Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-05-08
AN UNHEARD OF ESCAPE.
How Nihilist Petrovski EIuded His
Guards by Amputating His Thumb.

How Nihilist Petrovski EIuded His
Guards by Amputating His Thumb.
The recent outrage by the Siberian
officials In fiogging two women brings
TO mind an episode Of the daring escape
Of Siberian exile at Moscow, as told
me by an EnRlishmsn, apropos of his
residence In that city for some two
years. "The exile" said he, twas the
leader of band of nihilIsts noted for
their daring. He had many aliases, but
was generally known as Petrovski.
Physically he was one Of the most per-
feet men / ever saw. He was of dark
complexion, stood over six feet high
and was built In proportion. 1t seems
that he and part Of his band had been
captured in connection with some
plot the authorities had unearthed
and had been sentenced to life
servitude in the mines of Kara.
Knowing only to we'll what this meant,
the men had became as desperate as
Gagged lions by the time they reached
Moscow, and were willing to take any
chances to effect their escape.
"If / remember correctly there were
about a:.thousand prisoners In this cav
alcade, and they were guarded by reg
iment of st. Petersburg soldiers. Un-
like the other prisoners, Petrovski and
his party were handcuffed to each other.
They were under double guard, and
II was known that they would make an
attempt at escape should the opportu-
nifty offer. No chance offered, how
ever, until the day of starting for the
ntt1a l,o |,
guarding the party appeared to be rath-
er under the influence of liquor, and
were not so vigilant as usual. ! stood
on the stoop of q small inn within ten
feet of Petrovski and from the express
sion of his face knew something was
in the wind. The officer who had
charge of this part of the prisoners, who
was noted for his brutality, had mount
ed his horse and stood near the party.
The guards had walked off some dis
tance and were conversing together.
I saw Petrovski working at his hand
cuff, and then I saw him draw COM
mon dinner knife from his Jacket.
"The movement did not attract at
tention and he then turned slightly, so
that his back was toward the officer.
Then l saw that he was going to at
tempt one of the most desperate escapes
ever heard of. The man was certain
ly amputating his thumb with table
knife, so as to allow the handcuff to
slip over his hand. He worked at it,
never flinching, until the thumb drop
ped at his feet. The blood was flowing
from the wound in stream, but he
tied it up with rag after drawing the
skin over the wound, and had slipped
the handcuff off. His companion was
aware of his movements, but stood
like statue. The suppressed excite
ment I was suffering from, together
with the daring bravery that was wit
Messing, almost made me faint. I saw
that the dare devil was as pale as a
sheet, but without the slightest sign of
fear.
He stood for moment irresolute,
and then began slow del'movement
toward the mounted officer. When
within few feet he turned with the
fury of tiger and seizing the officer,
dragged him from his horse.
Before the guards could recover their
senses he had mounted the horse and
started off at a run down the street. A
fusilade of shots followed him but he
escaped them all. His friends aided
him, and he eventually made his way
to Paris, where he still lives, with his
wife and family. but minus his right
thumb.-New York Herald