The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-11
THE RUSSIAN POLICE FORCE.
Victims of Their Fatal Espionage and
the Dreadful Fate of Their Victims.
st. Petersburg by Night-A Household Sur
prised by SpieS-A Daughter Torn from
the Embrace of Parents.
London Letter in San Francisco Chronicle.

The following graphic sketch. unfortunately
no imaginary one. has been placed at my dispos
al by distinguished Russian exile. 1t WILL
| may mention. form part of forthcoming work
on Russia and its government, in the preparation
| of which am just now engaged:
| AT St Petersburg on night in the year 1879.
The clocks have just struck 2 The town Is
asleep and deep silence reigns in the capital OF
the Gar. The wide and empty streets, dimly
| lighted with Pickering gas lamps, straight and
erect like line Of soldiers look as if they, too,
were taking their repose after the fatigues and
exctements of the day The innumerable
little carriages, with their diminutive horses,
which form so striking feature of the
great city, converting their now deserted
| thoroughfares into an everhewing stream of
wheels, horse flesh and human heads, have van
ished from the scene, and the few drivers that
still remain on the stands, vainly hoping for
fares, are fast asleep on their own droskies.
The dvorniks porters) of great houses, having
neither visitors to receive suspects to watch,
sleep their inches the sleep of the just, while the
hollow ring of his footsteps on the granite flag
stone reminds the solitary wayfarer of the late
| ness of the hour At the corner of Litienaia
guard Having to keep order on his beat, he is
supposed to be the alert, and as hs leans
against the wall with his hat pressed low on his
head, it would puzzle the sharpest of inspectors
| to know whether all his senses are STEPPED in
oblivion, or he has merely shut his eyes the
| better to mediate on the worlds wckednesS and
| the most effectual methods of defeating the
wiles of disturbers of the peace The good man
may indulge without conjunction in those
solitary reflections The soothing influence of
the night has appeased for awhile the passions,
the greed and the struggles of the human ant
hill around him.
St Petersburg sleeps its first sleep and all is
| quiet. But what is that strange company which
emerges noiselessly and mysteriously from the
great house near the suspension bridge over the
dark and stagnant canal? One by one they
come until some fifteen are assembled in the
| street, whereupon, in obedience to a whispered
order, they fall in" and glide swiftly through
| the deserted streets Half of them are clad like
| common folk; the others in uniform. Had
| the civilians marched in the center there could
| be no doubt as to the character of the cortege;
but they 60 in front and lead the way, the mill
! tary bringing up the rear. AS this strange com
| pany passes toward the Litienaia, the tramping
of their feet and the rattle of their arms seem to
alright all who hear them. The slumberng
sergeant rouses himself with sudden start,
| pushes back his hat, stands bolt upright and
| gives the military salute to the leader of the
company, which. however the latter does not
deign to return. The drosky driver, Weakening
ling at the portentouS appariton. The belated
passenger, when he sees it, turns hastily into
| by street end there waits until the procession
has gone past, then coming from his hiding
place, he follows the group with
| his gaze, wondering whittier they are
| bound and perchance regretting that their des-
tined victim, less fortunate than himself, will be
unable to keep out of their way. For these men
| are intent on no errand of kindness or mercy.
| They are servants of the State, guardians and
rap Off Of r11hli on fhai IN
| vindcate the authority of the law and perform
| ar act in its defense. Let US follow them. After
| traversing several wards they turn into little
| street on the right and call halt, whereupon
| three of their number draw aside and literally
and fguratively put their heads together. Then
| they separate, and the owners of the heads give
whispered directions to the Others pointing the
while to large house hard by
1t is against this building, which contains
many dwellings. and looms through the dark
ness like great gray giant-the windows all
closed like the eyes of a man. who sleeps in Sc
curity, fearing no evil-that the attack is to be
made. The force divides, one Slipping round
| the street corner to take the giant in the rear
while the other goes boldly to the front and
wakens the slumbering porter. The man, jump
| ing up in sudden alarm, muJters someircoherent
words, but is speedily silenced by one of tho
men in civil dress. Then, without question or
hesitation, he lets these peremptory VISITORS
who may be robbers in disguise, into the
| house of which he is the appointed guard
ian, lights lantern, and hatless and half
clad as he is, his long beard streaming in the
wind leads the way. With catlike steps, pro-
curator policemen and spies mount the stair
case the gendarmes raising their sabers and
| treadirg softly, while the civilians exchange
remarks in lowered voices They might be
| taken for band Of brigands, led by man
whom they had forced to be their accomplice
ut is here" says the porter at length, pointing
| to door. On this the leader makes sigh to
his men to hurry up, and the next moment they
| are all before the door. After assuring himself
by rapid glance that every man is in his place.
the chief whispers something in the porter's ear
and asks sternly if he understands. The porter
| mods his head goes to the door and gives a
strong pull at the bell Then he rings second
| time, and few minutes later the sound of foot
steps is heard inside. who is there2" asks a
woman's voice 1T is I, Nicolas Ivanoff; have
! telegram for the master" On this the key is
| heard turning in the lock, the door opens and
the crowd of police spies, pushing back the half
| dressed servant, swarm into the dwelling. The
indicators of orderare now in possession Of the
| fortress. Their next proceeding is to secure the
garrison. Everybody being asleep, they can
| only do this by going into their bedrooms, heed
| less of the screams and protests of frightened
women and the cries of suddenly awakened
| children
The first surprise is over; the father of the
! family demands of the one that seems to be the
! leader who he is and the meaning of the intru-
| sion. II am the pristo,' is the answer, ''and
this gentleman is the procuretor. We are come
| to make a search"
Il have not the pleasure of knowing you you
| have the warrant, / supposed"
| 'Of course otherwise / should not be here"
would you be good enough to show it to
| me?'
1T would be useless Besides I have not
brought it with me. left it in my Office. But
| there can be no mistake. You are surely Mr.. N.
Your daughter lives with you. She is in that
bedroom. We want nothing more 1t is on her
account we are here"
But you will at least send the men out of the
rooms. My wife and daughter cannot dress in
| their presence"
'They will have to do so. though" said the
police officer, with grim smile. "Do you think
might conceal or destroy something that could
be used as evidence against them"
| The father, after further remonstrance find
| ing himself altogether powerless to hinder the
l threatened OUTRAGE asks that his protest NAV ha