Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-11-20
THE TiuMEN pRlson


0schption OF Forwardlu~ ae.sf.
Siberian Exiies-
The Tiumen prison WA or,g;n.,,u
QUILT 70 hold 500 prisoners. b.t 80,
subsequently, enlarged by means ~ A.
tached barracks 30 that It could aecr,,,.
modate 800. On the day OF our vIslt
- we were informed by small black'
board hanging beside the office door i,
contained l.741. Aswe approached tha
entrance we were stopped by An ar.noaa
sentry. who, upon being informed tbst
We desired aamittance, shouted thrf,,,gb
SQUARE port-hoie in tbs heavy cat.
stair-she-e-ef' 1.-THE usual call for the
olhcsr OF the day "A corporal or ser-
gsant with q saoer at his side and =
e'oit , revolver In holster on bis hip,
answered the summons. carried oa,r
note 70 the warden, and In a r,oyne,nt
we we're admitted to the prison ward
rlity or sixty exilcs and convicts vare
walking alfnlessly back and forth Il
front Oh mo main prison building or
ssttins idly ingrolps here and there ON
inc ground. They were all dressa,,
from head to foot In costume Of gray
consisting OF a yisorless Scotch cap. 4
snirt and trousers Of coarse herae.n,,o
linen, and a long gray overccat with
one or two diamond shaped patches Of
oiack or yellow cloth sewn mon the
BACK between the shoulders. Nearly
al OF them wore leg-fetters, and the air
vas hiied with a peculiar clinkfng Of
Chains which suggested the continuous
lingling OF innumerabIe lunches Of
keys.
The first .'karnera- or cell that wa
entered was situated in o, ose-story Ioo
oarracf standing against the wall On
Inc left OF the gate. and built evidently
TO receive the overflow from the
crowded main building. The room
was about 81 feet in length BY Is in
width and II feet high; its walls Of
newn logs were covered with Sfrty
*hitewash; its rough plank floor was
BLACK with dried mud and hard- sroddeu
Attn; and it was lighted with three
grated windows looking out into the
prison yard. Down the center Of the
room, and occupying about half fts
width. ran the eeping-bench-a
wooden platform II feet wide and 80
feet long, supported, at a height OF .
Leet from the door. by stout posts.
Each longitudinal half OF this low
platform sloped little, roof-wise, from
the center, SO that when the prisoners
slept upon it in two closely packed
transverse rows. their heads in the
middle were few inches higher than
their feet at the edges. These sleep
ing platforms are known as ..naras.''
and Siberian prison contains no other
'arniture except large wooden tub
FOR excrement. The prisoners have
neither pillows, blankets, nor bed
clothing. and must lie on these hard
plank mares, with no covering but their
overcoats. As we entered the cell. the
eonvicts, with a sudden jfngling of
chains, sprang to their feet, and stood
silently in dense throng around the
aares. ''Zdrastguitui rebiata.'' r.How
DO you do. boys? said the warden
"Zdrayie zhelaiern vasha vwisoki blag-
arodie' I've wish you health. your
high nobility''l shouted hundred
voices in a hoarse chorus. The
prison, said the warden, lis terribly
over-crowded- This cell. for example,
is only 81 feet long by % wide, and has
air space for 35. or at most 40 men.
How many men slept here last night2''
he inquired. turning to the prisoners.
"A hundred and sixty. your high
nobility, shouted half dozen hoarss
7oices--George hsgAaa, ia Century.