The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-01-14

VI II
u Russians speak the word fortress"
with shudder. They know what Il
uaeans. To thcm the fortress near ST.
Petersburg ID something moro than
FORTRESS Monroe to tho people of
Washington or Baltimore. The for
tress up the Neva is terrible prison.
where offenders against the govern
fment AFRO gwen court-martial and
punished. None are known to be &C
Quilted. so that no tales como from
the place. When man or woman
goes 10 the fortress he or she Is never
hard OF more. A subject Is sent to
Siberia in cxilc or Is shot In the pen
like . pig In any event trip there
is a journey to death.
The fortress is on little island and
can only be reached by boat. Mono
but officers OF the empire. with special
permission TO do so. are allowed to APP
proach il. Anumber 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 II are senti-
ncls-- guards who have instructions to
shoot down without question or warn
Ing al who approach without authority.
When the nature OF the place Is
known and tho uses of Il under
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 1t
are. in the eyes Of the car. 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
II was constructed. and tens OF thous-
ands of sentences have been pronounced
against exilcs. or those who are dcstin-
ed to exile. II Is somber-looking
structure, and sunk halfway into the
water. Originally il was attended as u
defense in war. but now it Is the scene
OF cxpiation Of crime against the crown.
There is no crime punishable by death,
except against the crown. A man
may murder whole houscful Of peo-
PIC In cold blood aud and escape with
bufa> five-year's sentence; but If he
criticIAes the government. the car. a
membcS of his family. or an officer. he
is shot atthe fortress or exiled in Siber-
lathe same il he advocates free gov
eminent. franchise. n constitution. or
public schools. Almost every day men
and women are taken from the shops
or their homes and carried in tho dir
cction OF the fortress. No one knows
what they have done amiss. IL they
have offended the government they are
exiled; II 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
advised OF his arrest. charge. or sem
tencc. And tho crown takes delight
In making punishment OF its offenders
MS swift. stern, and extreme as posi-
bic, that tho trend toward nihilism
may be checked. But it doesn't seem
to check II. A Russian never looks up
the Ncva 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. Ii Is two full blocks or square:
in length. and is almost as wide, there
fore covering from four to six acres,
II IS OF brick. stone. and marble. three
stories and basement. and Is altogeth.