Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-20
APATONIC REPUBLIC.
The Settlement of Nihilists in Southern
Oregon and Its History.

From the San Francisco Chronicle.
Among the foothills of the coast range
in the southern part of Oregon, at a place
called LOngdale station, stands a settle
ment of Russian refugees. Although os-
tensibly subject to the laws of jackson
county, yet this community of exiles is
in reality an imperium IN imperlO. 1t seems
to be sort Of Platonic republic, where
property is common and where the great
est freedoms possible to an organized So
ciety is allowed.
In 1881 a band of twenty students of the
Odessa and kharkof universities left
Russia in separate detachments, with
New York as meeting place. Arriving
there they looked about for some place of
settlement, and determined on Oregon.
Not having money enough, they again
separated, and worked in different cities
Of the East until fund had been raised
sufficient to buy the titled deeds to several
thousand acres of land. When the prop
erty was purchased they at once started
for OREGON and began the formation Of
colony, 10 which have since been added
thirty or forty additional Nhilists. The
land was divided into farms, aud each
cOlonist allowed II certain amount of
Soon the settlement thrived until their
colony, which is called "New Odessa"
stood on a substantial basis. Then rules
and regulations were adopted for the
government of the settlers. 1t was de-
cided that each man should work but six
hours a day, the remainder to be devoted
to listening to lectures on Nihilism and
the rights of man. One large house was
selected as the lecture hall, and there the
refugees daily listen to the specuatiOns
of the students on the right of revolution.
which they claim will uprise in Russia
as sure as the Nolga flows into the sea.
The chief staple Of cultivation of the
colony is grain. There are about twenty
women in the settlement. The colony is
in the possession Of a large library, open
10 all, which is composed mostly of trea-
/ tses on political subjects in the Russian
/ tongue. The library is gradually in
creased by additions of books and papers
/ fro m Geneva and Odessa.
Among the settlers is Ivan Urvansky,
who was connected with the Nihilists IN
/ Odessa, and who was arrested In 1878. Al
that time there was a man in Odessa
named kOwalsky, who published the
books and pamphlets Of the Nihilists. One
night while he was engaged In this work
the house was surrounded by gendarmes
/ The NihillstG closed the doors and burned
! all Of the papers and books. When the
officers of the Car broke down the doors
a fight ensued between the two parties.
and six officers We're killed. They found
evidence against kOwalsky and his con.
federates in the portions Of set type that
the Nhilists had forgotten 20 "pi" Kow'
alsky was sent to q prison, and on the
/ journey the police sent three empty car.
riages, with view Of deceiying the peo.
pie, az an uprising was feared. kowal;
/ sky was sentenced 10 be executed. bui
/ Urvansky managed 20 atterward escape
Another Nihilist at the Oregon settle.
mentis MIR. Ramanouch, who was arreft Ted
at the same time as kOwalsky. He was
sent 10 Archangel. While there he played
the role OF "a natural fool. and was at.
lowed his freedom provided he would re.
port every morning 90 the authorities
He managed 10 escape in the garb Of d
peasant.
The other prominent Nihlists at New
Odessa are krimont. Fireman aud Cur.
vicb, all students. and all connected with
some political plot which caused them
% leave their country. The settlement
thus far has rrospored beyond all eXpec.
tati0n, ald no dtsscnsiOn has occurred e
mar the accomplishment OF It's purpose
the colony is still engaged I'm Nihillstic
projects, aud Is in constant communlca
ton with Russia. One OF the great OBJ
jects Of the colony Is to furnish home by
sending money TO Nihilists who may here
after escape from Russia.