The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-07-08
AN EXILE'S ESCAPE.

Several years ago Russian gentleman,
whom met at the house of friend in
Paris, told me he had been an exile in
Siberia, and had also visited America
81 went from Siberia to America" said
he, with smile, "and you may infer
that l went without the emperor's per-
mission"
"Of course l understand" replied /,
"that you escaped from captivity"
''Quite right, said he. "And 1 will
tell you how it was.
81 was charged with being concerned
in Nihilist conspiracy" he continued,
''but whether the charge was true or
false is of no consequence at present.
was sentenced to fifteen years exile in
the province of Yakutsk, and was int
mediately started with party of about
fifty prisoners Of all grades and kinds.
We went by railway from st. Petersburg
to Mini Novgorod, then by steamboat
to Kazan and Perm, and from Perm we
walked over the Ural mountains to
Ekaterineburg. Some of the prisoners
were in fcttcrs and others were not: l
was one Of the former, and carried five
pounds of iron chains that extended
from each ankle to my waist, where
they were fastened to an iron belt. With
this encumbrancc it was out of the ques-
tion for me to think of running away.
All who we-e fcttered were obliged to
wear their irons day and night, and every
time prisoner moved in his sleep the
chains clanked horribly.
eve travelled in all but the very worst
weather, and slept at the stations which
are stretched along the road at intervals
of about fifteen miles. The stations are
horribly dirty, and there is nothing but
the bare floor to sleep upon, but we
were so weary when night came that any
sort of couch was welcome. Cabbage,
soup and barley, with black bread and
an occasional piece of meat, composed
our food. and there was generally
enough of it.
"The object of exile is to provide a
population for Siberia, and consequently
the government has no object in starv-
ing o prisoner on his way to execute his
sentence.
81 was six months in reaching my des,
tination, q small village hundred miles
from Yakutsk, and five thousand miles
from St. Petersburg. The governor al
lotted me piece of land. gave me tools
for cultivating the ground and building 9
house, and told me would be sup
piled with provisions once week for
three years. At the end of that time
was expected to have my land under cul-
tivation, and must support myself. !
could also catch fish in the rivers, and
hunt for game in the forests, but under
no circumstances must [ fail to report
once week to the Starosta, or head
man of the settlement.
The village contained dozen houses,
all occupied by exilcs like myself. They
were all without education or re.
finement, and, therefore, l could not OBJ
tain much companionship from them,
but they showed the most kindly spirit,
and gave me all the help they could.
With their assistance built a small
house, and they showed nc now 10 hunt
and fish, and in a little while | was set.
tied IN my exile home. The govern
ment offered to bring my family to ST.
Derla, Dut ueCIlueu tlc plopoSai' tHc
wife and young children of an exile can
always follow or accompany him at gov
ernment expense, but they cannot return
to Russia until his term Of banishmcnt
has expired. This is done in order that
the exile may be contentcd in Siberia by
having few or no ties to bind him to
Europe.
1.-THE first thoughts of prisoner are
ALWAYS directed to securing his freedom,
and 1 was no exception to the rule. Not
a day passed that did not revolve in my
mind the possibilities Of an escape, and
ths means for accomplishing it..
81 speedily abandoned all hopes oi