Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-02-07
FORTRESS OF THE NEvA.
A Russian Prison from Which None Are
 Permitted to Return.

A Russian Prison from Which None Arc
 Permitted to Return.
 The fortress up the Neva is a terrible prison, where offenders against the govern ment are given a court martial and pun ished. None are known to be acquitted, so tbat no tales come from the place. When a man or woman goes to the fortress he or she is never heard of more A subject is sent to Siberia in exile or is shot in the pen like a pig. In any event trip there is a journey 10 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 approach 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 ever sentinels- guards who have instructions to shoot down without question or warning all who ap- proach without authority. When the nature of the place is known and the uses of it un- derstood, the purposes of this arsenal are seen- All suspects-every one 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 efforts are continually made to destroy the fortress or rescue some one in 1t; and since those who are taken to it are, in the eyes of the czar, the rankest criminals, great efforts must be put forth to keep intruders away It is said the waters about it are often crim- son with human blood.
 From the fortress thousands of human souls have taken flight every year since it was con structed, and tens of thousands of sentences have been pronounced against exiles, or those who are destined to exile. It is sober look ing structure, and sunk half way into the water. Originally it was intended as de fense in war, but now it is the scene of the expiation of crime against the crown. There is no crime punishable by death, except against the crown. A man may murder Q whole household of people in cold blood and escape with but a five year sentence; but if he criticises the government, tho ear, a member of his family, or an officer, he is shot at the fortress or exiled to Siberia-the same If he advocates free government, franchise, a constitution or public schools.
 Almost every day men and women are taken from tho shops or their homes and carried in tho direction of the fortress. No one knows what they have done amiss. If they havo offended the government they are ,xiled; if they have injured tho cause of the government they are shot. The examinations Ire conducted secretly. Not only is the sub
 ect not permitted to make Q defense, but his friends are not advised of his arrest, charge or sentence. And tho crown takes delight in making punishment of his offenders as swift. stern and extreme as possible, that the tread toward nihilism may be chec ed. But it loesn't seem to check it. A Russian never looks up the Neva from St. Petersburg but that he thinks of tho fortress, and he never thinks of tho fortress without Shuddering- .St. Petersburg Letter.