Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-15

The IndomitabIe Woman Who Leads the
Russian NihiIists.

Let me give you little instance of the
hatred, the desperate feeling, which sways
some of these Russian nihilists. writes
Prof Boyseen A woman named Vera
Sassulitch lives in an obscure province,
where she taught a little country school,
She was a really fine woman, of great nat
ural ability, which had never been de-
veloped owing to her narrow surround
ings. By chance there came to visit in
that town a brilliant editor of an inhuen-
tlal newspaper, who madeher acquaintance
and who recognized her intelligence.
Through this acquaintance she came to
know that there was something to live for
beyond her marrow limit and when the
editor vent to his home there sprang up a
long the Journalist vas arrested as sus-
off to prison and in1searching his residence
out any reason whatever she was arrested
and placed in Jail for a long time, al
though, as had been stated, no proof what
ever was found against her. 1t so hap
pened that she was placed In the same row
of cells with the editor, and once a week,
when he was taken out to be dashed, she
could hear his piercing yells, which rung
through her head and were never effaced
from her memory. 1t was then she swore
that the instant she regained liberty she
would kill the man who imprisoned the
editor, and finally she would kill the car
himself.
After many months of Imprisonment she
was released, and after getting out Of jail
at once purchased revolver. She walk
ed Immediately to the office, and taking
deliberate aim at the officers head fired,
but unfortunately the wound was not
fatal. To-day, that woman, Vera Sassul-
itch, is at the bead of all nihilist plots in
the cars domain. Nobody knows where
she can be found or what will be her next
work. She sends messahes and documents
to the car and to all the leading men in
his dominiOns, warning them against
cruelty and threatening them with death.
But, Try as they may, no effort has sue
ceeded In bringing her again under arrest.
The car has sometimes risen from his
bed. and, before dressing, has happened
to look upon his table and found there a
warning from this woman, but never has
been able to find out who brought it or
whence it came
Suicide in Japan.
New York Times
According to recent Japanese retur :
1t appears that the great majority of per
sons committing suicide in Japan are over
so years o. age. Next on the list in res
pect of numbers come the suicide OF per
sons between the age of 20 and 80. OF
these the greater part turn their backs on
the world in consequence of disappointed
love. For suicides of all ages July is the
favorite month. During the period of
her claim. She always refused, and this
confirmed the doctor in his suspicion that
the woman was merely an ordinary hyster-
ical, and perhaps unconscious, fraud, Last
month, however, she voluntarily offered to
submit to the closest surveillance the doc
tor might wish to place upon her, and the
present tests were begun. The doctor de-
clares that he took every precaution against
trickery or deceit. For three weeks the
woman has remained under guard in a
place where no one is allowed to bring
solid food of any sort. She has drank only
Il little water in which toast had been dis
solved, which she rejected at once, and has
sucked. once day, a bit of orange to take
the bad taste from her mouth. DR.. Lafon
proposes to keep her under guard for sixty
days. He does not attempt to explain the
case, but has referred it to Drs. Chacot and
Ball, we'll known specialists in nervous
diseases.
The opinion of the neighbors of the
faster is divided concerning her. Some
believe implicitly that she is as she pre-
tends to be, under Divine inspiration, and
are expecting other miracles from her in
due time. Others believe her, rather, to
be possessed of the devil