West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-08-15
SENTENCED TO SIBERIA.
a NIhiIist's Experience Between His
Arrest I'm kieT and His Escape I'm
IrkutsL.

Arrest In KieG and His Escape I'm
Irkutsk.
At midnight on February II, 1879,
IN the city of Kieff, Mrs. Kossarovsky's
house, then occupied by the Nihiiist
brothers lvichcvitch, was regularly be-
siegcd 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 mt 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 n sieve
by the shots fired from both sides.
Captain Sudeikin and his men wore
suits OF chain mail, yet n 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 |
bcheld my comrades there! n Posen
and Il. Steblin-Hamcnsky were 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 T.. Sarandovitch. all 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 l forget his appearance.
Pale was his face, sparkling his ewes.
disordered his black curly hair, and
trembling his frame from head to foot
what is that?" he Numbered, point
ing ut Posen and Kameusky. Arms
tied? Away with the ropcs!''
PLEASE calm YOURSELF" said the
police Captain 1--WE will unite them. -
Instantly the ropes were taken away.
Water! want a drinkr' roared
AptOnoff
Bring water at once" commanded
the Captain. Presently n Colonel of
gendarmes appeared and ordered that
each of us should be taken 10 separate
cell.
Use your own swords and bavoncts
In case of need, " said the Colonel 10
the gendarmes
On the next day we were transferred
TO the fortress where scores of our
friends had been pining for wears.
waiting for the ''quick and just trialr'
which has been Solemnlv promised bv
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 i'm
our CIPHER: The fortress authorities
tried in vain to hinder us from talkino
In one 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 own
counsel. we decided not to take any
part whatsoever in the sham trial.
Three OF our party of fifteen-Anto-
non, BTantner and Ossinsky--were con-
demned TO death, and the rest to hard
labor in the Siberian mines for fourteen
years and ten months. When the SON
tence OF death was pronounced n LADY,
prisoner swooned. The spectators who
packed the hall were greatly excited
curiosity prompted some to stand up ON
the benches.
What do YOU stare at?" Numbered
Antonof with his eyes flaming "For
shame, TO make q spectacle of this
thing. The people fell back and
turned TO The exit.
After the trial we condemned prison.
ers-those who were 20 die and those
destined for Sibcria-wpre allowed a.
pass part Of every day together n
Is impossible 90 describe orr feelings
On the eve Of the execution of 6ur
three friends we babe them the last
goodbye. ] must say that on that mo.
men~Ous evening the three who were
about 20 die tried their best 20 cbeor
the rest 81 Us. Antonon was anxious
about only one thing that his proper
name should not be discovered lie
loved his mother dearly. and Wished
that she might remain ignorant Of his
tate. IL IS hardly necessary 10 say Thai
the three died bravely.
soon after that we we're sent g.. rsst
tern Siberia. The two If as who did
not belong TO the mobility we're sent on
foot ike the rest Of the unpriyileood
crimininals. Their heads were 6aIf
shaved. and heavy chains were put ON
their feet According 10 ibe law. Tho
noblemen do not lose their privileges
unbl they reach their destination ip 81
beTia and ~ oTne If u- drove in RIDE
wagons Our bead- were moi shaved
ana we were free from chain. All
bowcyer. were dressed alike. W. lqd
caitans Of p coarse. gray clotf with a..
diamond- shaped yellow paichc Or. ..r
backs to signify Goat $50 wore .erlr1-,f
to hard labor The SiJ.rIa- .,..s
proper wore only an ace oI diano.,.
From Kcin we went by raiIrgsd &, n
special prison car, accompanied .v
gendarme- Thus wo passcdOref Ai4.
COW and reached Niiui-Nov00rod
ihen we we're placed boz BARGE. which
was ip"sd hy steamer 90 Perm Then.
'gh'n We vent by railway up to- Ecater
injury After Chat there wa. before us
lhe famous siberian road. Iti-a com.
mon posi- route. with three telegraph
wires stretched on ons si4a 1he.e