The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-07-23
THE HORRORS OF SIBERIA,
A POLITICAL PRISONERS FOUR.
TEEN LONG YEARS OF MISERY.
Count Langowski Tells How He
walked 5000 Miles with Heavy
Chains on His Ankles,

Chains on His Ankles.
Count Langowski, as he would be en-.
titled to be called in Poland, though
preferring plain Frank Langowski, re.
sides in Detroit with his wife and two
children. He is very short of stature,
very thick set, very white haired though
only fifty-four years old, and very cheer
ful in disposition, Notwithstanding his
sufferings entitle him to be known as Il
man of many sorrows. He speaks eight
languages, in one of which he detailed
to a representative of the Free Press the
thrilling story of his life, how for four
teen years he was political prisoner in
the wilds of Siberia-hated, despised
beaten with stripes, starved and frozen.
"It was in 1863 that the Poles re-
belled against Russia" said he in very
fair English. 'I was then twenty seven
years old, single, and lived with my fa-
ther, Count Langowski, on a large farm
near Warsaw. My fathers estate was
large, aud he was one of the leading no
blemen of the State. The rebel general,
Taczanowski, billeted 500 of his troops
upon us, and although our family had in
nowise participated in the revolt, to re-
fuse the levy meant extirpation. There
fore my father acquiesced Against
these 500 troops Russia sent 300 men
and sixty cannon. The battle was short
and deceive, resulting in the killing and
capturing of the whole 500 Six horses
from our stables that had been pressed
into the service were killed and two of
our men who were driving. The third
man was whipped nearly to death after
the capture and then bayoneted. l was
taken prisoner and soon set out with
hundreds of others on our way to Siberia.
Think of journey of over 5000 miles on
foot, requiring thirteen months, with
heavy chains on each ankle and chained
by the wrist to another IN a gang of one
hundred. That is the way we made the
trip, most of the time the weather being
bitterly cold with the meanest kind
of clothing, and only allowed seven
copecks, less than five cents, a
day for food. At night VIC
slept in etapes, long, low log or stone
sheds erected every ten miles along the
way, more often without fire than with
it, always hungry, always cold, and al
ways in pain from the CALLING chains. At
last, after thirteen months OF misery, we
arrived at the end of our journey to en-
counter worse misery still. l was set
to work in the quicksilver mines. Three
months is as long as any human being
can stand it to work in those mines.
Many die in the mines and many soon
after leaving them. The fumes of the
mercury rot the bones, loosen the teeth
and leave the man total wreck. When
l had partly regained my health after
this experience, l, with others, was set
to digging holes in the ground. The
holes were not designed for any use
whatever, but were dug just to keep us
at work, and it was while thus engaged
that received my first whipping.
was too weak to smooth the side of the
hole as the officer wanted it, and simply
told him so. For that was taken to the
whipping bench, laid on my face and
fastened down by three thongs, one of
which was passed over the neck. one
over the body and one over the legs, so
arranged that a man cannot make the
least movement. received eighty blows
with the knout, and was two months and
a half in the hospital before could leave
my bed"
"How are these knouts constructed"
he was asked.
"They are stout leather, the points of
the lashes heavily loaded with lead, and
blow from them in the hands of a
strong man is as bad as a stroke from
policeman's club. l have seen men
killed at the third stroke. After my first
whipping l received another of 125
lashes for calling soldier a dog who
had bayonetted prisoner in cold blood.
was almost killed and it was nearly a
year before could resume work. The
scenes of brutality to be witnessed on all
sides were simply frightful. The killing
Of prisoners by the soldiers was terrible.
They were under no restraint whatever,
and the poor prisoners were even killed
for uttering the slightest word in protest
against the most horrible murders. Out
of the 80, 900 prisoners sent to Siberia by
the Russian Government at the end of
the rebellion | don't believe 5000 ever
got back alive. And not one of them
guilty of a crime, but simply prisoners of
Ndls lDuL IL Aht lhtC VI NlO llNu was
hard that of the women was infinitely
more so. They were whipped with stout
gads instead of the knout-that is the
only difference l was ever able to OBJ
serve"
"How are prisoners fedi'
"They are divided into squads Of 100,
with two soldiers, two cooks and baker
to each squad. One days rations for the
whole 105 consists of ten pounds of meat,
ten pounds of barley and ten pounds of
sauerkraut and two pounds Of black bread
per man. The meat, barley and sauer-
kraut are all cooked in a mess, and while
the soldiers, cooks and baker live well,
all that is left for the 100 is dishwater."
"How long were you sentenced for2"
"Six years as a prisoner in chains, and
six years as II prisoner under surveillance.
At the end of six years was obliged TO
support myself, but was required to re-
port myself daily to a certain officer. /
supported myself by making cigarettes,
and then, after thirteen years, was given
a passport back TO Poland A man can
not travefhalf mile in Russia without
passport. l begged my way from town