The Delta independent., 1888-04-24
THE NEvA FORTRESS.
A Palace from whicll None Are Per-
mitted To G o Free.

/
Petersburg than all other points in
Russia at this time. They are the for
tress short distance up the Neva; the
Winter palace, the home of Alexander
H., assassinated six years ago. in the
center of the city, and the palace of
Alexander III. at Peterhof. two hours
distance across the Gulf of Finland to
the east.
Russians speak the word fortress"
with shudder. They know what it
means. To them the fortress near St.
Peterebu is something more than
Fortress Monroe to the people of
Washington or Baltimore. The for
tress up the Neva is terrible prison.
where offenders against the govern
ment are given oourt-martial and
punished. None are known to be ac-
quilted. SO that no tales come from
the place. When a man or woman
goes to the fortress he or she is never
hard of more. A subject is sent to
Siberia in exile or is shot in the pen
like pig. In any event trip there
is journey to death.
The fortress is on a little island and
can only be reached by boat None
but officers of the empire, with special
permission to do SO. are allowed to ap-
proach it. A number of strangers. out
fishing or rowing and not knowing
what the fortress was, have lost their
lives in attempting to land there.
On the walls surrounding it are senti-
nels-guards who have instructions to
shoot down without question or warn
ing all who approach without authority.
When the nature of the place is
stood, the purposes of this are
seen. All suspects-everyone known
to be plotting or working against the
crown. or any of the imperial subjects
are taken here for examination and
execution, and SO many are never
| heard of who are taken here that eff
forts are continually being made to
destroy the fortress or rescue some in
it; and since those who are taken to it
are. in the eyes of the czar, the rank
est criminals, great efforts must be put
forth to keep intruders away. 1t is said
the waters about it are often crimson
with human blood.
From the fortress thousands OF human
souls have taken flight every year since
| it was constructed, and tens of thous-
ands of sentences have been pronounced
| against exiles, or those who are destin-
| ed to exile. 1t is somber-looking
structure, and sunk halfway into the
water. Originally it was idtended as a
defense in war. but now it is the scene
of expiation of crime against the crown.
There is no crime punishable by death.
except against the crown. A man
may murder whole houseful of peo-
| pie in cold blood and and escape with
buta five-year's sentence; but if he
criticises the government the czar. a
member of his family, OF all officer, he
ia-the same if he advocates free gov
ernment. franchise, n constitution, or
public schools. Almost every day men
and women are taken from the shops
or their homes and carried in the dir
ection of the fortress. No one knows
what they have done amiss If they
have offended the government they are
exiled; if they have injured the cause of
the government they are shot The
examinations are conducted secretly
Not only is the subject not permitted
to make defense, but his friends are
/ I,,;, - I, oh
tence. And the crown takes delight
in making punishment of its offenders
as swift stern. and extreme as posi-
BILE, that the trend toward nihilisn
may be checked. But 1t doesn't seem
to check it. A Russian never looks up
the Neva from St Petersburg, but that
he thinks of the fortress. and he never
thinks of the fortress without shudder-
ing.
The winter palace has probably the
most valuable furnishings. jewels. and
works of art of any building in the
world. 1t is two full blocks or squares
in length. and is almost as wide, there
fore covering from four to six acres.
1t is of brick, stone, and marble. three
stories and a basement, and is altogeth.
or worth in its completeness more mon
ey than all the government buildings at
Washington. including the United
States capitol. 1t contains tons upon
tons of gold and silver. barrels of dia-
monds, rubies, and other precious
stones; carloads of valuable pottery
and chinawares; milos-twenty miles
Of the most extravagant paintings and
statuary. and royal carriages, and har-
ness. decked with diamonds and cost
ing untold millions. walked five
hours in 1.-THE other day and did not
60 through two-thirds of the corridors
and rooms. 1t would be impossible for
an occupant to so know half the treas
ures as to recognize them. And yet
Alexander III. will not live here be-
cause his father did.
1t has been customary to erect new
palace for every ruler. so as TO have a
monument for each one. The palaces
and furnishings cost hundreds of mil