The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-01-14

represented an unlimited quantity of
''vodka," and consequently many hap
py drinking bouts, before was allowed
to pass through the gates Of the high
palisade, and, with many misgivings on
The part Of my guide, was conducted to
the presence of the Captain.
A fine, fierce-looking young soldier,
who glared at me for disturbing him;
for having, by advice, adopted the Rus
sian costume, which by now was
stained and frayed by travel, there was
nothing to show him Twas not civilian
whom any soldier might kick at his
pleasure.
1t was delightful to see the change
the perusal Of the Tobolsk Governors
letter made in the Captains appear
ance. He rose, and with the greatest
courtesy offered me chair, and asked
mo in French if / spoke that language.
assured him on that point, and find
ing | could dispense with Ivan's sery-
ices sent him outside to wait for me.
Varmaloff would not hear of COM
mencing business until wine and cigar
cites made their experimentation he
was at my service in anything and
everything.
/ told him what desired.
ITO speak in private with one of my
convicts. Certainly-this letter places
me at your commands. But which
convict"
gave him the true name. He shook
his head.
II know none Of them by that name.
Most of the names the political prison
ers pass under are false ones. When
they leave me they will become num-
bers, so it doesn't matter"
/ suggested Ceneri. He shook his
head again.
II know the man / want is with
you," / said. "How shall 1 find him?"
"You know him by sightP"
"Yes-well."
"Then you had better come with me
and try and pick him out among my
unfortunates. Light another cigarette
you will want it." he added, with
meaning.
He led the way, and soon we stood
before heavy door. At his command
a jailer, armed with mighty keys, ap-
peared. The grinding locks were
turned, and the door was opened.
Follow me-" said Varmaloff, with a
long pull at his cigarette. / obeyed,
and standing on the threshold had
much ado to keep from fainting.
From the stencil which rushed through
it, that open door might have been the
entrance 10 some pestilential cavern at
the bottom of which all the impurities
of the world were rotting and putrefy-
ing. AS it passed you, you felt that the
thick air was poisonous with disease
and death.
/ recovered myself as best / could,
and followed my guide into the grim in
terror. The door closed behind us.
Had l the power TO describe the
sights / saw when my eyes grew ac-
customed to the gloom, should not be
believed. The prison was spacious,
but, when the number of the prisoners
was considered, it should have been
three times the size. 1t was thronged
with wretched beings. They were
standing, sitting and lying about. Men
of all ages, and, it seemed, of all ma
tionalities. Men with features Of the
lowest human type. They were hud-
died in groups-many were quarreling,
cursing and swearing. Moved by
curiosity they pressed around us as
closely as they dared, laughing and
jabbering in their barbarous dialects. /
was in q hell, an obscene, unclean hell!
a hell made by men for their fellow
men.
Filth! the place was one mass OF IL.
Filth under foot-flth on the walls, the
rafters and the beams-filth floating
about in the hot, heavy, pestiferous air.
Each man seemed 10 be a moving mass
of filth. Zola would revel in minute
description of the horrors Of that place,
but must leave them to the imagna-
ton, although know and even trust
that no ones imagination can come
near the reality.
The only thing / could think Of was
this: Why did not these men rush out,
overpower the guards, and escape from
this reeking denP Iput the question To
Varlamoff.
"They never attempt TO escape
whilst on the march," he said. '1t Is
point of honor among them. II one
escapes those left are treated with much
greater severity"
"Do none ever get awayp"
"Yes, many do when they are sent Il
the works. But it does them no good.
They must pass through the towns or
their fight or they would starve. Their
they are always caught and sent back. '
Twas peering into all the faces about
trying to find the one sought. My in
spection was received with looks sullen
suspicious, defiant or careless Re
marks were made In undertones, bu
Varlamoff's dreaded presence kept mt
from insult. examined many groups
without success, then made tour o
the prison.
All along the wall was slantini
platform upon which men lay in various
) attitudes. Being the most comfortable
station every inch Of 1t was covered b!
recumbent forms. In the angle formed
by the prison walls / saw man reclin
Q ing, as IL utterly worn out. His heaC
$ sank down upon his breast, his eye
9 were closed. There was something II
I his figure which struck me as familiar
. | walked TO him and laid my hand upol
: his shoulder. He opened his weary eye