Siberia only admit of two or three per-
sons travelling at the same time. What
follows is taken from his forthcoming
book: ... .....a.i- .tr' ....r
directly after my arrival the esprav-
mix, or CoSsack commandment, sent for
Mr.. Leon, one of the political exiles
in his keeping, to act as Interpreter be-
tween us. Leon came and introduced
himself as the gentleman who had
written the letter for the espravnik to
me while was at the delta, and now,
while he interpreted for us, he managed
to interpolate for my benefit part of
his history. We had capital dinner
together of teal duck, snipe and other
game, which Kasharoffski. the esprav-
mix, kept frozen in his cellar all the wear
round. Leon told me that he had never
before eaten at his table. though often
at first invited to do so, for Leon was
very bitter Nihilist, and would not fra
"ternize with his Keepers. Kasharoffski
HAD a son, whom [ named the 'malnki
soldat'i (little seldier). to the great de-
light of both. d. Mrs. kasharoffski was
pleasant, fair-haired. goodIooking
woman, seemingly quite contented to
sspend her days in this remote wilder
ness of snow, cooking and caring
for her house and spouse and little son.
She waited on us at table. and did not
sit down until we had done. 1t was the
first good meal had eaten since leav-
ing San Francisco. We remained at
table in conversation until four o'clock
the next morning. 5, .-... rafr
tLeon informed me that he had
never heard OF the 'Jeannette expedi-
ton until we actually came to the polar
sea to visit them. Icould see his eyes
brighten when spoke of the facility
with which / could navigate the coast
of Siberia in a vessel as small as our
'whaleboat. Kasharofski was anxious
to learn ell about the clothing and pro-
visions necessary to undertake. Journeys
such as we had been making, and
Icons face flushed with hope and Joy
while opened to his glistaning eyes a
glorious vision of escape from an odious
imprisonment" ...-..... ..-
Leon continued to act as interpreter
during MeIviHc's stay in Verkeransk,
and told him that in putting Kasharoi-
skis questions he would take the liberty
of asking some on his own account.
.,.." Leon now urgently invited ME to
visit his comrades in exile. | asked
Kasharoffski whether be had any OBJ
iections, and he said: oh no, do not
believe nihilist can hurt Republican,
So he sent me to the hut of the exiles
in his sleigh, which returned again
for Leon and myself at dinner time.
"Leon was sienderly built, dark and
cadaverous-lo looking man with Jewish
features, though when i asked him he
said he was not Hebrew. His hair
was long and black, reaching TO his
shoulders. He had been a student of
law. he told me. and was arrested in
a students street row. He had been
brought afterward before three separate
tribunals, not one of which, however,
had been able to lind anything irregular
in his habits of life, and so, indeed,
his final commitment papers expressly
stated. While on his way to Siberia
the good-natured Cossack officer in
command of his guard permitted him
TO look over these papers, and learned
that he had been sent ont. after three
different tribunals had acquitted him,
on. what is known as Government
order'-a most remarkable instrument,
which closed with the following
specimen of legal logic: we can prove
nothing against this man, but he is a
student of law, and no doubt very
dangerous man." And banished for
lie he accordingly was. Leon had pre-
served copy of his commitment papers
and exhibited them with.a great deal of
imerriment at the peculiar philosophy of
the administration. "a ...r;.! -.,-.fr =.
In the hut with Leon Melville found
four other Young men, all political ex-
lies. the Oldest twenty seven and the
youngest eighteen years of age. They
were all professional men and spoke
French fluently, some of them German
and others a little English. All were
Nihilists, though several said they had
not been SO until after their Danish
ment. Each one had mournful story
TO tell They were from different parts
of the empire, had known the inside of
Russian prisons all the way from Arch
angel to the Crimea. and were finally
sent to the frontier for safe-keeping.
They questioned Melville eagerly in re-
gard to the navigation of the Siberian
coast, and had a number of charts and
mars. They had often talked and
dreamed, they said, about making their
escape, but thousand miles of river
and two thousand miles Of coast seemed
an impossible journey with the means
at their command. " 'i.@ 9I''
Melville continued his visits to the
.exiles. I'm the evenings. he saws,
several parties; We're given, when the
men sang, played, ate. gambled, drank
and smoked. The women did as much
Ia separate apartments of their own,
and / astonished the assembly by tell
ing them that / never played cards, not