The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1889-12-09
AN OMAHA MANS
Terrible Experience In the land Of the
Gar.

Gar.
OMAHA, Ncb, Dec. 6.-Jaeob Gerber
is once more in Omaha, having escaped
from the Siberian exile 90 which he was
doomed a year and a half ago. lie ar
rived IN the city Sunday night, after an
absence Of twenty-one months After
being resident of this city for six
years. Mr. Gerber returned TO Russia
to dispose Of what property he
had there, and bring his family
to this country. lie had taken out
his first papers here, and supposed
that lac was, 10 all intents and pur-
poses, citizen Of the United States but
subsequent events proved that he had
relied toonuch on the privileges of half
completed citizenship, for he was seized
as soon as his identity was discovered,
though lie was, at the time across the
border, in Germany, and at worship III
church Without trial or hearing of
any sort he was started for Siberia, in
spite Of all his friends could do in his
behalf When the friends of the un-
fortunato lan in this city heard of
what had-. occurred the ease was called
To the attention of the authorities at
Washington: but careful invcsliga-
tion disclosed. that the naturalization
process had not been fully completed.
and that il wonld be impossible for tho
government to secure the release Of the
prisoner. The appearance of Gerber
among his old acquaintance, Sunday
! evening created surprise
His story was a recital that was full
of outrageous cruelty and suffering.
Evidences OF the truth of his narrative
were amply shown in the frightful scars
and still unhealed sores in his flesh.
lie supposed that he was going to the
mines for life. II was not until he had
reached his destination, nine months
later, that he learned that he was SEN
fenced for fifteen years. lie was placed
In hurd Of six hundred convicts, and
started for the Siberian wilds The men
were ironcd together in pairs, and from
the very moment that they started their
sufTerings were indescribable. Not once
! during the long, weary days of those
nine months were the metal bonds
| binding them TO their companions
! broken. When he arrived at Iga he
was taken out into the middle of u
street and blacksmith was called,
who took off his fetters Gerber was
/ told that from that time forward he
would have to take care of himself He
remained there three months before he
found an opportunity 20 carry into eff
feet tine plan for escape that he had
mapped out He had excited the sym
l.pathy OF fellow Hebrew who was en-
gagged in the mines, and induced the
I latter to write letter home for him, ask
ing his wife to send him some money.
( The money, amounting 10 $500, was
sent and Gerber's friend took him 10
/ Yalsutsk: He paid $50 to get to
YalSutsk, aud then took conveyance to
| Tofnslt a distance Of !, 500, miles and paid
for it Sl.5 lie had secured the dress of
a nohitman, and carried an official
( portmauteau that seemed to have
more 10 do with saving him from an
noyaHce than everything else, for he
was not asked for passports Money
removed obstacles that he encountered,
and finally he reached small town
within Fifty miles of his home
without being detected He finally
made a circuit of three hundred
miles and swas successful ia leaving
Russian soil behind him, He lost no
! time in getting hs far away us he could,
for he knew he was not safe until he
had reached America Thus it happen
ed that he had AT last arrived in Omaha,
and Of the $500 that had been sent by.
his wife nc had only ten cents in his
pocket when the journey was over.
Gerber had about $4,000 worth of
property when he left here, less than
two years ago, but there viii be but
little Of it left after he gets his family
over herc, PHI