The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-01-30


of which have forgotten, so surely as
you found the well-appointed posting
station, YOU found also a gloomy square
building, varying with the size of the
place, surrounded by tall palisade,
the gates of which were barred. bolted
and sentried-these buildings were the
ostrogs, or prisons.
| Here it was that the wretched con-
victs ..were housed as they halted on
their long march. In these places they
were packed like sardines in "a box.
Prisons built to hold two hundred were
often called upon to accommodate Mt
least twice that number of luekless
wretches. l was told that when ice was
breaking up in the rivers; when the
floods were out; when in fact the prog
ress must perforce be delayed, the
scenes at these prisons or depots beg
CARED description. Men, sometimes un-
sexed women with them, huddled into
rooms reeking with filth, the floors
throwing out poisonous CARNATIONS
rooms built to give bat scanty space to
a small number, crowded to suffocation.
The mortality at times was fearful. The
trials of the march were as nothing
when compared with the horrors of the
so-called rest. And it was in one OF
these ostrogs | should find Ceneri.
We passed many gangs of convicts
plodding along to their fate. Ivan told
me that most of them were in chains.
! This / should not have noticed, as the
irons were only on the legs and worn
under the trousers. Poor wretched be-
ings, my heart ached for them! Felons
| though they were, could never refuse
the charity they invariably prayed for.
So far as could see they were not un-
kindly treated by the soldiers and Off
GERS. but terrible tales were told me
about their sufferings at the hands OF
inhuman jailers and commandments Oi
prisons. There, for the slightest in
fraction of rules, the rod, the dark
cell and variety of other punishments
We're called into play.
| ALWAYS felt relieved when we had
passed out of sight of n gang like
! this. The contrast between my own
| position and that of such a number OF
my fellow-men was too painful to con-
template yet, if Ceneri did not
clear away every shadow of doubt
from my mind | might retrace my
steps more miserable wretch than
either of those footsore convicts.
Some week or ten DAYS after leaving
| Tobolsk | began to make inquiries al
every ostrog as to when Captain Varla-
moff's gang passed. and when | might
| expect to overtake it. The answers
received to the latter question cor
responded with that given me by the
Governor-all agreed at Irkutsk, 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 l found Captain Varla-
molf had not yet arrived. AT the place
where had last inquired l had been
told he had passed through day be-
fore. SO it was evident we had over
looked and outstripped them. The best
| thing to be done was to wait in 1rkutsk
the arrival of the party.
was not nj all sorry to take couple
of days rest after my fatigues. | was
not sorry to indulge once more in the
comforts of comparative civilizations: vet
nearly every hour | was sending down
to inquire if the convicts had arrived.
More ardcntlv than | had longed to
reach lrkutSk. l longed TO turn the
horses head westward and start on
the return journey.
had heard no news from home since
left St. Petersburg. Indeed. | could
not expect letter, as. after NV depart
ure from Mini Novgorod. | had posi-
lively outstripped the post. On the
road home | hoped to find letters wait
inc me.
After had kicked my heels in Irkutsk
for two days | received the welcome
news that Captain Narlamoff had
marched his prisoners to the ostrog nj
four o clock that afternoon. | rose from
NV dinner and went with all speed to
me prison.
A man in plain clothes-a civilian
demanding to be conducted to the pres
ence of Russian Captain who had just
arrived from a long march. seemed al
most too great joke for the sentries to
bear in 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
| firmneSs. 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
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 Il civilian
whom any soldier might kick at his
pleasure.
1t was delightful to see the change
the perusal of the Tobolsk Governor 5
letter made in the Captains appear
ance He rose. and with the greatest
courtesy offered me chair. and asked
me in French if spoke thas language.
| assured him on that point. and find
ing could dispense with lvan's serv-
ices sent him outside to wait for me.
Varnalof. would not hear of COM
mcncing business until Wine and cigar
cites made their appcarance-then he
was a. my service in anything and
everything
! told HIM what desired.
TO speak in private with one OF my
convicts. Certainly-this letter places
me at your commands. But which
convict