Wichita eagle., 1888-07-22
TIE HUNGER STRIKE.
GRIM DETERMINATION OF POLITICAL
PRISONERS IN RUSSIA


ceive Food from the Outside. to Read
and TO Go to Church-vietory Secured
MT Last.
The following morning-it was July Sail
the prisoners of tie right solitary refused
to eat their food When the warders, at the
order of the director. opened the cells at j
O'Clock in the afternoon they found the food,
placed there in the morning, untouched An
excellent supper consisting of fragrant
bouillon, delicious vaast beef and fuTninS tea
and cakes-fcod the l,cisoners had already for.
gotten the taste of-was placed IN the cells IN
the evening, but they were not to be tempted,
and took no notice OF IL The same night
they were joined by the ''lefts,n or the occa-
pants of the left solitary" who had by soma
means learned of their action aid Of the
causes which prompted it Seeing that the
prisoners were in earnest, the director, a.
midnight, ordered all food and water 10 be
removed from the Gels. '.lH make them
beg for food be thought He did not sleep
that night. He stole On tiptoe from ono
wicket hole 10 another, watching wha. tho
prisoners were doing. They lay on their
pallets, gazing at the ceiling, or talking 70
eac. other by knocks, and in the twilight OF
the cells their bodies reminded the director
OF hobgo5hns. Grim silence prevailed in the
Corridor.
Early in the forenoon a delicious breakfast
was brought into the cells, but the prisoners
exhibited no desire TO eat it, and it was taken
back 10 the kitchen. At noon a luxurious
dinner was served, and although il remained
untouched, it occurred to the director to
leave 1t all day in the cells. The voluntary
sufferers threw the food into tho 'parashkas'
In the evening the same story was repeated,
with the same result The director ordered
Mshkin, Alexaniroi aud Cicianof to 10
brought from the ''karzcrn back to their cells
hoping to reconcile the prisoners, and that
the three men, touched by their pardon,
would try and persuade the others 10 give up
their dangerous undertaking, but he found
he had made a miStake-Mishkin,a as well a
Cicianod and Alexandroff. joined their fell
low prisoners
At late hour Of the second night the di-
rector. accompanied by the prison physician.
went from cell 10 cell, begging and suppl
eating the prisoners TO eat, reminding them
of their homes, fathers, mothers. relatives
and friends, to whom they might soon re-
turn, apologizing for the rudeness be had dis
played when overzealous in the performance
OF his duties, and explaining that he was
merely a subordinate official who had To
obey the orders from those above him At
all the cells the director received the same
lacouic reply, Grant what we are asking"
In the forenoon Of the third day the pris-
oners were all led into the yard. where the
common prisoners and soldiers sat around
large tables eating and drinking. The direc-
tor thought that the sight Of persons eating
would induce the hungry 20 take food, but
they did nothing of the kind and were taken
back 10 their cells Outside the prison walls
nothing was known of all these horrors. The
director gave strict orders to all soldiers and
warders to keep their mouths shut and, fear
ing his wrath, they carried out his orders 10
the letter. The serious character Of the affair
SO frightened the director that in the morn
ing of the fourth day he dismissed all tho
warders whose insolence had displeased tho
prisoners, and gave orders - their SUCCESSORS
TO be as polite and gentle as ossible Again
and again he visited the cells, humilating
himself before those whom he formerly
treated as beasts, and coojuring them To eat
and TO live Tor the sake OF their relatives and
friends, but his efforts were OF no avail
In the evening of the fourth day tbs prison
priest, a low lived hypocrite, went with .
largo cross in his arms from cell 10 cell, sup
pl4cating the prisoners 10 eat, ia the name Of
God, but his prayers and entreaties received
no attention from the half dead sufTererA
Their condition that night was Of a most do
pressing nature Most of them could no
longer stand on their feet; some tainted,
Others raved constantly, ami special warders
had TO watch at their beds al night in order
to prevent their sudden expiration. The
director did not sleep ali night. The physi-
clan and his assistants had never had such "a
busy time before. Fifty-eigbt men were
apparently dying slowly from voluntary
starvation. They touched nothing bat water,
and some also abstained even from this
The same night conference. presided over
by the director, and attended by tie phySi-
clan, tho priest, the officers Of tie garrison
and the head warders, was held at the prison
Office The director delivered a Inogrnful
speech, saying that re was tired Of tie duties
Of bis office, that his Office would kIl him ia
a few years, and that he was ready 70 resign
II his resignation would be accepted But
what is to b. don. nown be exclaimed, dra-
matically II cannot grant theu demands,
it's beyond my power 20 do II. Up % the
present time | still hoped the fellows would
change their minds or break down and begin
io EFT For this reason intended not 10 let
the governor know Of this horrible affair
But now sec they are in earnest. They are
determined % die. ] don't want % be solely
responsible for thei- deaths, and I think tia
time 20 report everything % the governor
and let BIN act as lie thinks best"
! All agreed that no other course vss posx!-
bic under the circumstances, and a report
w4s 20. up and forwarded Immediately 10
the governor Of khErkoY On the SIXTH day
Of the fafuiEe-July o-CouBciIOr S0urntzfY.
accompanied by the chief doctor Of the
Lrovirce. arrived az the "csn.rslkn.- They,
too, began by szhorting the prisoners 20 take
/ some nourishraent. Accompanied by tho
director and the PRISON physician, they went
from cell 70 cell, arguing, begging and
threatening bot their efforts we're a. useless
/ as those Of the director and his assl sssnts
On the seventh day ths prison was visited
I BIZ a number Of generals and toe pfocureur,
T or attorney general, o. the provinces. Ttey
received the same categorical reply. Grant
/ our dsraands- SEEING that nothing could
+ shake the resolution Of stss prisousrs. AID
T fearing TO wait any longer. the governor
I ordsrsd the director 70 ospi.ula,e-tha; H.
: 20 premise 70 fulfu al their demands As
the prisoners had no faith Ia prorfiaez q
Russian government. officials, both tie GOV
ernor and the director bad 20 nxn paper
/ obligins themselves 70 permit, Tie pso!ii.ca.
priscnsrs 70 work, 70 rscsivs food fr0rn tss
/ outside, 70 read ali tie books peruaiss~t ty
( the state censor. 20 Wat: the prison church ca
Sunday named By thsrn. etc 1s7s. On ths
eighth day Of tbs famjDs-July io-,ss yaris-
onsrs once again took food-xichAei EAlko0
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