The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-13

old acquaintance, whom ] had not seen
for more than five years, having spent
the intervening time in exile Among
others met the Polish Princess Branitz-
ski. we had been good friends prior to
the imprudcucc which cost me some Of
the best years of my life. She possessed
considerable influence at court, and
promised, if need be, 10 use it in ny
behalf
On leaving the steamer nothing would
have been easier than for me TO escape,
as the 1~0darmo who accompanied me
was in a beastly state of intoxication.
having surrendered himself to the wiles
# the very cheapest kind Of vodka. Il
was a sore temptation, as 1 had not the
slightest idea of what would be done
with mo on reaching Petersburg But
honor forbade that l take advantage Of
;he drunken soldiers plight; probably
his life would have paid the forfeit. We
reached Petersburg about p. m, and
calling the most respectable ishvostchik
saw, put my inebriated soldier in his
carriage and prepared TO enter myself,
first asking my escort where he was to
deliver me up 40 the chief of police,
came in drowsy tones. So to the chief
Of police ordered the driver TO take US.
Arriving there, we were told we must
proceed to the governor Of the province
.gubernator), which meant another ride
of over seven miles. Reaching there, we
were ordered TO the governor generals
bureau, which was six miles distant.
1t was now about p. m, and / was
feeling hungry, 50 decided to stop at
hotel and have some dinner. Thisthrough
with. we drove TO the bureau Of the gov
ernor general. where the clerk ordered
US To the forwarding prison, distant
about five miles. This | reached about
) p. m. and was received 10y an officer
OF the guard, who opened the great iron
gates leading TO thcprison and conducted
me to the prison itself Its appearance
was the reverse Of prepossessing, with It's
great sombcr walls towering toward the
heavens, gloomy and forbidding, and
when the key turned in the locks of the
heavy iron doors it was as though some
great body had been wrenched out OF
place, emitting groans of mortal agony.
lcntcrcd and Mas taken up two flights of
stairs to the Office Of the governor Of the
prison. lie was man of brutal aspect,
short, stout. with little beadlike eyes
which glittered with vengeful ire.
Scarcely deigning to notice me, he
ordered me in brutal tones 10 pay the
ishyostchik eight rubles, which no de-
manded for our long drive in search
of some one TO whom | could deliver
myself up. replied that ] had no
money left wherewith to satisfy the de
mand, and that ii was the duty of the
government TO see that all my expenses
were paid. This exaSperated the brute,
and he ordered the soldier 10 contine me
in cell No. 500. found myself con
signed 10 the very worst part of the
prison. a place set apart for the exclu-
sive use of the Scoptsi sect. 1t was a
largo cell on the ground floor, but so
filthy and foul smelling that l could
scarcely breathe. II contained no fur
niture On the floor some straw had
been spread, but from long use it had
become black with dirt.
Tired though felt, / could not recon
Gle myself to resting on it. So Il brushed
Il space clear and, spreading my over
coat on it, slept soppdly until z o'clock