Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-04-10

! klnuly treated bN the SolulerS ana OIL
GERS, but terrible tales were told me
about their sutferings at the hands of
inhuman jailers and commandments of
prisons There, for the slightest in
| fraction of rules, the rod, the dark
F, cell and variety of other puniShmcnts
were called into play.
always felt relieved when we had
passed out of sight of gang like
this. The contrast between my own
position and that of such number of
my fellow-meu was too painful to con-
template-and vet. if Ceneri did not
clear away every shadow of doubt
from my mind | might retrace my
steps n more miserable wretch than
either of those footsore convictS.
Some week or ten days after leaving
Tobolsk began TO make inquiries at
every ostrog rs to when Captain Varla-
mof's gang passed. and when l might
expect to oyertake il. The answers l
received to the latter question cor
responded with that given me by the
| Governor agreed nj lrkutSk, or just
beyond. Day after day found we were
gaining rapidly upon the party, and
when at last we reached the large hand
some town of Irkutsk brightly reckoned
that had reached the end. or nearly
the end of my journey.
On inquiry | found Captain Varla-
mof had not vet arrived. At the place
where had last inquired l had been
told he had passed through day be-
fore, 50 it was evident we had over
looked and outStrippcd them. The best
thing to be done was TO wait in Hkutsk
the arrival of the party.
i was not at all sorry 10 take couple
of days rest after my fatigues. Twas
not sorry to indulge once more in the
comforts of comparative civilization; yet
nearly every hour | was sending down
to inquire if the convicts had arrived.
More ardentlv than | had longed to
reach Irkutsh, | longed to turn the
horses head westward and start on
the return journey
l had heard no news from home since
left st. Petersburg. Indeed, l could
not expect a letter, as, after my depart
ure from Mini Noygorod, l had posi-
lively outstripped the post. On the
read home l hoped to find letters wait
ing me.
After had kicked my heels in Irkutsk
iot eMO AhSs L ltStlNcu lhS NclCOllc
news that Captain Varlamoff had
marched his prisoners to the ostrog at
four o'clock that afternoon. | rose from
my dinner and went with all speed to
the prison.
A man In plain elothes-a civilian
demanding to be conducted to the pres
enee of Russian Captain who had just
arrived from a long march, seemed al
most too great joke for the sentries to
bear in d soldier-like manner. Their
stolid faces broke into scornful smiles
as they asked Ivan if 1.-The little father
had gone quite mad. 1t required much
flrmness, much persuasion and gra-
tuity, which to the simple military mind
represented an unlimited quantity OF
vodka" and consequently many hap
py drinking bouts, before Twas allowed
10 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 was not civilian
whom any soldier might kick at his
! pleasure.
It was delightful TO see the change
the perusal of the Tobolsk Governor 8
| letter made in the Captains appear
ance. He rose, and with the greatest
courtesy offered me a chair, and asked
me in French il | spoke that language.
| assured him on that point, and find
ing could dispense with VANS swv-
Ices sent him outside to wait for me-
Varmaloff would not hear of COM
mencing businesS until wine and cigar
cites made their a2rearance-then he
was at my service in anything and
everything.
l told him what | desired.
! 10 speak in private with one Of my
convicts. Certainly tbs letter places
me at your commands But which
convict?'
I gave him the rue name. He shook
i his head
II know none of them by that name
Most of the names the political prison
! ers pass under are fal-e ones. When
they leave liic IN; IA l.:-coIne NUM-
bers, SO it doesn't M AFTER
1 suggested Cenrr.. lie shook his
! head again.
Il know the man ! want is with
YOU" / said ..How shall find him?"
"You know him by sight?'
| Eyes we'll
Then Won had b'.;er come with me
and try and lex him out among my
unfortunates. Light aDo:hcr cigarette
you will wan. i. Ia. added, with
meaning.
He led the wa, and soon we stood
before heavy door At his command
jailer, armed with mi zhty keys, APP
peared. The grinding locks were
turned, and the door was opened.
Follow me. said VarInaIoff. with 8
long pull ct his cigarette. / obeyed,
and standing on the threshold had
much ado to keep from fainting.
From the stenca 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 I could,
and followed my guide into the grim In
terror. The door closed behind us.
Had 1 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 .nronged
with wretched beings They were
standing. sitting and lying about. Mez
OF ali ages, and, il seemed, of all ma
tionalities Men with features Of the
lowest humsE type. They were huc-
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 he'll, an obscene. unclean hell.
. he'll made by men for their fellow
men
FILTH the place was one mass Of it
Filth under foot-filth on the walls. the
rafters and the beams-filth floating
about in the hot, heavy, pestiferous air.
Each man seemed to be q moving mass